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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Distinguished members and officers of the Texas |
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Mining and Reclamation Association are gathering at the State |
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Capitol on March 26, 2015, to celebrate the association's |
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achievements and to highlight the importance of the mining industry |
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in the Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, Serving as the voice for the Texas mining industry, |
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TMRA strives to create an effective balance between mineral |
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production, environmental protection, economic strength, and |
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public welfare as it educates the public, regulators, and |
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policymakers on the value of mining to our state's economy; and |
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WHEREAS, TMRA provides annual free teacher workshops to |
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increase teachers' knowledge about earth science and geology and |
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how to make the best use of our natural resources while protecting |
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the environment; since 1991, these workshops have provided more |
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than 1,500 teachers with valuable classroom materials and have |
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contributed to the education of over one million students in the |
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state; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas contains an abundance of raw materials that |
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improve the quality of our lives: metal ores provide manufacturers |
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with vital components for production; sand, stone, and gravel, |
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which can be found in quarries across the state, serve as the |
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foundation for new construction; and industrial minerals are |
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important components of a variety of products, from pharmaceuticals |
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to automobiles; and |
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WHEREAS, Coal mining and coal-fired electricity generation |
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are important economic engines in Texas, and these industries spark |
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additional business activity up and down their supply chains, |
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thereby creating new jobs and income for Texas residents; Texas |
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coal is a reliable source of fuel for electric power generation and |
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contributes to efforts to make the state more energy independent |
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and a more competitive place to do business; and |
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WHEREAS, Uranium, another fuel source used for the generation |
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of electricity, can produce more power than other clean energy |
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sources; the annual investments and economic activity generated by |
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the Texas uranium mining industry help boost economic growth and |
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development, and this economic activity is an especially critical |
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driver of economic opportunity in many South Texas counties; and |
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WHEREAS, The mining industry in Texas has a positive economic |
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impact of more than $13 billion annually, including over 34,000 |
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direct industry jobs and 86,000 indirect employment opportunities, |
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and this economic impact is largest in small, rural communities |
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that have few other contributing industries; and |
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WHEREAS, By providing important information about the mining |
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industry in Texas and training current and future generations of |
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business and government leaders, TMRA is making significant |
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contributions to the prosperity of the state; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 26, 2015, as Texas Mining and |
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Reclamation Association Day at the Capitol and commend the |
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association for its notable record of service and for its |
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outstanding efforts to educate Texas citizens on the value of |
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mining to our state's economy. |