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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A distinguished delegation from South Texas is |
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visiting Austin on February 7, 2017, to celebrate Rio Grande Valley |
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Day at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Enjoying a strategic location on the Gulf of Mexico |
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and along the Mexican border, the Rio Grande Valley was an important |
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ranching region when Texas became the nation's 28th state in 1845; |
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over time, the economy shifted from ranching to agriculture, and |
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the Valley became the state's center of citrus and vegetable |
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production; and |
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WHEREAS, Industry flourished in the 1960s, and the region |
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contributed significantly to the tremendous increase in commerce |
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across the U.S.-Mexico border; with over 800,000 trucks, 11.5 |
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million cars, and 5.8 million pedestrians crossing its ports of |
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entry, the Rio Grande Valley is a powerhouse that accounts for more |
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than $1.3 billion in goods and services added to the economy of the |
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Lone Star State each day; and |
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WHEREAS, The Valley has over 1.5 million residents, and local |
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and state officials have focused on the need to expand access to |
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higher education, strengthen the workforce, and introduce |
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programs, such as SpaceX, which partnered with The University of |
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Texas Rio Grande Valley to create STARGATE, a program that enables |
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students to be involved in all aspects of space missions; |
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furthermore, in July 2016, the new UTRGV Medical School enrolled |
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its first class of 55 medical students; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas A&M University System officially broke |
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ground in December 2016 to expand in McAllen with a campus that will |
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offer programs in engineering, technology, agriculture, and |
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biomedical and lab sciences; and |
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WHEREAS, The focus for today's special legislative event is |
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workforce development, transportation and border infrastructure, |
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UTRGV Medical School funding, the Texas A&M Healthy South Texas |
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initiative, and the Rio Grande Valley border image; major sponsors |
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include The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Texas A&M |
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University, South Texas College, The University of Texas Rio Grande |
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Valley Foundation, the Cities of McAllen, Edinburg, Harlingen, and |
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Weslaco, the Starr County Industrial Foundation, the Port of |
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Brownsville, Rio Grande Valley Partnership, McAllen Convention & |
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Visitors Bureau, the Edinburg, Weslaco, and McAllen Chambers of |
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Commerce, Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, the |
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McAllen Public Utility Board, the Economic Development |
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Corporations of Edinburg, Mission, McAllen, Harlingen, Weslaco, |
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and Pharr, Rio South Texas Economic Council, McAllen-Hidalgo |
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International Bridge, Anzalduas International Bridge, and the Food |
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Bank of the RGV; furthermore, several private sector businesses, |
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such as Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP, the Warren Group |
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Architects, Shepard Walton King, the Monitor, LRGVDC Regional, |
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Small Cities Coalition, Texas Gas Service, BBVA Compass Bank, and |
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IBC Bank, are helping to promote greater regional cooperation in |
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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 indeed |
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most fitting to honor Valley residents for their dedication to |
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building a bright and prosperous future for the area; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 7, 2017, as Rio Grande Valley |
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Day at the State Capitol and extend to all participants sincere best |
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wishes for an informative and enjoyable visit. |