H.R. No. 255

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Laredo are gathering in Austin to
	celebrate Laredo Day at the State Capitol on January 30, 2013; and
	WHEREAS, Originally known as San Agustin de Laredo, the city
	was founded in 1755 as an outpost of the Spanish empire; it later
	belonged to Mexico, after that country gained independence from
	Spain in 1821, and served as the capital of the short-lived Republic
	of the Rio Grande; Laredo became part of Texas in 1846 and was
	subsequently chosen as the seat of Webb County; and
	WHEREAS, From its earliest days, Laredo was an important
	crossing on the Rio Grande and a trading center for livestock,
	hides, and wool; its role in international trade expanded with the
	arrival of the railroad in 1881 and with the development of the Zona
	Libre, or free trade zone, along the border between the United
	States and Mexico; its economy was further helped by coal mining,
	the introduction of onion farming, and the discovery of rich oil and
	gas fields; and
	WHEREAS, Today, this bustling gateway city is the largest
	inland port along the Rio Grande and one of the top six U.S. Customs
	districts in the nation, and its diverse economy benefits from the
	retail, hospitality, import and export, and petroleum industries;
	the city handles 40 percent of all trade between the United States
	and Mexico; Laredo is also a focus for higher education in the Rio
	Grande Valley, as the home to Texas A&M International University,
	two campuses of Laredo Community College, and an extension campus
	of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; and
	WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike may explore such area
	attractions as the historic San Agustin Cathedral, the Republic of
	the Rio Grande Museum, and the Laredo Center for the Arts, while 40
	blocks of import vendors along San Bernardo Avenue draw shoppers
	from near and far; in addition, Laredo is home to Washington's
	Birthday Celebration, a 116-year-old, month-long event that
	includes a carnival, a colonial pageant, a jalapeno festival, and a
	parade; and
	WHEREAS, Heirs to a rich history and a vibrant international
	culture, the citizens of Laredo may indeed take great pride in their
	city's two and a half centuries of progress and achievement; now,
	therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize January 30, 2013, as Laredo Day at the
	State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best
	wishes for a memorable and meaningful visit to Austin.
	Raymond
	Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
	Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
	Alonzo Gooden Otto
	Alvarado Guerra Paddie
	Anchia Guillen Parker
	Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
	Ashby Harless Perez
	Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
	Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
	Bohac Herrero Pickett
	Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
	Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
	Branch Huberty Raney
	Burkett Hughes Ratliff
	Burnam Hunter Raymond
	Button Isaac Reynolds
	Callegari Johnson Riddle
	Canales Kacal Ritter
	Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
	Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
	Clardy King of Parker Rose
	Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
	Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
	Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
	Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
	Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
	Creighton Krause Simmons
	Crownover Kuempel Simpson
	Dale Larson Smith
	Darby Laubenberg Smithee
	Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
	J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
	S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
	Deshotel Longoria Strama
	Dukes Lozano Taylor
	Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
	Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
	Elkins Martinez Toth
	Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
	Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
	Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
	Farrar Miles Villalba
	Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
	Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
	Frank Moody Walle
	Frullo Morrison White
	Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
	Giddings Murphy Wu
	Goldman Naishtat Zedler
	Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 255 was adopted by the House on January
	30, 2013, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House