| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The celebration of Rio Grande International Trade |
|
|
Day at the State Capitol on March 30, 2017, provides a welcome |
|
|
opportunity to highlight cross-border commerce as a driving |
|
|
economic force in South Texas; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Each year, Texas sends about 36 percent of the |
|
|
state's total exports to Mexico, and in 2015, those exports totaled |
|
|
nearly $92.5 million; goods exported to Mexico include computer and |
|
|
electronic products, petroleum and coal products, chemicals, |
|
|
machinery, and transportation equipment, all of which are produced |
|
|
by industries that supply hundreds of thousands of jobs to the Lone |
|
|
Star State; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Since 1994, when the North American Free Trade |
|
|
Agreement was ratified, the export of U.S. goods to Mexico has |
|
|
risen 325 percent, while imports into the United States from Mexico |
|
|
have increased 458 percent; in 2012, Americans spent $277.5 billion |
|
|
for goods from Mexico, and Mexico is America's third-largest |
|
|
supplier of oil, after Canada and Saudi Arabia; additionally, |
|
|
nearly half of the tomatoes and two-thirds of the mangoes consumed |
|
|
in the United States come from Mexico; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, This trade is especially critical to Texas border |
|
|
cities, counties, and businesses; policy leaders in the field of |
|
|
economic development have noted that the steady flow of trade and |
|
|
visitors through the Rio Grande Valley is a source of economic |
|
|
vitality; during the 2008-2009 recession, the region was not hit as |
|
|
hard as many other parts of the nation, and over the past decade, |
|
|
despite the devaluation of the peso, the RGV has continued to grow, |
|
|
not just in population but in terms of retail sales taxes, permits, |
|
|
and residential and commercial construction; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mexico is the largest trading partner of Texas and |
|
|
the third largest of the United States, and continued support for |
|
|
vibrant international trade between our two nations is crucial to |
|
|
the future prosperity of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize March 30, 2017, as Rio Grande |
|
|
International Trade Day at the State Capitol and extend to all those |
|
|
participating sincere best wishes for a productive and enjoyable |
|
|
visit to Austin. |