H.R. No. 738

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Brazoria County are gathering in
	Austin to celebrate Brazoria County Day at the State Capitol on
	March 7, 2017; and
	WHEREAS, This section of coastal prairie along the Brazos
	River was inhabited during the first three centuries of Texas'
	recorded history by the nomadic Karankawa Indians; the Spanish
	explorer Cabeza de Vaca passed through the area as early as 1528,
	and the pirate Jean Lafitte was rumored to have used the mouth of
	the Brazos as a refuge; and
	WHEREAS, The region was settled in the 1820s by members of
	Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred; Henry Smith of Brazoria
	served as the first American-born governor of the Mexican territory
	of Texas and as a leader of the movement for independence; the town
	of Columbia was the capital of Texas during the first Texas
	Congress, and in 1836, Brazoria County became one of the original
	counties established by the new republic; and
	WHEREAS, Farming and ranching initially constituted the
	mainstays of the county's economy; the discovery of oil and sulfur
	deposits in the early 20th century helped the region grow, and
	chemical processing became increasingly important during World War
	II and after; commercial fishing and the recreation industry have
	helped to ensure continuing economic development; and
	WHEREAS, Today, the numerous cities and towns of Brazoria
	County boast excellent schools and affordable housing; visitors and
	residents alike take great pleasure in miles of sandy beaches, bay
	and offshore fishing, scuba diving, outstanding bird-watching, and
	the Brazoria and San Bernard National Wildlife Refuges; the county
	is also home to such attractions as the Nolan Ryan Center and the
	Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site, and the county seat of
	Angleton annually hosts the Brazoria County Fair, one of the
	largest events of its kind in Texas; and
	WHEREAS, The educational opportunities available to students
	at Alvin Community College, Brazosport College, and the University
	of Houston-Clear Lake Pearland Campus further contribute to the
	county's many amenities; and
	WHEREAS, The largest chemical complex in North America, the
	Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, and a flourishing health care
	industry are among the major contributors to economic growth in the
	county, and Port Freeport, ranked 26th in the United States in
	foreign tonnage, is one of the fastest growing ports on the Gulf
	Coast; and
	WHEREAS, The people of Brazoria County take great pride in
	their rich history as they work together to build an even brighter
	future, and it is indeed a privilege to honor them and their unique
	contributions to the story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore,
	be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize March 7, 2017, as Brazoria County Day
	at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best
	wishes for a meaningful and enjoyable stay in 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. 738 was adopted by the House on March 7,
	2017, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House