Bill Text: TX HR1478 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Commemorating the 75th anniversary of Big Bend National Park.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-05-02 - Filed [HR1478 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HR1478-Introduced.html
86R7070 JGH-D | ||
By: Nevárez | H.R. No. 1478 |
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WHEREAS, The strikingly beautiful Big Bend region is one of | ||
the treasures of the Lone Star State, and on June 12, 2019, Big Bend | ||
National Park will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its | ||
establishment; and | ||
WHEREAS, Situated along the United States-Mexico border in | ||
the southwestern part of Texas, Big Bend National Park includes | ||
1,200 square miles of stunning Chihuahuan Desert scenery; the park | ||
incorporates a variety of different landscapes within its borders, | ||
from the arid beauty of the desert floor to the volcanic peaks of | ||
the Chisos Mountains, from the thickets of vegetation along the | ||
banks of the Rio Grande to the majestic cliffs of Santa Elena | ||
Canyon; and | ||
WHEREAS, For millennia, the park has been home to a diverse | ||
array of plants and wildlife and today includes such inhabitants as | ||
black bears, mountain lions, and bobcats, as well as 450 species of | ||
birds and over 1,000 species of plants; moreover, the region's rich | ||
history of human habitation extends back thousands of years and | ||
encompasses Native Americans and Hispanic and Anglo-American | ||
settlers who arrived in the late 1800s and early 1900s; and | ||
WHEREAS, The idea for a park in this unique region was first | ||
conceived by entrepreneur J. O. Langford, State Representative | ||
E. E. Townsend, and newspaper publisher Amon Carter, and by 1933, | ||
their efforts resulted in the creation of Texas Canyons State Park, | ||
which was soon renamed Big Bend State Park; over the next decade, | ||
park supporters privately raised money to purchase additional land, | ||
and in 1942, the State of Texas allocated $1.5 million to purchase | ||
600,000 acres from private owners; and | ||
WHEREAS, On June 6, 1944--the same day that Allied forces | ||
made their D-Day invasion of Europe--Amon Carter presented | ||
President Franklin Roosevelt with the deed to the land; a week | ||
later, on June 12, 1944, Big Bend National Park was officially | ||
established, becoming the first national park in Texas; although it | ||
drew only 1,409 people during its first year, that number has grown | ||
to more than 400,000 annually, and today, visitors benefit from the | ||
park's 100 miles of paved scenic drives, 150 miles of hiking trails, | ||
and such amenities as the Chisos Mountain Lodge and multiple | ||
visitors centers; and | ||
WHEREAS, The abundant ecological, geological, and cultural | ||
riches of Big Bend are a source of tremendous pride for all Texans, | ||
and Big Bend National Park represents a vital part of our shared | ||
legacy; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby commemorate the 75th anniversary of Big Bend | ||
National Park; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for the park as an expression of high regard by the Texas | ||
House of Representatives. |