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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Trade between Texas and Mexico plays a vital role in |
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the economic prosperity of the Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, Each year, Texas sends about 36 percent of the |
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state's total exports to Mexico, and in 2015, exports to Mexico |
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totaled nearly $92.5 million; goods exported to Mexico include |
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computer and electronic products, petroleum and coal products, |
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chemicals, machinery, and transportation equipment, all of which |
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are produced by industries that supply hundreds of thousands of |
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jobs to the Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, Since the ratification of the North American Free |
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Trade Agreement in 1994, the export of U.S. goods to Mexico has |
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risen 325 percent, while imports into the United States from Mexico |
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have increased 458 percent; in 2012, Americans spent $277.5 billion |
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for goods from Mexico, and Mexico is America's third-largest |
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supplier of oil, after Canada and Saudi Arabia; additionally, |
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nearly half of the tomatoes and two-thirds of the mangoes consumed |
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in the United States come from Mexico; and |
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WHEREAS, The importance of this trade to Texas border cities, |
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counties, and businesses is significant, and disruption to |
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international commerce would be economically devastating; and |
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WHEREAS, Mexico is the largest trading partner of Texas and |
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the third-largest of the United States, and it is imperative that |
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our federal government take proactive steps to strengthen ties with |
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Mexico and build bridges of economic opportunity that will benefit |
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Texas and the entire nation; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby urge the United States Congress to recognize the |
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importance of trade between Texas and Mexico and foster |
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international commerce; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the federal executive and legislative |
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branches be urged to fully evaluate the impact of proposed federal |
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trade policies, legislation, executive orders, and other actions on |
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Texas-Mexico commerce; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the chief clerk of the house forward official |
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copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to |
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the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of |
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Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the |
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members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that |
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this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a |
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memorial to the Congress of the United States of America. |