H.R. No. 299

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, A distinguished delegation from South Texas is
	visiting Austin on February 19, 2025, 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 1.15 million 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 $47.16 billion in taxable sales
	recorded in reporting year 2024; and
	WHEREAS, The Valley has around 1.4 million residents, with
	approximately 565,000 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 35,000 students; the UTRGV School of
	Medicine is in its ninth 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, the Texas
	A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen, the Texas A&M
	University Health Science Center, South Texas College, Texas
	Southmost College, and Texas State Technical College, serve a
	student population of more than 100,000; and
	WHEREAS, Major sponsors for the day's legislative event
	include the Texas Regional Bank, UTRGV, the Edinburg Economic
	Development Corporation, Linebarger Attorneys at Law, Charter
	Communications, the City of Edinburg, Texas Gas Service, the Texas
	International Produce Association, AEP, Raise Your Hand Texas,
	NextDecade, Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, and AT&T, 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 89th Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize February 19, 2025, as Rio Grande
	Valley Day at the State Capitol and extend to all participants
	sincere best wishes for a productive and enjoyable visit.
	Guillen
	Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw
	Alders Guillen Morgan
	Allen Harless Muñoz
	Anchía Harris Noble
	Ashby Harris Davila Olcott
	Barry Harrison Oliverson
	Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz
	Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr
	Bernal Hernandez Patterson
	Bhojani Hickland Paul
	Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso
	Bowers Holt Perez of Harris
	Bryant Hopper Phelan
	Buckley Howard Pierson
	Bucy Hull Plesa
	Bumgarner Hunter Raymond
	Button Isaac Reynolds
	Cain Johnson Richardson
	Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos
	Canales Jones of Harris Romero
	Capriglione Kerwin Rose
	Cole King Rosenthal
	Collier Kitzman Schatzline
	Cook LaHood Schofield
	Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft
	Craddick Lambert Shaheen
	Cunningham Landgraf Shofner
	Curry Leach Simmons
	Darby Leo Wilson Slawson
	A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee
	Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller
	Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson
	DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico
	Dorazio Louderback Tepper
	Dutton Lowe Thompson
	Dyson Lozano Tinderholt
	Fairly Lujan Toth
	Flores Luther Troxclair
	Frank Manuel Turner
	Gámez Martinez VanDeaver
	Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut
	Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos
	Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell
	Gates Metcalf Vo
	Gerdes Meyer Walle
	Geren Meza Ward Johnson
	Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton
	González of Dallas Moody Wilson
	González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu
	Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 299 was adopted by the House on February
	19, 2025, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House