H.R. No. 254 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Texas has the nation's largest rural population, and rural concerns are of enormous importance to the Lone Star State; and WHEREAS, Today, 3.2 million Texans, or 16 percent, live in rural areas; of the 254 counties in Texas, 172 are rural, and rural land totals 142 million acres, representing 84 percent of total land area; and WHEREAS, Our state leads the country in the number of farms and ranches, which cover 130.2 million acres, and small rural telephone cooperatives and companies provide service to over half the geographic area; and WHEREAS, Texas has more women and minority farm operations than any other state, and almost a third of the population in rural counties is 65 or older; reflecting the deep patriotism of the countryside, the majority of the nation's military men and women hail from rural backgrounds; and WHEREAS, Such essential products as food, fuel, and fiber are among those originating in rural Texas, but although rural operations contribute billions to the Texas economy, rural families typically earn only 48 percent of what metropolitan workers earn; and WHEREAS, While the rural population may be decreasing, rural people continue to demonstrate resolve and determination, as well as love for family, faith, and country, and the future of this state and nation depends in large part on the vibrancy and prosperity of our rural communities; and WHEREAS, A special legislative day provides a most fitting occasion to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of rural citizens, businesses, and industries; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 3, 2015, as Rural Matters Day in Texas and express its gratitude and appreciation for the myriad contributions of rural Texans. King of Uvalde Anderson of McLennan Nevárez King of Hemphill Springer Straus Guerra Otto Straus Guerra Otto Straus Guerra Otto Allen Guillen Paddie Allen Guillen Paddie Allen Guillen Paddie Alonzo Gutierrez Parker Alonzo Gutierrez Parker Alonzo Gutierrez Parker Alvarado Harless Paul Alvarado Harless Paul Alvarado Harless Paul Alvarado Harless Paul Alvarado Harless Paul Alvarado Harless Paul Anchia Hernandez Peña Anchia Hernandez Peña Anchia Hernandez Peña Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips Ashby Huberty Pickett Ashby Huberty Pickett Ashby Huberty Pickett Aycock Hughes Price Aycock Hughes Price Aycock Hughes Price Bell Hunter Raney Bell Hunter Raney Bell Hunter Raney Blanco Isaac Raymond Blanco Isaac Raymond Blanco Isaac Raymond Bohac Israel Reynolds Bohac Israel Reynolds Bohac Israel Reynolds Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr. Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr. Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr. Button King of Parker Rose Button King of Parker Rose Button King of Parker Rose Canales King of Taylor Sanford Canales King of Taylor Sanford Canales King of Taylor Sanford Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer Clardy Klick Schofield Clardy Klick Schofield Clardy Klick Schofield Coleman Koop Shaheen Coleman Koop Shaheen Coleman Koop Shaheen Collier Krause Sheets Collier Krause Sheets Collier Krause Sheets Cook Kuempel Sheffield Cook Kuempel Sheffield Cook Kuempel Sheffield Craddick Landgraf Simmons Craddick Landgraf Simmons Craddick Landgraf Simmons Crownover Larson Simpson Crownover Larson Simpson Crownover Larson Simpson Dale Laubenberg Smith Dale Laubenberg Smith Dale Laubenberg Smith Darby Leach Smithee Darby Leach Smithee Darby Leach Smithee Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer Davis of Harris Lozano Springer Davis of Harris Lozano Springer Davis of Harris Lozano Springer Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson Dukes Márquez Stickland Dukes Márquez Stickland Dukes Márquez Stickland Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles VanDeaver Farrar Miles VanDeaver Farrar Miles VanDeaver Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba 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 of Bell Frullo Morrison White of Bell Frullo Morrison White of Bell Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler Geren Murphy Workman Geren Murphy Workman Geren Murphy Workman Giddings Murr Wray Giddings Murr Wray Giddings Murr Wray Goldman Naishtat Wu Goldman Naishtat Wu Goldman Naishtat Wu Gonzales Nevárez Zedler Gonzales Nevárez Zedler Gonzales Nevárez Zedler González Oliveira Zerwas González Oliveira Zerwas González Oliveira Zerwas ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 254 was adopted by the House on February 3, 2015, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Straus Guerra Otto Allen Guillen Paddie Alonzo Gutierrez Parker Alvarado Harless Paul Alvarado Harless Paul Anchia Hernandez Peña Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips Ashby Huberty Pickett Aycock Hughes Price Bell Hunter Raney Blanco Isaac Raymond Bohac Israel Reynolds Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr. Button King of Parker Rose Canales King of Taylor Sanford Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer Clardy Klick Schofield Coleman Koop Shaheen Collier Krause Sheets Cook Kuempel Sheffield Craddick Landgraf Simmons Crownover Larson Simpson Dale Laubenberg Smith Darby Leach Smithee Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer Davis of Harris Lozano Springer Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson Dukes Márquez Stickland Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles VanDeaver Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White of Bell Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler Geren Murphy Workman Giddings Murr Wray Goldman Naishtat Wu Gonzales Nevárez Zedler González Oliveira Zerwas