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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 281
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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recognize March 3, 2009, as Cotton Day at the State Capitol in |
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honor of the significant role cotton has played in the economic |
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history of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Cotton farming began in Texas as early as 1745 and |
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was practiced by Spanish missionaries living around present-day |
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San Antonio; later, Anglo-American colonists who traveled to |
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Texas with Stephen F. Austin would begin cultivating cotton on |
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their settlements between the Trinity and Brazos Rivers; and |
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WHEREAS, In the late 1850s and early 1860s, a sharp rise in |
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cotton production occurred when new areas for planting were |
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opened with the westward push of Texas settlers; and |
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WHEREAS, Several developments aided cotton production in |
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West Texas, an arid region devoted to ranching; inventions like |
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barbed wire, along with the expansion of the railroad and |
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improved methods of irrigation, allowed cotton to be grown in the |
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plains and the prairies of the Panhandle by the early 20th |
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century; and |
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WHEREAS, Because of its pervasiveness, cotton earned the |
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title of "King" in Texas; today, cotton is still King in Texas, as |
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our state's annual cotton harvest accounts for approximately one |
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third of the nation's total cotton production; and |
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WHEREAS, Since 1999, the annual cotton crop yield in Texas |
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has averaged 5.8 million bales; the total value of upland and |
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pima lint cotton produced in Texas in 2007 was $1.8 billion, and |
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cottonseed value in 2007 was $343.4 million; and |
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WHEREAS, Due to improved seed cotton varieties, along with |
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the recent success of the Boll Weevil Eradication Program in |
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Texas, cotton production for the last five years has averaged |
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seven million bales, allowing the state to account for 35.5 |
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percent of our nation's total production; and |
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WHEREAS, In this new millennium, uses for cotton are ever |
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increasing; in addition to using its fiber for cloth, cottonseeds |
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are now used for cooking oils, bio-diesel fuel, livestock feed, |
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and cleansing products, as well as for various other products |
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made from its linters, hulls, and meats; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas is a major supplier of cotton, not only for |
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the United States, but for the world; major buyers of Texas |
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cotton are located in Asia, Central America, and Mexico; and |
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WHEREAS, Consumers around the world prefer the natural |
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fiber and renewable qualities of cotton; and |
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WHEREAS, The state is especially proud of its tradition of |
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cotton growth and production; cotton is a versatile crop which |
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affords thousands of Texans their livelihood, and those citizens |
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associated with its production are deserving of legislative |
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recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st |
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Legislature, hereby extend a warm welcome to all those associated |
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with the cotton industry who are visiting Austin on this day and |
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best wishes for an enjoyable Cotton Day at the State Capitol; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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the cotton industry as an expression of appreciation from the |
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Texas Senate. |
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Seliger |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on February 23, 2009. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |