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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, a delegation comprised of community and business |
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leaders of the Great City of Eagle Pass, Texas are gathering in |
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Austin to celebrate the 2019 Eagle Pass Legislative Days on March 6 & |
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7 at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, the City of Eagle Pass is located in Maverick County |
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along the United States and Mexico border in southwest Texas, |
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commonly referred to as the Middle Rio Grande Region, is divided by |
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a natural barrier known as the Rio Grande River, was established in |
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1849, and serves as the county seat; the city was originally named |
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El Paso del Aguila because of the frequent flights of Mexican eagles |
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over the area; and |
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WHEREAS, artifacts uncovered throughout Eagle Pass and the |
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region attest to the presence of hunter-gatherers in prehistoric |
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times; the area was also visited by Spanish explorers and settlers, |
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who traversed the Camino Real, later known as Old San Antonio Road, |
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in greater numbers than in any other section of the state; various |
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expeditions, including that of Alonso de León in 1690, served to |
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forge the trail and elevate its significance in the early history of |
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Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, In the tumultuous years of the Civil War, Eagle Pass |
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was employed as a trade depot for the Military Board of Texas, and |
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Fort Duncan to its north was occupied by Confederate troops; after |
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the fort's abandonment during the war, Indian populations seized |
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control of the region, leading to several violent skirmishes, and |
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WHEREAS, Today, the City of Eagle Pass officials are |
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committed to working together to create jobs, encourage young |
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people, and improve the quality of life in their region of the |
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state; among the accomplishments in recent years are an addition |
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renovated public library, revitalized downtown, completion of |
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infrastructure projects at ports of entry, upgraded parks with the |
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addition of a skatepark, and construction of a new public safety |
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building; and |
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WHEREAS, the City of Eagle Pass has established a Business & |
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Economic Development Committee (BEDC), which serves as a special |
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advisory committee to the mayor and city council, that includes |
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nine standing committees, and works through collaborative efforts |
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with the public and private sector groups to support economic |
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development in Eagle Pass and its region to attract and retain solid |
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business, industry, and trade, as well as affordable housing; |
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specific goals include expanding the region's transportation and |
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infrastructure, health care services, and the establishment of a |
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four-year college to augment local institutions Sul Ross State |
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University Rio Grande College and Southwest Texas Junior College; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, With three international bridges, including a rail |
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bridge, Eagle Pass and Maverick County have become an important |
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port of entry for international commerce that supports over 25.2 |
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billion dollars in manufacture goods, and averaging 10,000 cars, |
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700 commercial trucks, and 3,000 pedestrians daily, and over |
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450,000 rail cars annually, and where the city hosted the first Babe |
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Ruth World Series last summer with teams from throughout the United |
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States, and the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas provides an |
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important source of jobs, revenue, and tourism; visitors to the |
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region can also learn about area history at Fort Duncan Park and San |
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Juan Plaza and enjoy outdoor recreation at Maverick County Lake; |
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moreover, they can stroll the streets of historic downtown Eagle |
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Pass, which has been designated as a Texas Main Street City by the |
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Texas Historical Commission; and |
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WHEREAS, the City of Eagle Pass is led by Mayor Ramsey |
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English-Cantu, Mayor Pro-tem Yolanda Ramon, Councilmen Rudy |
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Villalpando, Luis Sifuentes, and William "Billy" Davis and |
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represent residents that are justifiably proud of their |
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contributions to the Lone Star State, and it is most fitting that |
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they be honored on this special day; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognizes the 2019 Eagle Pass Legislative Days |
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at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere |
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best wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin. |