H.R. No. 281

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Public-spirited citizens of Matagorda County are
	gathering in Austin to celebrate Matagorda County Day at the State
	Capitol on February 7, 2017; and
	WHEREAS, Taking its name from the Spanish phrase meaning
	"thick brush," this region of prairie, salt marshes, and coastal
	waterways was visited by the French explorer La Salle in 1685; the
	area constituted part of Stephen F. Austin's first colony, and
	settlers began arriving through Matagorda Bay during the winter of
	1821-1822; in 1829, the town of Matagorda was established as a
	military post, and in 1836, Matagorda County became one of the
	original 23 counties of the Republic of Texas; and
	WHEREAS, Matagorda ranked as the second-largest seaport in
	Texas for a time and served as a shipping point for cotton, sugar,
	and livestock raised in the county; when the boll weevil endangered
	the cotton crop in the early 20th century, farmers began to grow
	rice, and the discovery of oil and sulfur further diversified the
	county's economy; and
	WHEREAS, Ranching, farming, and petroleum remain important,
	and the county also benefits from the presence of the South Texas
	Project nuclear plant, which generates enough electricity to power
	approximately two million homes in Texas; Bay City, the county
	seat, is a center of the petrochemical industry and recently became
	the home of TenarisBayCity, an international pipe manufacturing
	company, while the port at Palacios is home to the largest fishing
	fleet on the Texas Gulf Coast; and
	WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike enjoy the county's fine
	beaches and its many opportunities for fishing and water sports,
	while birders from across the nation are drawn to the Mad Island
	Marsh Preserve and Wildlife Management Area; Bay City is the
	location of several major annual attractions--the annual county
	fair, livestock show, and rodeo, which take place in the early
	spring, and the Rice Festival, which is held in the fall; in between
	those dates, Palacios hosts the Texas Fishermen's Seafood Festival,
	in December, and a reenactment of La Salle's landing every Fourth of
	July; and
	WHEREAS, Matagorda County is an area of abundant natural
	resources and rich history, and its residents may take great pride
	in their notable heritage as they look forward to a future filled
	with promise; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize February 7, 2017, as Matagorda County
	Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation
	sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable visit to Austin.
	Bonnen of Brazoria
	Straus Goldman Oliverson
	Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega
	Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie
	Alvarado Gooden Parker
	Anchia Guerra Paul
	Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez
	Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan
	Arévalo Hefner Phillips
	Ashby Hernandez Pickett
	Bailes Herrero Price
	Bell Hinojosa Raney
	Bernal Holland Raymond
	Biedermann Howard Reynolds
	Blanco Huberty Rinaldi
	Bohac Hunter Roberts
	Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar
	Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis
	Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
	Burns Johnson of Harris Rose
	Burrows Kacal Sanford
	Button Keough Schaefer
	Cain King of Hemphill Schofield
	Canales King of Parker Schubert
	Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen
	Clardy Klick Sheffield
	Coleman Koop Shine
	Collier Krause Simmons
	Cook Kuempel Smithee
	Cortez Lambert Springer
	Cosper Landgraf Stephenson
	Craddick Lang Stickland
	Cyrier Larson Stucky
	Dale Laubenberg Swanson
	Darby Leach Thierry
	Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria
	Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris
	Dean Lucio III Tinderholt
	Deshotel Martinez Turner
	Dukes Metcalf Uresti
	Dutton Meyer VanDeaver
	Elkins Miller Villalba
	Faircloth Minjarez Vo
	Fallon Moody Walle
	Farrar Morrison White
	Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson
	Frank Murphy Workman
	Frullo Murr Wray
	Geren Neave Wu
	Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler
	Giddings Oliveira Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 281 was adopted by the House on February
	7, 2017, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House