H.R. No. 463
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Texas Technology Week is being celebrated February
16-20, 2009, in an effort to raise awareness of the extraordinary
achievements of the technology and life sciences industries and the
vital role they play in the prosperity of the Lone Star State; and
WHEREAS, The occasion is sponsored by TechAmerica, the Texas
Healthcare and Bioscience Institute, TechNet Texas, the Metroplex
Technology Business Council, the Texas Association of Business, the
Texas Coalition for Capital, and the Solar Alliance; and
WHEREAS, The state's technology and life sciences
industries, as well as its research institutions, are
revolutionizing the world we live in through cutting-edge advances
in medicine, space exploration, computing, communications, energy,
and transportation; these industries employ more residents of Texas
than the oil, natural gas, and agricultural industries combined,
and their high-wage, highly skilled jobs contribute to a diverse
and growing statewide economy; and
WHEREAS, People around the globe have benefited immeasurably
from medical treatments and devices developed by Texas companies;
in fact, the life sciences industry employs more than 85,400 Texans
at some 3,200 establishments, and continued job growth is expected
for years to come; and
WHEREAS, According to the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience
Institute, whose members include research institutions, regional
economic development entities, and biotechnology, medical device,
and pharmaceutical companies, one of nearly every 23 U.S.
biotechnology employees worked in Texas in 2006; the institute also
reports that the state's biotechnology-related patent growth is
outpacing the national average; in addition, nine recipients of
biotechnology-related Nobel Prizes, National Medals of Science,
and National Medals of Technology and Innovation are based in
Texas, and in 2007, the National Institutes of Health awarded more
than $1 billion in grants to organizations in Texas; and
WHEREAS, TechAmerica, the nation's largest high-technology
trade group, reports that Texas ranks second in the country in
high-tech employment, with approximately 459,000 jobs; moreover,
56 out of every 1,000 private sector workers in Texas are employed
by high-tech firms; the state ranks ninth among all states in terms
of high-tech average wage, and the industry provides an aggregate
high-tech payroll of $37.5 billion; the importance of this industry
to Texans is further underscored by the fact that high-tech product
exports exceed $35.9 billion and account for 21 percent of the
state's international exports; and
WHEREAS, All sectors of the high-technology and life sciences
community are joining together this week to discuss the major
issues facing their industries and to affirm their support for a
strong system of public and higher education, a critical factor in
providing the highly skilled workforce on which these industries
depend; and
WHEREAS, The technology and life sciences industries have
become a tremendous engine of economic growth in the State of Texas,
and the benefits of their research and production enhance the lives
of people the world over; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 16-20, 2009, as Texas
Technology Week and commend its sponsors for their outstanding
efforts in promoting research, development, products, services,
and manufacturing in the State of Texas.
McCall
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 463 was adopted by the House on
February 18, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House