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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge is one of the |
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| 6 | 7 | | most important ports of entry on the United States-Mexico border; |
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| 7 | 8 | | and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Opened in 1994, the bridge spans 3.2 miles as it |
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| 9 | 10 | | connects U.S. Highway 281 to the rapidly growing city of Reynosa, |
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| 10 | 11 | | one of northern Mexico's major industrial cities, and it is |
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| 11 | 12 | | crossed, on average, by 110,000-125,000 vehicles each month; and |
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| 12 | 13 | | WHEREAS, With its strategic location in an area that features |
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| 13 | 14 | | extensive infrastructure and services as well as strong growth |
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| 14 | 15 | | potential, the bridge bolsters the economies of both Pharr and |
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| 15 | 16 | | Reynosa by improving the convenience of operations for importers, |
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| 16 | 17 | | exporters, and domestic and multinational manufacturing companies; |
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| 17 | 18 | | and |
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| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, The Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge is |
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| 19 | 20 | | recognized as the most-utilized commercial bridge in South Texas; |
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| 20 | 21 | | in 2014, it carried a record-setting $30.62 billion in trade, an |
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| 21 | 22 | | increase of $2.17 billion or 7.63 percent over the previous year's |
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| 22 | 23 | | total, and Pharr ranked no. 29 for total trade among the nation's |
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| 23 | 24 | | roughly 450 airports, seaports, and border crossings; heavily used |
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| 24 | 25 | | for the transport of produce, the bridge ranked first among U.S. |
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| 25 | 26 | | air, sea, and land border crossings for avocados, melons, and |
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| 26 | 27 | | berries, and it was no. 2 for tomato imports and for produce |
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| 27 | 28 | | overall; and |
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| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Commercial traffic enjoys the fastest crossing time |
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| 29 | 30 | | in the Rio Grande Valley at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge; |
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| 30 | 31 | | known as "the intelligent bridge," this vital international |
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| 31 | 32 | | transportation link employs the Free and Secure Trade "F.A.S.T. |
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| 32 | 33 | | Lane" program, which allows for the expedited inspection of |
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| 33 | 34 | | documents and cargoes, as well as the Automated Commercial |
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| 34 | 35 | | Environment program; in addition, bridge security uses gamma ray |
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| 35 | 36 | | inspection equipment and other state-of-the-art technology; |
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| 36 | 37 | | current data indicates the increase in commercial truck traffic at |
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| 37 | 38 | | the bridge reflects industry confidence in the port's safety, |
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| 38 | 39 | | convenience, and prompt adaptation to the needs and expectations of |
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| 39 | 40 | | international commerce representatives; and |
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| 40 | 41 | | WHEREAS, The bridge's success has been made possible through |
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| 41 | | - | the outstanding efforts of many area residents, including members |
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| 42 | | - | of the city commission and the bridge's board of directors, which is |
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| 43 | | - | composed of elected officials and community representatives; |
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| 44 | | - | moreover, the many skilled and dedicated individuals involved in |
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| 45 | | - | the bridge's operations and maintenance are essential to its |
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| 46 | | - | mission, as are the local staff and officers of the U.S. Department |
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| 47 | | - | of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and its |
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| 48 | | - | U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency; and |
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| 42 | + | the outstanding efforts of many area residents, including Pharr |
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| 43 | + | city manager Fred Sandoval, members of the city commission, and the |
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| 44 | + | bridge's board of directors, which is composed of elected officials |
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| 45 | + | and community representatives; moreover, the many skilled and |
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| 46 | + | dedicated individuals involved in the bridge's operations and |
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| 47 | + | maintenance are essential to its mission, as are the local staff and |
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| 48 | + | officers of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. |
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| 49 | + | Department of Homeland Security and its U.S. Customs and Border |
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| 50 | + | Protection agency; and |
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| 49 | 51 | | WHEREAS, The Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge plays an |
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| 50 | 52 | | important role in this country's international trade, and it has |
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| 51 | 53 | | contributed significantly to the economic development of the Rio |
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| 52 | 54 | | Grande Valley and to the prosperity of the Lone Star State; now, |
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| 53 | 55 | | therefore, be it |
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| 54 | 56 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 55 | 57 | | Legislature hereby recognize the Pharr-Reynosa International |
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| 56 | 58 | | Bridge for its major significance as a port of entry and extend |
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| 57 | 59 | | sincere appreciation to all those whose work has furthered the |
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| 58 | 60 | | bridge's operation. |
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