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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A distinguished delegation from South Texas is |
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visiting Austin on February 19, 2025, to celebrate Rio Grande |
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Valley Day at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Enjoying a strategic location on the Gulf of Mexico |
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and along the Mexican border, the Rio Grande Valley was an important |
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ranching region when Texas became the nation's 28th state in 1845; |
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over time, the economy shifted from ranching to agriculture, and |
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the Valley became the state's center of citrus and vegetable |
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production; and |
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WHEREAS, In the 1960s, industry flourished and international |
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trade became increasingly prominent; the region has contributed |
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significantly to the tremendous increase in commerce across the |
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United States-Mexico border, with more than 1.15 million trucks, |
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11.7 million cars carrying 24.3 million passengers, 28,000 buses |
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carrying over 300,000 passengers, and 6.2 million pedestrians |
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crossing Rio Grande Valley ports of entry and averaging more than |
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$140 million in goods and services per day, with over $51 billion in |
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commercial trade per year flowing across various land ports of |
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entry; the Rio Grande Valley is an economic powerhouse for the State |
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of Texas with approximately $47.16 billion in taxable sales |
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recorded in reporting year 2024; and |
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WHEREAS, The Valley has around 1.4 million residents, with |
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approximately 565,000 individuals under the age of 25, and local |
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and state officials have focused on the need to expand access to |
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higher education and health care, strengthen the workforce, |
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increase transportation and ports of entry infrastructure, and |
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increase funding for public education; The University of Texas Rio |
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Grande Valley serves some 35,000 students; the UTRGV School of |
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Medicine is in its ninth year of operation with numerous GME |
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programs and patient care sites; and |
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WHEREAS, The six higher education institutions in the Rio |
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Grande Valley, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, the Texas |
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A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen, the Texas A&M |
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University Health Science Center, South Texas College, Texas |
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Southmost College, and Texas State Technical College, serve a |
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student population of more than 100,000; and |
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WHEREAS, Major sponsors for the day's legislative event |
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include the Texas Regional Bank, UTRGV, the Edinburg Economic |
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Development Corporation, Linebarger Attorneys at Law, Charter |
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Communications, the City of Edinburg, Texas Gas Service, the Texas |
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International Produce Association, AEP, Raise Your Hand Texas, |
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NextDecade, Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, and AT&T, all of which |
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are promoting greater regional cooperation in the 21st century; and |
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WHEREAS, A vibrant region with a rich heritage, the Rio |
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Grande Valley is poised to take advantage of tremendous |
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opportunities for continued economic development, and it is indeed |
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most fitting to honor Valley residents for their dedication to |
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building a bright and prosperous future for the area; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 19, 2025, as Rio Grande |
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Valley Day at the State Capitol and extend to all participants |
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sincere best wishes for a productive and enjoyable visit. |