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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 350
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WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Brazoria County are gathering |
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in Austin to celebrate Brazoria County Day at the State Capitol |
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on March 7, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, This section of coastal prairie along the Brazos |
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River was inhabited during the first three centuries of Texas' |
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recorded history by the nomadic Karankawa Indians; the Spanish |
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explorer Cabeza de Vaca passed through the region as early as |
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1528, and the pirate Jean Lafitte was rumored to have used the |
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mouth of the Brazos as a refuge; and |
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WHEREAS, The region was settled in the 1820s by members of |
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Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred; Henry Smith of Brazoria |
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served as the first American-born governor of the Mexican |
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territory of Texas and as a leader of the movement for |
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independence, and the town of Columbia served as the capital of |
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Texas during the first Texas Congress; in 1836, Brazoria County |
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became one of the original counties established by the new |
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republic; and |
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WHEREAS, Farming and ranching initially constituted the |
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mainstays of the county's economy; the discovery of oil and |
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sulfur deposits in the early 20th century helped the region to |
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grow, and chemical processing became increasingly important |
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during and after World War II; commercial fishing and the |
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recreation industry have helped to ensure continuing economic |
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development; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, the 24 cities of Brazoria County boast |
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excellent schools and affordable housing; visitors and residents |
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alike take great pleasure in miles of sandy beaches, bay and |
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offshore fishing, scuba diving, outstanding bird-watching, and |
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the Brazoria and San Bernard National Wildlife Refuges; the |
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county is also home to many antique shops and scenic parks, one of |
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the largest county fairs in Texas, and the Nolan Ryan Center; and |
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WHEREAS, The educational opportunities available to |
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students at Alvin Community College, Brazosport College, and the |
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University of Houston-Clear Lake Pearland Campus further |
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contribute to the county's many amenities; and |
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WHEREAS, The largest chemical complex in North America, |
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the Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, and a flourishing health |
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care industry are among the major contributors to economic growth |
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in the county, and Port Freeport, ranked 26th in the United |
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States in foreign tonnage, is one of the fastest-growing ports on |
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the Gulf Coast; and |
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WHEREAS, Even as they celebrate their rich heritage, the |
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hardworking citizens of Brazoria County are looking ahead to the |
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opportunities of the future and continuing to contribute greatly |
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to the growth and prosperity of the Lone Star State; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize March 7, 2017, as Brazoria County |
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Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation |
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best wishes for a memorable and meaningful day in Austin. |
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Huffman, Taylor of Galveston |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on March 7, 2017. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |