SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 144
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 United States-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 university's
first research center of excellence; the university is enrolling
its first class in Fall 2015, and the new University of Texas Rio
Grande Valley 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 Rio
Grande Valley 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 American Electric Power,
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 Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
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.
Hinojosa, Lucio
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 10, 2015.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate
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Member, Texas Senate