H.R. No. 274

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, A distinguished delegation from South Texas is
	visiting Austin on February 22, 2023, to celebrate Rio Grande
	Valley Day at the State Capitol; and
	WHEREAS, Enjoying a strategic location on the Gulf of Mexico
	and along the Mexican border, the Rio Grande Valley was an important
	ranching region when Texas became the nation's 28th state in 1845;
	over time, the economy shifted from ranching to agriculture, and
	the Valley became the state's center of citrus and vegetable
	production; and
	WHEREAS, In the 1960s, industry flourished and international
	trade became increasingly prominent; the region has contributed
	significantly to the tremendous increase in commerce across the
	United States-Mexico border, with more than 1,152,000 trucks, 11.7
	million cars carrying 24.3 million passengers, 28,000 buses
	carrying over 300,000 passengers, and 6.2 million pedestrians
	crossing Rio Grande Valley ports of entry and averaging more than
	$140 million in goods and services per day, with over $51 billion in
	commercial trade per year flowing across various land ports of
	entry; the Rio Grande Valley is an economic powerhouse for the State
	of Texas with approximately $12.5 billion in taxable sales recorded
	in reporting year 2022; and
	WHEREAS, The Valley has around 1.4 million residents, with
	approximately 835,000 individuals under the age of 25, and local
	and state officials have focused on the need to expand access to
	higher education and health care, strengthen the workforce,
	increase transportation and ports of entry infrastructure, and
	increase funding for public education; The University of Texas Rio
	Grande Valley serves some 30,000 students; the UTRGV School of
	Medicine is in its seventh year of operation with numerous GME
	programs and patient care sites; and
	WHEREAS, The six higher education institutions in the Rio
	Grande Valley, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Texas A&M
	University McAllen Higher Education Center, Texas A&M University
	Health Science Center, South Texas College, Texas Southmost
	College, and Texas State Technical College, serve a student
	population of over 90,000; and
	WHEREAS, Major sponsors for the day's legislative event
	include the Cities of Brownsville, San Benito, Primera, Palm
	Valley, McAllen, and Edinburg, ERO Architects, Gulf Aviation, the
	Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority, M&S De Leon Enterprises
	LLC, RGV Grant Consultants LLC, Cameron County Drainage District
	No. 5, Hidalgo County Precinct No. 4, JL Powers & Associates, Alamo
	Chamber of Commerce, the Weslaco, Edinburg, Pharr, Mission,
	Harlingen, and San Benito Economic Development Corporations,
	Prairie View A&M University, Supporting World Hope, the Rio Grande
	Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization, VTX1 Companies, Texas
	State Technical College, the Port of Harlingen Authority, Driscoll
	Children's Hospital, the Brownsville Community Improvement
	Corporation, Killam Development, Texas Gas Service, the Greater
	Chamber of Harlingen, the Texas Oil & Gas Association, Texas
	Regional Bank, AT&T, and Atlas Hall & Rodriguez, all of which are
	promoting greater regional cooperation in the 21st century; and
	WHEREAS, A vibrant region with a rich heritage, the Rio
	Grande Valley is poised to take advantage of tremendous
	opportunities for continued economic development, and it is indeed
	most fitting to honor Valley residents for their dedication to
	building a bright and prosperous future for the area; now,
	therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize February 22, 2023, as Rio Grande
	Valley Day at the State Capitol and extend to all participants
	sincere best wishes for a productive and enjoyable visit.
	Martinez
	Guillen
	Muñoz, Jr.
	Longoria
	Lopez of Cameron
	Phelan Guerra Murr
	Allen Guillen Neave Criado
	Allison Harless Noble
	Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson
	Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz
	Ashby Harrison Orr
	Bailes Hayes Ortega
	Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson
	Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul
	Bernal Herrero Perez
	Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa
	Bonnen Holland Price
	Bowers Howard Ramos
	Bryant Hull Raney
	Buckley Hunter Raymond
	Bucy Isaac Reynolds
	Bumgarner Jetton Rogers
	Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
	Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose
	Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal
	Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer
	Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline
	Canales Kacal Schofield
	Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen
	Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr.
	Cole Kitzman Shine
	Collier Klick Slaton
	Cook Kuempel Slawson
	Cortez Lalani Smith
	Craddick Lambert Smithee
	Cunningham Landgraf Spiller
	Darby Leach Stucky
	Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson
	Dean Longoria Talarico
	DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper
	Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry
	Dutton Lozano Thimesch
	Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria
	Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris
	Frazier Martinez Tinderholt
	Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth
	Garcia Metcalf Troxclair
	Gates Meyer Turner
	Gerdes Meza VanDeaver
	Geren Moody Vasut
	Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo
	Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle
	González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson
	González of El Paso Morrison Wu
	Goodwin Muñoz, Jr. Zwiener
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 274 was adopted by the House on February
	22, 2023, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House