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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 144
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WHEREAS, A distinguished delegation from South Texas is |
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visiting Austin on February 10, 2015, to celebrate Rio Grande |
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Valley Day at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Enjoying a strategic location on the Gulf of |
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Mexico and along the Mexican border, the Rio Grande Valley was an |
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important ranching region when Texas became the nation's 28th |
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state in 1845; over time, the economy shifted from ranching to |
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agriculture, and the Valley became the state's center of citrus |
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and vegetable production; and |
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WHEREAS, In the 1960s, industry flourished and |
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international trade became increasingly prominent; the region |
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has contributed significantly to the tremendous increase in |
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commerce across the United States-Mexico border, which now |
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averages more than $1.3 billion in goods and services per day, |
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and also accounts for a major portion of the $4.5 billion a year |
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that Mexican nationals spend on retail purchases in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The Valley has over 1.3 million residents, and |
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local and state officials have focused on the need to expand |
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access to higher education, strengthen the workforce, and |
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introduce pioneering businesses, such as United Launch Alliance, |
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which has been engineering rockets in the area for over a decade, |
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and now, SpaceX, which promises to be the Rio Grande Valley's |
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gateway to space exploration; furthermore, in 2013, the |
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legislature created The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, |
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partnering with SpaceX to create STARGATE, the university's |
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first research center of excellence; the university is enrolling |
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its first class in Fall 2015, and the new University of Texas Rio |
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Grande Valley Medical School is slated to open the following |
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year; and |
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WHEREAS, The focus for today's special legislative event is |
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border security, workforce development, infrastructure, and |
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higher education, and major sponsors include The University of |
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Texas Rio Grande Valley, the City of Harlingen, the City of |
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Edinburg, the City of McAllen, the Port of Brownsville, the Rio |
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Grande Valley Partnership, the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, the |
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Mission Economic Development Corporation, South Texas College, |
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the Anzalduas International Bridge, the McAllen Economic |
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Development Corporation, the Edinburg Economic Development |
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Corporation, and the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce; several |
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private sector businesses, such as American Electric Power, |
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Linebarger, and Texas Regional Bank, are also promoting greater |
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regional cooperation in the 21st century; and |
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WHEREAS, A vibrant region with a rich heritage, the Rio |
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Grande Valley is poised to take advantage of tremendous |
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opportunities for continued economic development, and it is |
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indeed most fitting to honor Valley residents for their |
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dedication to building a bright and prosperous future for the |
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area; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize February 10, 2015, as Rio Grande |
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Valley Day at the State Capitol and extend to all participants |
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sincere best wishes for a productive and enjoyable visit. |
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Hinojosa, Lucio |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on February 10, 2015. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |