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SENATE RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas and the United Kingdom have |
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enjoyed a long and fruitful partnership founded on shared |
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history, culture, language, and robust economic ties; and |
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WHEREAS, An official delegation from the United Kingdom |
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headed by British Consul General Sujeevan Satheesan is visiting |
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the State Capitol on February 11, 2025; and |
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WHEREAS, This special relationship dates back nearly two |
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centuries; Sam Houston, president of the Republic of Texas, was |
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the first Texas leader to send a diplomatic mission to London, |
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and a plaque on St. James Street still marks the site of the |
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legation of the Republic of Texas; in addition, the first British |
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Consulate in the State of Texas was established in Galveston in |
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1846; and |
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WHEREAS, The United Kingdom remains one of Texas's most |
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significant economic partners; it is the top source of foreign |
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direct investment in the Lone Star State, with subsidiaries of |
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British companies accounting for tens of thousands of Texas jobs; |
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every year, British households and businesses purchase billions |
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of dollars in services and goods from Texas, including petroleum |
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products, aerospace components, and medical equipment, among |
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others; major airlines connect Texas cities daily to the UK, |
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promoting commerce and tourism that bring our two peoples ever |
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closer; and |
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WHEREAS, Defense and security cooperation, including |
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longstanding ventures such as the F-35 fighter jet program based |
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in Fort Worth, highlights the shared commitment to peace and |
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stability; at the same time, the two partners look to the future |
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through collaboration on critical areas like innovation, |
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technology, advanced manufacturing, and a secure energy |
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infrastructure, especially as they seek to build resilient |
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supply chains and sustainable energy solutions; and |
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WHEREAS, Further underscoring the value of this |
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relationship, Governor Greg Abbott and The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch |
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MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade of the United |
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Kingdom, signed a Statement of Mutual Cooperation in March 2023; |
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through this landmark agreement, the Participants pledged to |
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deepen economic ties, promote trade and investment, foster |
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innovation, and coordinate efforts to bolster emerging |
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industries, showcasing a shared vision to cultivate job creation |
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and prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic; and |
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WHEREAS, By supporting an open dialogue on trade and |
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commerce within state jurisdiction and advocating for greater |
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collaboration at all levels of government, Texas and the UK |
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demonstrate their continued commitment to working in tandem for a |
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stronger bilateral relationship; the friendship between Texans |
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and Britons, and fostered by ongoing cultural and economic |
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engagement, will continue to grow in the years ahead; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Legislature of the |
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State of Texas hereby recognizes the vital importance of the |
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enduring and evolving partnership between the State of Texas and |
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the United Kingdom, commend all those individuals who have worked |
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and continue to work toward maintaining and strengthening this |
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remarkable friendship, and celebrate the recent signing of the |
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Statement of Mutual Cooperation as a testament to the lasting |
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bonds between Texans and Britons; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Consul General of the United Kingdom in Houston |
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and the British Ambassador to the United States in Washington, |
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D.C., as an expression of high regard by the Texas Senate. |