| |
| |
|
|
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
|
|
|
WHEREAS, For more than 120 years, the enforcement officers of |
|
|
the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and its predecessors have |
|
|
patrolled the rivers, lakes, and coast of the Lone Star State, |
|
|
playing a central role in safeguarding the public waters; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 1895, the 24th Texas Legislature created the |
|
|
office of Fish and Oyster Commissioner, and in 1899, the Fish and |
|
|
Oyster Commission was given jurisdiction over all public waters, |
|
|
including freshwater streams, lakes, and ponds; the agency |
|
|
underwent several name changes over the years, becoming the Game, |
|
|
Fish, and Oyster Commissioner in 1907, the Game, Fish, and Oyster |
|
|
Commission in 1929, and the Game and Fish Commission in 1951, and |
|
|
since 1963, it has been known as the Texas Parks and Wildlife |
|
|
Department; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 1965, the professionals now known as Texas game |
|
|
wardens were tasked with promoting and enforcing water safety for |
|
|
persons and property in all recreational waters of the state; since |
|
|
1971, game wardens have been formally recognized as Texas peace |
|
|
officers, and in 1997, the 75th Texas Legislature enacted House |
|
|
Bill 966, which required all game wardens to be certified as marine |
|
|
safety enforcement officers; in 2011, during the 82nd Legislative |
|
|
Session, game wardens were designated as the primary officers |
|
|
responsible for enforcing the provisions of the state's Water |
|
|
Safety Act; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Today, game wardens patrol the public waters of |
|
|
Texas to enforce hunting and fishing regulations and to promote |
|
|
water safety; they have expanded their ranks from six officers in |
|
|
1919 to more than 500, and TPWD's fleet has grown to include more |
|
|
than 590 vessels, including two 65-foot patrol boats in the Gulf of |
|
|
Mexico and 26 SAFE boats for use along the Gulf Coast; in 2013, |
|
|
Texas game wardens were accredited by the National Association of |
|
|
State Boating Law Administrators for their adherence to the U.S. |
|
|
Coast Guard's national standards for training, qualifications, and |
|
|
credentialing; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In addition, Texas game wardens play a crucial role |
|
|
in homeland security and emergency management, including search, |
|
|
rescue, and recovery efforts; in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina |
|
|
in 2005, they were the first out-of-state peace officers to be |
|
|
deployed to New Orleans, where they were directly involved in the |
|
|
rescue of 4,940 people from houses, apartments, and hospitals, and |
|
|
during Hurricane Harvey, they rescued more than 12,000 Texans from |
|
|
the storm's flood waters; in 2014, they took part in Operation |
|
|
Strong Safety, a homeland security initiative along the |
|
|
Texas-Mexico border; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The dedicated men and women who safeguard the public |
|
|
waters of the Lone Star State for the use and enjoyment of present |
|
|
and future generations truly deserve to be known, in the words of |
|
|
former Governor George W. Bush, as our modern-day "Texas Navy," and |
|
|
these individuals indeed merit recognition for their vital |
|
|
contributions; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas |
|
|
hereby recognize the game wardens of the Texas Parks and Wildlife |
|
|
Department as the "Texas Navy" and commend them for their |
|
|
outstanding work as maritime safety enforcement officers; and, be |
|
|
it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for the TPWD as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
|
House of Representatives and Senate. |