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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 40th anniversary of the designation of the Texas |
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Sea Grant College Program is taking place in September 2011; and |
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WHEREAS, Created under the National Sea Grant College and |
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Program Act, Texas Sea Grant was one of the first four initiatives |
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of its kind to be established in the nation; beginning operation in |
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1971, the program is located at Texas A&M University, and it works |
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to enlist the academic research community as well as engage coastal |
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communities and provide marine education to people of all ages; and |
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WHEREAS, The program has awarded more than $50 million in |
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competitive grants over the course of its history, and these funds |
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have allowed the state's best marine researchers to address |
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critical issues such as coastal erosion, harmful algal blooms, |
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aquaculture, and coastal hazards; in its efforts to enable the |
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state's marine businesses to prosper while being environmentally |
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sensitive, the program has pioneered many important projects, |
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including the implementation of efficient sea turtle excluder |
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devices in the trawling nets used by the state's commercial shrimp |
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fleet, which has helped to protect this endangered species; in |
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addition, Texas Sea Grant has served as a catalyst for progress on a |
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host of marine issues by bringing together diverse groups to solve |
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shared problems; moreover, one of its most successful outreach |
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initiatives has been the Adopt-A-Beach cleanup events; and |
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WHEREAS, The exceptional work that has been made possible |
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through the Texas Sea Grant College Program has helped foster the |
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wise use and conservation of the marine environment of the Lone Star |
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State, helping to ensure that the Texas coast will remain a valuable |
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resource for future generations; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Texas |
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Sea Grant College Program and commend all those affiliated with the |
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organization for their dedicated service; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the program as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |