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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Port of Galveston is celebrating its 200th |
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anniversary with a series of events in 2025; and |
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WHEREAS, The port was officially founded on October 17, 1825, |
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when Stephen F. Austin urged the Mexican government to designate it |
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as a provisional customs entry point; in 1836, the port played a |
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vital role in the Texas Revolution and the Battle of San Jacinto, |
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and after Texas won its independence, it became a catalyst in the |
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incorporation of the city of Galveston in 1839; the port would serve |
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as a powerful economic engine for Galveston and the primary factor |
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in its emergence as one of the largest cities in Texas; in 1940, a |
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public vote led to the port becoming a self-sustaining city entity; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Today, the 840-acre Port of Galveston is the only |
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cruise port in the state and the fourth most popular cruise port in |
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the nation; it features three terminals from which ships operated |
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by Carnival, Disney, Norwegian, Princess, and Royal Caribbean |
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cruise lines set sail, and this year, nearly two million passengers |
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boarded cruises in Galveston; the cruise industry accounts for 60 |
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percent of the port's revenue and is helping to fund renovation |
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efforts, such as the $90 million expansion project currently |
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underway at the West Port Cargo Complex; in addition, officials |
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recently broke ground on a $156 million project to construct a |
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fourth cruise terminal, adding to the port's stable of cruise |
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providers; and |
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WHEREAS, The Port of Galveston has long been a resource of |
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tremendous economic, commercial, and recreational significance to |
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the State of Texas, and it is indeed fitting to join the people of |
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Galveston in celebrating this important milestone in the rich |
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history of the port; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature |
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hereby commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Port of Galveston |
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and pay tribute to the momentous role that the port has played in |
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the story of Texas. |