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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Economic activity in the Texas coastal region has an |
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enormous impact on the economy of the state as a whole; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2011, marine cargo and vessel traffic alone was |
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estimated to support approximately $277.6 billion in total economic |
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activity along the Texas coast; the region is crucial to the energy |
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industry, and its tourism sector and institutions of higher |
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education are also engines for growth; and |
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WHEREAS, The continued prosperity of the coastal region |
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depends on its ability to meet a number of challenges and |
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opportunities on the horizon; while the crude oil market has been |
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volatile, with prices falling precipitously between July 2014 and |
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January 2015, the state's rapid population growth bodes well for |
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development; the coastal region is anticipating a tremendous |
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increase in maritime traffic following the opening of the Panama |
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Canal expansion, expected in 2016; and |
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WHEREAS, Careful planning is required in order to maintain |
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and improve the global competitiveness of the coastal region in an |
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era of great change, and the state has a powerful interest in |
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ensuring that investments in infrastructure and other measures are |
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based on comprehensive data and a thorough understanding of the |
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issues likely to confront the area in the years ahead; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby request the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house |
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of representatives to provide for a joint interim study regarding |
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economic development in the Texas coastal region; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That the committee's proceedings and operations be |
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governed by such general rules and policies for joint interim |
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committees as the 84th Legislature may adopt. |