SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 745

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas welcomes Héctor Agustín Murguía Lardizábal, Mayor of Ciudad Juarez in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico; and

WHEREAS, Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, together with its neighboring city of El Paso, Texas, make up the world's largest international border metroplex with over two million people; and

WHEREAS, Ciudad Juarez and El Paso have, since 1598, evolved together as a dynamic economic and cultural crossroads for the United States and the Republic of Mexico; and

WHEREAS, Ciudad Juarez and El Paso share four international ports of entry that play a key part in the transportation system that links major centers in the southern and western hemispheres; and

WHEREAS, More than 70 Fortune 500 companies today operate over 336 maquiladora plants and employ more than 177,600 workers in Ciudad Juarez in telecommunications and in the manufacture of medical supplies, consumer appliances, electronics, and automotive parts; and

WHEREAS, Trade between Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, and the State of Texas represents 15 percent of the total trade relationship between Mexico and the United States; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Murguía is a fervent advocate for international trade between Ciudad Juarez and the State of Texas, which totals over $48 billion annually; and

WHEREAS, Despite ongoing drug-related violence in his city, Mayor Murguía continues to work to increase commerce, strengthen small and midsize industrial development, and improve border relations; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd Legislature, hereby welcome Héctor Agustín Murguía Lardizábal, Mayor of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, to the State Capitol and extend to him and the citizens of Ciudad Juarez sincere best wishes for their continued development of binational economic and cultural ties, as well as for their future peace and prosperity; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for Mayor Murguía and the citizens of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, as an expression of goodwill and friendship from the Senate of the State of Texas. Rodriguez

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on April 11, 2011.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate