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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Texas-Mexico border spans 14 counties in the |
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State of Texas, and approximately 10 percent of the state's |
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population resides in a Texas-Mexico border county; and |
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WHEREAS, Millions of people rely on crossing the border to |
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access education, health care, retail, and other service industry |
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necessities, and these activities have a positive effect on the |
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economic stability of the region; the border generated more than |
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$350 billion in annual gross domestic product as of 2019, and trade |
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within the region represents more than 5 percent of Texas' gross |
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domestic product; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2018, trade through the El Paso port of entry |
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affected approximately 165,000 net jobs in Texas and $25 billion in |
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gross domestic product; moreover, Port Laredo is the largest inland |
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trade port along the border, ranking third in the nation for total |
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trade in May 2021; across the United States, the Pharr-Reynosa |
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International Bridge is the second largest produce-crossing land |
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port, ensuring the efficient delivery of fresh fruits and |
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vegetables to all Americans; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas-Mexico border is a vibrant, thriving, |
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multicultural region that contributes to the richness and diversity |
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of our state and country; the majority of area residents are |
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Americans of at least partial Mexican descent, and the tri-national |
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region includes tribal nations such as the Kickapoo Traditional |
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Tribe of Texas and Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of El Paso; and |
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WHEREAS, Border communities have long been recognized for |
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their steadfast commitment to safety; countless generations of |
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Texans have chosen to rear their families along the Texas-Mexico |
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border due to its peaceful community, and some of the safest cities |
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in the country include Brownsville, Eagle Pass, Del Rio, Laredo, |
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McAllen, and El Paso, which is known for Fort Bliss and its |
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significant military presence; and |
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WHEREAS, Multiple cities along the border have been honored |
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with the All-American City award; El Paso has won the award four |
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times, and Edinburg has won three times; other recipients of this |
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prestigious designation include Brownsville, McAllen, Mission, |
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Hidalgo, Pharr, and Weslaco; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas-Mexico border features an ecologically |
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diverse environment; the region's natural sites include the |
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Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Quinta Mazatlán, the |
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Butterfly Center, and Big Bend National Park, which attracts |
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numerous species of birds, plants, butterflies, bats, reptiles, and |
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ants; in addition, one of the state's symbols, the Texas red |
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grapefruit, is grown in the Rio Grande Valley; and |
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WHEREAS, Countless Texans benefit from the border region's |
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premier educational institutions, which include four-year |
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universities, junior colleges, and trade schools; more than 28,600 |
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students are enrolled in The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, |
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and the UTRGV School of Medicine currently serves hundreds of |
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medical students, medical residents, and fellows who participate in |
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hospital-based training programs; there are three higher education |
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institutions in Laredo, namely Texas A&M International University |
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and Laredo College, which are designated Hispanic-Serving |
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Institutions, and The University of Texas System Multi-Institution |
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Center; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas-Mexico border region is playing a vital |
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role in the story of the Lone Star State, and it is indeed deserving |
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of special recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas, |
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2nd Called Session, hereby recognize that the Texas-Mexico border |
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is vital to the economy, education, and character of our state, and |
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that the cities and counties along the Texas-Mexico border are |
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vibrant, prosperous, diverse, and safe communities. |