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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Railroad Commission of Texas is celebrating the |
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130th anniversary of its founding in April 2021, and this milestone |
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presents a fitting opportunity to recognize this venerable |
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institution; and |
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WHEREAS, Established by the Texas Constitution in 1891, the |
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Railroad Commission was created to oversee the rates and operations |
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of railroads, terminals, wharves, and express companies; in 1917, |
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the Texas Legislature declared pipelines to be common carriers |
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under the authority of the Railroad Commission and designated the |
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commission as the agency to administer the conservation laws |
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relating to oil and gas; in March 1919, with the rapid rise in oil |
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and gas production, the legislature enacted a statute requiring the |
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conservation of oil and gas, forbidding waste, and giving the |
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Railroad Commission jurisdiction over the industry; and |
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WHEREAS, In the decades since, the commission's roles and |
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responsibilities have grown as the state has changed; its rail |
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functions have been transferred to other agencies, but its |
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jurisdiction has been extended to the oversight not only of oil and |
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gas exploration and production, but also of pipeline safety and the |
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safety of alternative fuels, natural gas utilities, and the surface |
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mining of coal and uranium; the commission's staff includes highly |
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skilled engineers, geologists, and field inspectors, as well as |
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professionals with expertise in information technology, the law, |
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finance, safety, communications, and administration, who are |
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tasked with ensuring the protection of the public, the environment, |
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and the economy; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, the Railroad Commission conducts inspections |
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of oil and gas wells, pipeline infrastructure, alternative fuels |
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facilities, and coal surface mining sites; it also conducts field |
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audits of natural gas utilities and of the number of abandoned well |
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sites that have been cleaned up with the use of state-managed funds; |
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in addition, the commission's staff is working tirelessly to |
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modernize its IT systems, transforming outdated processes into new |
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platforms that allow streamlined and transparent business |
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operations; and |
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WHEREAS, For 130 years, the Railroad Commission of Texas has |
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played a vital role in promoting the energy independence of our |
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nation, and the agency has earned a national and international |
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reputation for its accomplishments; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 130th anniversary of the |
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Railroad Commission of Texas and extend to the commissioners and |
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the commission's staff sincere best wishes for success with their |
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important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Railroad Commission as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |