| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Civic-minded residents of Beaumont, Orange, Port |
|
|
Arthur, and other communities in Jefferson and Orange Counties are |
|
|
visiting Austin March 5-7, 2017, to celebrate Golden Triangle Days |
|
|
at the State Capitol; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A strategically important source of energy and |
|
|
chemical manufactured products, the Golden Triangle refines about |
|
|
13 percent of the nation's gasoline daily, including 60 percent of |
|
|
its commercial jet fuel and the majority of its military jet fuel; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The region is served by the Sabine Neches Waterway, |
|
|
which ranks fourth in the United States for total tonnage and |
|
|
supports a large percentage of the nation's petrochemical industry; |
|
|
it is the country's top commercial military out-load port and the |
|
|
first in crude oil imports, and on June 10, 2014, the federal |
|
|
government authorized an improvement project that will deepen the |
|
|
channel to 48 feet, enhancing the global competitiveness of this |
|
|
key gateway; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Golden Triangle is also linked to an extensive |
|
|
rail and pipeline system; construction has been completed on a |
|
|
pipeline from Oklahoma to Jefferson County, and with over $3 |
|
|
billion in announced new economic development projects and another |
|
|
$20 billion under consideration, the region has become an |
|
|
increasingly vital contributor to the economic prosperity of the |
|
|
state; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The area's population has access to such notable |
|
|
institutions of higher education as Lamar University, Lamar State |
|
|
College-Orange, Lamar State College-Port Arthur, and the Lamar |
|
|
Institute of Technology; moreover, a number of training programs |
|
|
are available to ensure the preparedness of the workforce; |
|
|
residents further benefit from unique cultural and environmental |
|
|
sites, among them Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, |
|
|
Big Thicket National Preserve, and coastal habitats such as Sea Rim |
|
|
State Park and the McFadden National Wildlife Refuge, which also |
|
|
draw many tourists; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Public-spirited residents of Jefferson and Orange |
|
|
Counties are working together to build a vibrant, prosperous future |
|
|
for their region, and it is indeed fitting to honor their dedication |
|
|
and commitment to the betterment of their communities and of the |
|
|
Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize March 5-7, 2017, as Golden Triangle |
|
|
Days at the State Capitol and extend to all those participating |
|
|
sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin. |