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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Community and business leaders of Eagle Pass are |
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gathering in Austin on March 6 and 7, 2019, to celebrate Eagle Pass |
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Legislative Days at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Located in Maverick County along the U.S.-Mexico |
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border in southwest Texas, Eagle Pass was established in 1849 and |
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serves as the county seat; the city was originally named El Paso del |
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Aguila because of the frequent flights of Mexican eagles over the |
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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 a trade depot for the Military Board of Texas, and Fort Duncan |
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north of the town was occupied by Confederate troops; after the |
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fort's abandonment during the war, Native American populations |
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seized control of the region, leading to several violent |
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skirmishes; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, City of Eagle Pass officials are committed to |
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working together to create jobs, encourage young people, and |
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improve the quality of life in their region; among the |
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accomplishments in recent years are a renovated public library, |
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revitalized downtown, completion of infrastructure projects at |
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ports of entry, upgraded parks with the addition of a skate park, |
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and construction of a new public safety building; and |
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WHEREAS, The City of Eagle Pass has established a Business & |
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Economic Development Committee, which serves as a special advisory |
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committee to the mayor and city council; it includes nine standing |
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committees and works through collaborative efforts with the public |
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and private sector groups to support economic development and to |
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attract and retain solid business, industry, and trade, as well as |
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affordable housing; specific goals include expanding the region's |
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transportation, infrastructure, and health care services and the |
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establishment of a four-year college to broaden the educational |
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opportunities provided by 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 in manufactured goods and averages 10,000 cars, 700 |
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commercial trucks, and 3,000 pedestrians daily and over 450,000 |
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rail cars annually; and |
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WHEREAS, The city hosted the first Babe Ruth World Series |
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last summer with teams from throughout the United States, and the |
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Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas provides an important source of |
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jobs, revenue, and tourism; visitors to the region can also learn |
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about area history at Fort Duncan Park and San Juan Plaza and enjoy |
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outdoor recreation at Maverick County Lake; moreover, they can |
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stroll the streets of historic downtown Eagle Pass, which has been |
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designated as a Texas Main Street City by the Texas Historical |
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Commission; and |
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WHEREAS, The residents of Eagle Pass, led by Mayor Ramsey |
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English-Cantu, Mayor Pro-tem Yolanda Ramon, and city council |
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members Rudy Villalpando, Luis Sifuentes, and William "Billy" |
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Davis, are justifiably proud of their rich heritage, and it is most |
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fitting that they be honored for their contributions to the story of |
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the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 6 and 7, 2019, as Eagle Pass |
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Legislative Days at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting |
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delegation sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay |
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in Austin. |
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Nevárez |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 733 was adopted by the House on March |
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6, 2019, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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