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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi is |
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celebrating the 30th anniversary of its designation as the Official |
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Aquarium of Texas in 2015; and |
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WHEREAS, A project launched by the Junior League of Corpus |
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Christi and the local Jaycees in 1969, the aquarium gained early |
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support from members of Leadership Corpus Christi Alumni, the Earl |
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C. Sams Foundation, and the Brown Foundation of Houston; the Texas |
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Legislature conferred the official designation in 1985, and the |
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aquarium opened to the public five years later; and |
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WHEREAS, The aquarium has flourished as a private, |
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not-for-profit organization, maintaining its operations through |
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general admissions, memberships, retail sales, event rentals, and |
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the generosity of donors; in addition to exhibitions, it sponsors |
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education, conservation, and wildlife rehabilitation; over the |
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years, it has worked to save protected, threatened, and endangered |
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species, and it has cared for countless stranded or injured |
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creatures, among them marine mammals, sea turtles, raptors, and |
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shorebirds; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2014, the aquarium opened the Nearshore |
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Experience, an immersive indoor exhibit, and it hosted the |
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groundbreaking for an expansion project that will more than double |
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the size of the institution; the institution also became one of only |
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six aquariums in the nation to achieve Charity Navigator's |
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prestigious four-star rating for good governance, sound fiscal |
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management, accountability, and transparency; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas State Aquarium is dedicated to connecting |
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people with nature and promoting the conservation of the Gulf of |
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Mexico, and as it celebrates this significant milestone in its |
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history, it is moving forward with plans to become an even more |
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valuable asset to the community, the state, and the Gulf Coast |
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region; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Texas State Aquarium on the |
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30th anniversary of its designation as the Official Aquarium of |
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Texas and extend to all those associated with this noteworthy |
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organization sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the aquarium as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |