H.R. No. 526

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Residents of Matagorda County are gathering in
	Austin on March 18, 2025, to celebrate Matagorda County Day at the
	State Capitol; and
	WHEREAS, Matagorda County, one of the oldest counties in
	Texas, derives its name from the Spanish term for "thick brush,"
	referencing the canebrakes that once lined its shores along the
	Gulf Coast; located between Galveston and Corpus Christi, 72 miles
	southwest of Houston, the county offers residents easy access to a
	major metropolitan area while preserving the quiet lifestyle of a
	rural South Texas community; and
	WHEREAS, Bay City, the county seat of Matagorda County, is
	often called the "Gateway to the Great Outdoors"; founded in 1894,
	the city was named for its location in the center of a vast coastal
	prairie, which has been known as "Bay Prairie" since the time of
	Stephen F. Austin; although located 25 miles from the Gulf of
	Mexico, the Port of Bay City was constructed in the 1960s to connect
	the city to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway via the Colorado River,
	and it proudly serves both the industrial and recreational needs of
	the county; and
	WHEREAS, Matagorda County is known for its abundant wildlife,
	diverse geography, and rich natural resources; the county is
	believed to be home to more species of birds than anywhere else in
	the country during certain times of the year; its marshes, coastal
	prairies, rivers, and forests provide outstanding birding
	opportunities, with three Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail loops
	encompassing 17 observation sites; the Matagorda County Birding
	Nature Center and LCRA Matagorda Bay Nature Park are ideal places to
	learn about birds, gardening, wildlife, and native plants; in
	addition to its avian attractions, the county's bays are teeming
	with redfish, flounder, trout, crab, oysters, and shrimp, and the
	Port of Palacios is one of the largest shrimping ports in Texas,
	home to more than 125 shrimp boats; and
	WHEREAS, The county's economy is driven by ranching, farming,
	and petroleum, with additional economic strength provided by the
	South Texas Project; the county is also home to international
	companies such as Tenaris Bay City, OQ Chemicals Corporation, and
	LyondellBasell, and it has recently welcomed HIF USA, Air Liquide,
	and Roehm America LLC to the area; moreover, Matagorda County is
	seeing significant growth in residential development, with over 800
	housing starts, as well as an influx of new retail outlets and
	restaurants; and
	WHEREAS, Matagorda County is blessed with a rich history and
	abundant natural resources, and its residents may take great pride
	in their county's legacy and bright future; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize March 18, 2025, as Matagorda County
	Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting
	delegation.
	Louderback
	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. 526 was adopted by the House on March
	18, 2025, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House