Bill Text: TX HR174 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing January 24, 2011, as Laredo Day at the State Capitol.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-01-25 - Reported enrolled [HR174 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HR174-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 174 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Laredo are gathering in Austin to | ||
| celebrate Laredo Day at the State Capitol on January 24, 2011; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Originally known as San Agustin de Laredo, the city | ||
| was founded in 1755 as an outpost of the Spanish empire; it later | ||
| belonged to Mexico, after that country gained independence from | ||
| Spain in 1821, and served as the capital of the short-lived Republic | ||
| of the Rio Grande; Laredo became part of Texas in 1846 and was | ||
| subsequently chosen as the seat of Webb County; and | ||
| WHEREAS, From its earliest days, Laredo was an important | ||
| crossing of the Rio Grande and a trading center for livestock, | ||
| hides, and wool; its role in international trade expanded with the | ||
| arrival of the railroad in 1881 and with the development of the Zona | ||
| Libre, or free trade zone, along the border between the United | ||
| States and Mexico; its economy was further helped by coal mining, | ||
| the introduction of onion farming, and the discovery of rich oil and | ||
| gas fields; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Today, this bustling gateway city is the largest | ||
| inland port along the Rio Grande and one of the top four | ||
| ports-of-commerce in the nation, and its diverse economy benefits | ||
| from the retail, hospitality, import and export, and petroleum | ||
| industries; in 2008, it handled 40 percent of all trade between the | ||
| United States and Mexico; Laredo is also a focus for higher | ||
| education in the Rio Grande Valley, as the home to Texas A&M | ||
| International University, two campuses of Laredo Community | ||
| College, and a new extension campus of The University of Texas | ||
| Health Science Center at San Antonio; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike may explore such area | ||
| attractions as the historic San Agustin Cathedral, the Republic of | ||
| the Rio Grande Museum, and the Laredo Center for the Arts, while 40 | ||
| blocks of import vendors along San Bernardo Avenue draw shoppers | ||
| from near and far; in addition, Laredo is home to Washington's | ||
| Birthday Celebration, a 114-year-old, 10-day event that includes a | ||
| carnival, a beauty pageant, a jalapeno festival, and a parade; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Heirs to a rich history and a vibrant international | ||
| culture, the citizens of Laredo may indeed take great pride in their | ||
| city's two and a half centuries of progress and achievement; now, | ||
| therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby recognize January 24, 2011, as Laredo Day at the | ||
| State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best | ||
| wishes for a memorable and meaningful visit to Austin. | ||
| Raymond | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 174 was adopted by the House on | ||
| January 24, 2011, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
