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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 122
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WHEREAS, A distinguished delegation from South Texas is |
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visiting Austin on February 7, 2017, to celebrate Rio Grande |
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Valley Day at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Enjoying a strategic location on the Gulf of |
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Mexico and along the Mexican border, the Rio Grande Valley was an |
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important ranching region when Texas became the nation's 28th |
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state in 1845; over time, the economy shifted from ranching to |
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agriculture, and the Valley became the state's center of citrus |
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and vegetable production; and |
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WHEREAS, In the 1960s, industry flourished and international |
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trade became increasingly prominent; the region has contributed |
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significantly to the tremendous increase in commerce across the |
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United States-Mexico border, with more than 800,000 trucks, 11.5 |
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million cars, and 5.8 million pedestrians crossing Rio Grande |
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Valley ports of entry and averaging more than $1.3 billion in goods |
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and services per day; the Rio Grande Valley is an economic |
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powerhouse for the State of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The Valley has over 1.5 million residents, and |
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local and state officials have focused on the need to expand |
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access to higher education, strengthen the workforce, and |
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introduce programs, such as SpaceX, which partnered with The |
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University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to create STARGATE and |
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enables students to be involved in all aspects of space missions; |
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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Medical School enrolled |
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its first class of 55 medical students in July of 2016; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas A&M University System officially broke |
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ground to expand in McAllen with a campus that will be linked to |
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the campus in College Station and will offer programs in |
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engineering, technology, biomedical sciences, agriculture, and |
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the laboratory sciences; and |
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WHEREAS, The focus for today's special legislative event is |
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workforce development, transportation and border infrastructure, |
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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Medical School funding, |
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the Texas A&M University's Healthy South Texas initiative, and the |
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Rio Grande Valley border image; major sponsors include The |
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University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Texas A&M University, South |
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Texas College, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley |
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Foundation, the City of McAllen, the City of Edinburg, the City of |
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Weslaco, the Port of Brownsville, the Rio Grande Valley |
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Partnership, the McAllen Convention and Visitors Bureau, the |
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Edinburg Chamber of Commerce, the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce, the |
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McAllen Chamber of Commerce, the Brownsville Community Improvement |
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Corporation, the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, the |
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Mission Economic Development Corporation, the McAllen Economic |
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Development Corporation, the Edinburg Economic Development |
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Corporation, the Pharr Economic Development Corporation, the Rio |
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South Texas Economic Council, the McAllen-Hidalgo International |
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Bridge, the Anzalduas International Bridge, and the Food Bank of |
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the Rio Grande Valley; several private sector businesses, such |
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as the Warren Group Architects, BBVA Compass Bank, and IBC |
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Bank, are also promoting greater regional cooperation in the |
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21st century; and |
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WHEREAS, A vibrant region with a rich heritage, the Rio |
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Grande Valley is poised to take advantage of tremendous |
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opportunities for continued economic development, and it is |
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indeed most fitting to honor Valley residents for their |
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dedication to building a bright and prosperous future for the |
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area; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize February 7, 2017, as Rio Grande |
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Valley Day at the State Capitol and extend to all participants |
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sincere best wishes for a productive and enjoyable visit. |
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Hinojosa, Lucio, Zaffirini |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on February 7, 2017. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |