H.R. No. 1529
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Distinguished members and officers of the Texas
Mining and Reclamation Association are gathering at the State
Capitol on March 26, 2015, to celebrate the association's
achievements and to highlight the importance of the mining industry
in the Lone Star State; and
WHEREAS, Serving as the voice for the Texas mining industry,
TMRA strives to create an effective balance between mineral
production, environmental protection, economic strength, and
public welfare as it educates the public, regulators, and
policymakers on the value of mining to our state's economy; and
WHEREAS, TMRA provides annual free teacher workshops to
increase teachers' knowledge about earth science and geology and
how to make the best use of our natural resources while protecting
the environment; since 1991, these workshops have provided more
than 1,500 teachers with valuable classroom materials and have
contributed to the education of over one million students in the
state; and
WHEREAS, Texas contains an abundance of raw materials that
improve the quality of our lives: metal ores provide manufacturers
with vital components for production; sand, stone, and gravel,
which can be found in quarries across the state, serve as the
foundation for new construction; and industrial minerals are
important components of a variety of products, from pharmaceuticals
to automobiles; and
WHEREAS, Coal mining and coal-fired electricity generation
are important economic engines in Texas, and these industries spark
additional business activity up and down their supply chains,
thereby creating new jobs and income for Texas residents; Texas
coal is a reliable source of fuel for electric power generation and
contributes to efforts to make the state more energy independent
and a more competitive place to do business; and
WHEREAS, Uranium, another fuel source used for the generation
of electricity, can produce more power than other clean energy
sources; the annual investments and economic activity generated by
the Texas uranium mining industry help boost economic growth and
development, and this economic activity is an especially critical
driver of economic opportunity in many South Texas counties; and
WHEREAS, The mining industry in Texas has a positive economic
impact of more than $13 billion annually, including over 34,000
direct industry jobs and 86,000 indirect employment opportunities,
and this economic impact is largest in small, rural communities
that have few other contributing industries; and
WHEREAS, By providing important information about the mining
industry in Texas and training current and future generations of
business and government leaders, TMRA is making significant
contributions to the prosperity of the state; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 26, 2015, as Texas Mining and
Reclamation Association Day at the Capitol and commend the
association for its notable record of service and for its
outstanding efforts to educate Texas citizens on the value of
mining to our state's economy.
Paddie
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1529 was adopted by the House on March
26, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House