Bill Text: TX HR255 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Recognizing January 30, 2013, as Laredo Day at the State Capitol.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-01-30 - Reported enrolled [HR255 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HR255-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Recognizing January 30, 2013, as Laredo Day at the State Capitol.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-01-30 - Reported enrolled [HR255 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HR255-Introduced.html
83R6350 JGH-D | ||
By: Raymond | H.R. No. 255 |
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WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Laredo are gathering in Austin to | ||
celebrate Laredo Day at the State Capitol on January 30, 2013; 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 on 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 six U.S. Customs | ||
districts in the nation, and its diverse economy benefits from the | ||
retail, hospitality, import and export, and petroleum industries; | ||
the city handles 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 an 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 116-year-old, month-long event that | ||
includes a carnival, a colonial 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 83rd Texas | ||
Legislature hereby recognize January 30, 2013, as Laredo Day at the | ||
State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best | ||
wishes for a memorable and meaningful visit to Austin. |