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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas is a vital hub for national |
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security and defense innovation; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas is home to the U.S. Army Futures Command, the |
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"Third Coast" of the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense |
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Innovation Unit, and 17 additional military branches and |
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intelligence entities seeking advanced solutions to modern |
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security challenges; these units have demonstrated a thorough |
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understanding of the defense and intelligence needs of the United |
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States, and they have benefited from the valuable contributions of |
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Texas-based researchers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, small |
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business owners, and large defense companies; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, the State of Texas has made |
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significant investments in defense innovation, advanced |
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manufacturing, energy, commercial space technologies, |
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semiconductors, drones, and advanced air mobility; the state has |
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cultivated top-tier talent and businesses that have proven to be |
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crucial to our national security; in addition, a number of the |
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state's enterprises have collaborated with national agencies to |
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deliver economic advantages in cost and technology; and |
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WHEREAS, The recent reprioritization of the federal defense |
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budget could potentially lead to the erosion of Texas' role in |
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defense innovation, resulting in the loss of crucial units and |
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programs that have bolstered military and intelligence readiness, |
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technological advancement, solutions, and economic growth; the |
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departure of these critical defense entities would not only weaken |
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the nation's ability to rapidly develop and deploy cutting-edge |
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capabilities but also undermine the state's contributions to |
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national security and the economy; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas is poised to lead the next generation of |
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breakthroughs in military technology, force modernization, and |
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strategic capabilities, and the federal government should continue |
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to support the state in its efforts to sustain and strengthen |
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defense innovation; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby respectfully urge the U.S. Department of Defense and |
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national security leadership to recognize the essential role Texas |
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plays in defense innovation and to maintain and expand investment |
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in the state's defense research, development, and operational |
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infrastructure at the U.S. Army Futures Command, Defense Innovation |
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Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation, AFWERX, National Security |
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Agency, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, NavalX, |
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U.S. State Department Emerging Technologies, Central Intelligence |
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Agency, Operational Test Command, Army Research Lab, U.S. Marine |
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Tech Bridge, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, Sixteenth |
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Air Force (Air Forces Cyber), U.S. Space Force, U.S. Defense Health |
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Agency, and Brooke Army Medical Center; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an |
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official copy of this resolution to the U.S. Secretary of Defense, |
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to the President of the United States, and to the Texas |
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congressional delegation. |