84R8921 KMW-F
By: Muñoz, Jr. H.R. No. 443
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A distinguished delegation from South Texas is
visiting Austin on February 10, 2015, to celebrate Rio Grande
Valley Day at the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Enjoying a strategic location on the Gulf of Mexico
and along the Mexican border, the Rio Grande Valley was an important
ranching region when Texas became the nation's 28th state in 1845;
over time, the economy shifted from ranching to agriculture, and
the Valley became the state's center of citrus and vegetable
production; and
WHEREAS, In the 1960s, industry flourished and international
trade became increasingly prominent; the region has contributed
significantly to the tremendous increase in commerce across the
U.S.-Mexico border, which now averages more than $1.3 billion in
goods and services per day, and also accounts for a major portion of
the $4.5 billion a year that Mexican nationals spend on retail
purchases in Texas; and
WHEREAS, The Valley has over 1.3 million residents, and local
and state officials have focused on the need to expand access to
higher education, strengthen the workforce, and introduce
pioneering businesses, such as United Launch Alliance, which has
been engineering rockets in the area for over a decade, and now,
SpaceX, which promises to be the Rio Grande Valley's gateway to
space exploration; furthermore, in 2013, the legislature created
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, partnering with SpaceX
to create STARGATE, the first research center of excellence for
UTRGV; the university is enrolling its first class in Fall 2015, and
the new UTRGV Medical School is slated to open the following year;
and
WHEREAS, The focus for today's special legislative event is
border security, workforce development, infrastructure, and higher
education, and major sponsors include The University of Texas Rio
Grande Valley, the City of Harlingen, the City of Edinburg, the City
of McAllen, the Port of Brownsville, the RGV Partnership, the
McAllen Chamber of Commerce, the Mission Economic Development
Corporation, South Texas College, the Anzalduas International
Bridge, the McAllen Economic Development Corporation, the Edinburg
Economic Development Corporation, and the Edinburg Chamber of
Commerce; several private sector businesses, such as AEP,
Linebarger, and Texas Regional Bank, are also promoting greater
regional cooperation in the 21st century; and
WHEREAS, A vibrant region with a rich heritage, the Rio
Grande Valley is poised to take advantage of tremendous
opportunities for continued economic development, and it is indeed
most fitting to honor Valley residents for their dedication to
building a bright and prosperous future for the area; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 10, 2015, as Rio Grande
Valley Day at the State Capitol and extend to all participants
sincere best wishes for a productive and enjoyable visit.