H.R. No. 603 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Proud residents of the Mid-Valley region of Texas are gathering in Austin on February 27, 2013, to celebrate Mid-Valley Day at the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, Located in eastern Hidalgo County in the Rio Grande Valley, the Mid-Valley region includes the towns of Alamo, Donna, Mercedes, Progreso, Progreso Lakes, San Juan, and Weslaco; this area is a center for agribusiness, with farmers producing sugarcane, grains, and citrus fruit such as grapefruits and oranges; and WHEREAS, The city of Alamo is located in proximity to the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, which comprises more than 2,000 acres of protected land and is home to a wide array of animals and plants; in addition, the town boasts a birding information center and the popular Alamo Central Park; and WHEREAS, Upholding the motto "the City with a Heart in the Heart of the Rio Grande Valley," Donna serves as the location of the Donna-Rio Bravo International Bridge, which helps to facilitate shopping, tourism, and commercial trade to and from Mexico; and WHEREAS, Mercedes has long been a major center for the processing and marketing of livestock, cotton, and vegetables, and it is also known for its boot makers and the shopping opportunities at the Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets; the annual Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show and Rodeo draws more than 200,000 people to town each year, and the event provides valuable scholarship funds for 4-H and FFA students; and WHEREAS, In addition to being centers for the sugarcane business, Progreso and Progreso Lakes have been serving as gateways to the Rio Grande Valley since the opening of the Progreso/Nuevo Progreso International Bridge in 2003; and WHEREAS, Fast-growing San Juan is the home of the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle National Shrine, which attracts multitudes of pilgrims from throughout the United States and Mexico; the town hosts an annual Spring Fiesta and is the site of numerous parks, including Liberty Park, with its flagpole monument that honors those who have served in the U.S. armed forces; and WHEREAS, The city of Weslaco has become a favorite destination for tourists, golfers, retirees, and birders and is the location of two important Texas A&M University research stations; the annual Onion Fest celebrates the development of the famous Texas 1015 onion in Weslaco, and this popular event brings many visitors to the city; and WHEREAS, Throughout the Mid-Valley region, great emphasis is placed on the value of education, and the Science Academy of South Texas in Mercedes consistently ranks among the top 100 on Newsweek's list of "America's Best High Schools"; and WHEREAS, The residents of this dynamic region of the Lone Star State are justifiably proud of their hard work, civic commitment, and innovative spirit, and their efforts have created a group of notable Texas communities that are well prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 27, 2013, as Mid-Valley Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes for an informative and enjoyable stay in Austin. Martinez Canales Munoz, Jr. Guerra Longoria Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alonzo Gooden Otto Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Alvarado Guerra Paddie Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anchia Guillen Parker Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Ashby Harless Perez Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bohac Herrero Pickett Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Branch Huberty Raney Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Burnam Hunter Raymond Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Callegari Johnson Riddle Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Canales Kacal Ritter Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Clardy King of Parker Rose Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Creighton Krause Simmons Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Crownover Kuempel Simpson Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Dale Larson Smith Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Darby Laubenberg Smithee Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Deshotel Longoria Strama Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dukes Lozano Taylor Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Elkins Martinez Toth Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Farrar Miles Villalba Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Frullo Morrison White Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Giddings Murphy Wu Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Goldman Naishtat Zedler Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 603 was adopted by the House on February 27, 2013, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas