Bill Text: TX SR243 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing February 21, 2017, as Texas State Aquarium Day.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-02-21 - Reported enrolled [SR243 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SR243-Enrolled.html
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WHEREAS, The Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi is an | ||
outstanding institution that is committed to connecting people | ||
with nature and to promoting conservation of the Gulf of Mexico; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, After two decades of planning and fund-raising, | ||
the Texas State Aquarium first opened the doors to its original | ||
Gulf of Mexico exhibit in 1990; over the years, many new | ||
permanent and special exhibits have been introduced that allow | ||
spectators to see a live bald eagle, to touch and feed stingrays, | ||
to watch Atlantic bottlenose dolphins play, and to get an | ||
underwater view of the habitat formed around an oil platform in | ||
the gulf; the aquarium also features a splash park, an artificial | ||
fossil dig site for uncovering casts of prehistoric animal bones, | ||
and the Hawn Wild Flight Theater, with presentations featuring | ||
trained birds; in 2014, it announced an expansion project that | ||
will more than double the size of the facilities; and | ||
WHEREAS, In addition to entertaining and delighting visitors, | ||
this private, not-for-profit institution gives back to the | ||
community through its education and conservation programs; field | ||
trips, summer camps, and distance learning empower Texans of all | ||
ages to discover more about nature and marine wildlife, while the | ||
Second Chances Wildlife Rehabilitation Program provides care for | ||
ill or injured shorebirds, birds of prey, marine mammals, and sea | ||
turtles and returns them to their natural habitats whenever | ||
possible; furthermore, the aquarium coordinates beach cleanups | ||
three times a year, fosters awareness of Texas watersheds with | ||
its Keepers of the Coast program, and awards grants through its | ||
Wildlife Care, Conservation, and Research Fund; and | ||
WHEREAS, The Texas State Aquarium has been honored with | ||
numerous accolades, including the Outstanding Public-Private | ||
Partnership Award from Mutual of America, the Munson Aquatic | ||
Conservation Exhibitry Award from the American Zoo and Aquarium | ||
Association, and the Conservation and Environmental Stewardship | ||
Award for Public Awareness from the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation; | ||
in 2014, it became one of only six aquariums in the nation to earn | ||
a prestigious four-star rating from Charity Navigator; and | ||
WHEREAS, By encouraging Texans to appreciate the diversity | ||
and vulnerability of marine life, the aquarium is making a | ||
significant contribution to the Lone Star State, and the efforts | ||
and achievements of all involved in this worthy endeavor indeed | ||
merit special commendation; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th | ||
Legislature, hereby recognize February 21, 2017, as Texas State | ||
Aquarium Day and extend to all those associated with the aquarium | ||
sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for | ||
the Texas State Aquarium as an expression of high regard from the | ||
Texas Senate. | ||
Hinojosa | ||
________________________________ | ||
President of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that the | ||
above Resolution was adopted by | ||
the Senate on February 21, 2017. | ||
________________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
________________________________ | ||
Member, Texas Senate |