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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of the Mid-Valley region of Texas |
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are gathering in Austin on February 11, 2015, to celebrate |
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Mid-Valley Day at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Located in eastern Hidalgo County in the Rio Grande |
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Valley, the Mid-Valley region includes the towns of Alamo, Donna, |
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Mercedes, Pharr, Progreso, Progreso Lakes, San Juan, and Weslaco; |
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this area is a center for agribusiness, with farmers producing |
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sugarcane, grains, and citrus fruit such as grapefruits and |
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oranges; and |
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WHEREAS, The city of Alamo is located in proximity to the |
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Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses more than |
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2,000 acres of protected land and is home to a wide array of animals |
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and plants; in addition, the town boasts a birding information |
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center and the popular Alamo Central Park; and |
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WHEREAS, Upholding the motto "the City with a Heart in the |
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Heart of the Rio Grande Valley," Donna serves as the location of the |
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Donna-Rio Bravo International Bridge, which helps to facilitate |
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shopping, tourism, and commercial trade to and from Mexico; and |
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WHEREAS, Mercedes has long been a major center for the |
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processing and marketing of livestock, cotton, and vegetables, and |
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it is also known for its boot makers and the shopping opportunities |
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at the Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets; the annual Rio Grande |
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Valley Livestock Show and Rodeo draws more than 200,000 people to |
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town each year, and the event provides valuable scholarship funds |
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for 4-H and FFA students; and |
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WHEREAS, Known as the Hub City of the Rio Grande Valley, Pharr |
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is home to the Pharr International Bridge, which for more than two |
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decades has served as a reliable passage for exported produce and |
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textiles; moreover, the town has been recognized as a Triple Crown |
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City in honor of national awards it has received for commitment to |
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historic preservation, economic development, and civic excellence; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to being centers for the sugarcane |
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business, Progreso and Progreso Lakes have been serving as gateways |
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to the Rio Grande Valley since the opening of the Progreso/Nuevo |
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Progreso International Bridge in 2003; and |
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WHEREAS, Fast-growing San Juan is the home of the Basilica of |
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Our Lady of San Juan del Valle National Shrine, which attracts |
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multitudes of pilgrims from throughout the United States and |
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Mexico; the town hosts an annual Spring Fiesta and is the site of |
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numerous parks, including Liberty Park, with its flagpole monument |
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honoring those who have served in the U.S. armed forces; and |
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WHEREAS, The city of Weslaco has become a favorite |
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destination for tourists, golfers, retirees, and birders, and it is |
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the location of two important Texas A&M University research |
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stations; the annual Onion Fest celebrates the development of the |
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famous Texas 1015 onion in Weslaco, and this popular event brings |
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many visitors to the city; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout the Mid-Valley region, great emphasis is |
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placed on the value of education; the Science Academy of South Texas |
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in Mercedes consistently ranks among the top 100 on Newsweek's list |
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of "America's Best High Schools"; in addition, IDEA Public Schools, |
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a nonprofit network of charter schools with 26 campuses in the Rio |
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Grande Valley alone, is helping young Texans build a strong |
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foundation for future success; 99 percent of IDEA alumni go on to |
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enroll in a college or a university, and they graduate from those |
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institutions at five times the national average for students of |
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similar backgrounds; and |
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WHEREAS, The residents of this dynamic region of the Lone |
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Star State are justifiably proud of their hard work, civic |
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commitment, and innovative spirit, and their efforts have created a |
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group of notable Texas communities that are well prepared to meet |
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the challenges and opportunities of the future; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 11, 2015, as Mid-Valley Day |
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at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere |
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best wishes for an informative and enjoyable stay in Austin. |
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Martinez |
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Canales |
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Longoria |
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Muñoz, Jr. |
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Guerra |
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| Anderson of Dallas |
Herrero |
Phelan |
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| Anderson of McLennan |
Howard |
Phillips |
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| Bonnen of Brazoria |
Johnson |
Riddle |
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| Bonnen of Galveston |
Kacal |
Rinaldi |
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| Burkett |
Keffer |
Rodriguez of Bexar |
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| Burns |
Keough |
Rodriguez of Travis |
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| Burrows |
King of Hemphill |
Romero, Jr. |
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| Button |
King of Parker |
Rose |
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| Canales |
King of Taylor |
Sanford |
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| Capriglione |
King of Uvalde |
Schaefer |
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| Craddick |
Landgraf |
Simmons |
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| Davis of Dallas |
Longoria |
Spitzer |
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| Davis of Harris |
Lozano |
Springer |
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| Deshotel |
Lucio III |
Stephenson |
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| Dutton |
Martinez |
Thompson of Brazoria |
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| Elkins |
Martinez Fischer |
Thompson of Harris |
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| Faircloth |
McClendon |
Tinderholt |
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| Fallon |
Menéndez |
Turner of Collin |
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| Farias |
Metcalf |
Turner of Harris |
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| Farney |
Meyer |
Turner of Tarrant |
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| Fletcher |
Miller of Comal |
Villalba |
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| Flynn |
Miller of Fort Bend |
Vo |
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| Frullo |
Morrison |
White of Bell |
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| Galindo |
Muñoz, Jr. |
White of Tyler |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 444 was adopted by the House on February |
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11, 2015, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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