84R11081 BPG-D
By: Galindo H.R. No. 1443
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Alamo is recognized around the world as a symbol
of freedom and an inspiration to those battling against foreign
oppression, and the United States Department of the Interior has
formally nominated the Alamo and four other Spanish colonial
missions in San Antonio for designation as a site on the World
Heritage List; and
WHEREAS, In the 18th century, the city of San Antonio began to
develop around five missions founded by Spain, namely San José y San
Miguel de Aguayo, Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de
Acuña, San Francisco de la Espada, San Juan Capistrano, and San
Antonio de Valero, better known as the Alamo; these represent the
largest concentration of Catholic missions in North America; and
WHEREAS, World Heritage designation is granted under the
World Heritage Convention, which works to enhance understanding,
appreciation, and international cooperation for heritage
conservation; in 1973, the United States became one of the nearly
200 nations to ratify the convention, an independent treaty
administered under the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and
Cultural Organization; current listed sites include the Egyptian
pyramids and Australia's Great Barrier Reef, as well as our nation's
Statue of Liberty and Grand Canyon; if accepted, the San Antonio
missions would become the first World Heritage site in the State of
Texas; and
WHEREAS, A Bexar County study found that World Heritage
status for the missions would yield more than $100 million in
economic impact over a 10-year period, while generating 1,000 local
jobs and $2 million in hotel tax revenue; the City of San Antonio is
supporting the nomination for this designation, and in so doing, it
is both promoting economic development and helping to raise global
awareness of the unique cultural heritage of the Lone Star State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby endorse the nomination of San Antonio's Spanish
colonial missions as a World Heritage site.