81R7849 CBE-D
By: Hunter H.C.R. No. 173
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The cruise operations in the homeports of Galveston
and Houston have an enormous economic impact on Texas; together,
the cities hosted some 680,000 passenger and crew visits in 2007,
which accounted for $1.07 billion in direct spending; in addition,
the industry was responsible for generating over 18,500 Texas jobs
and paying $893 million in wage income; and
WHEREAS, South of Galveston, between Calhoun and Cameron
Counties, Texas is home to several growing cities, robust tourism,
and a wealth of natural resources; the area also hosts three major
deepwater ports, any of which might be a viable site for a cruise
line headquarters or a port of embarkation; and
WHEREAS, Florida and California, respectively, benefit the
most from the North American cruise industry; both states currently
operate five ports, including Port Canaveral, Port Everglades,
Jacksonville, Miami, and Tampa in Florida, and Los Angeles, Long
Beach, San Diego, San Francisco, and Oakland in California; an
additional Texas cruise ship port between Calhoun and Cameron
Counties could offer an attractive vacation option for a
significant portion of the state's residents and be an economic
boon to the state as a whole; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby request the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house
of representatives to provide for a joint interim legislative study
regarding the development of a cruise industry on the Texas coast
between Calhoun and Cameron Counties and its potential economic
impact; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the committee's proceedings and operations be
governed by such general rules and policies for joint interim
committees as the 81st Legislature may adopt.