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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi is an |
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| 6 | 7 | | outstanding institution that is committed to connecting people with |
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| 7 | 8 | | nature and promoting conservation of the Gulf of Mexico; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, After two decades of planning and fund-raising, TSA |
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| 9 | 10 | | first opened the doors to its original Gulf of Mexico exhibit in |
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| 10 | 11 | | 1990; over the years, many new permanent and special exhibits have |
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| 11 | 12 | | been introduced, allowing spectators to see a live bald eagle, to |
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| 12 | 13 | | touch and feed stingrays, to watch Atlantic bottlenose dolphins |
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| 13 | 14 | | play, and to get an underwater view of the habitat formed around an |
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| 14 | 15 | | oil platform in the Gulf; the aquarium also features a splash park, |
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| 15 | 16 | | an artificial fossil dig site for uncovering casts of prehistoric |
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| 16 | 17 | | animal bones, and the Hawn Wild Flight Theater, with presentations |
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| 17 | 18 | | featuring trained birds, and in 2014, it announced an expansion |
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| 18 | 19 | | project that will more than double the size of the facilities; and |
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| 19 | 20 | | WHEREAS, In addition to entertaining and delighting |
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| 20 | 21 | | visitors, this private, not-for-profit institution gives back to |
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| 21 | 22 | | the community through its education and conservation programs; |
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| 22 | 23 | | field trips, summer camps, and distance learning empower Texans of |
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| 23 | 24 | | all ages to discover more about nature and marine wildlife, while |
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| 24 | 25 | | the Second Chances Wildlife Rehabilitation Program provides care |
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| 25 | 26 | | for ill or injured shorebirds, birds of prey, marine mammals, and |
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| 26 | 27 | | sea turtles, returning them to their natural habitats whenever |
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| 27 | 28 | | possible; furthermore, the aquarium coordinates beach cleanups |
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| 28 | 29 | | three times a year, fosters awareness of Texas watersheds with its |
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| 29 | 30 | | Keepers of the Coast program, and awards grants through its |
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| 30 | 31 | | Wildlife Care, Conservation, and Research Fund; and |
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| 31 | 32 | | WHEREAS, The Texas State Aquarium has been honored with |
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| 32 | 33 | | numerous accolades, including the Outstanding Public-Private |
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| 33 | 34 | | Partnership Award from Mutual of America, the Munson Aquatic |
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| 34 | 35 | | Conservation Exhibitry Award from the American Zoo and Aquarium |
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| 35 | 36 | | Association, and the Conservation and Environmental Stewardship |
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| 36 | 37 | | Award for Public Awareness from the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation; |
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| 37 | 38 | | in 2014, it became one of only six aquariums in the nation to earn a |
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| 38 | 39 | | prestigious four-star rating from Charity Navigator; and |
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| 39 | 40 | | WHEREAS, By encouraging Texans to appreciate the diversity |
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| 40 | 41 | | and vulnerability of marine life, the aquarium is making a |
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| 41 | 42 | | significant contribution to the Lone Star State, and the efforts |
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| 42 | 43 | | and achievements of all involved in this worthy endeavor indeed |
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| 43 | 44 | | merit special commendation; now, therefore, be it |
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| 44 | 45 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 45 | 46 | | Legislature hereby recognize February 21, 2017, as Texas State |
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| 46 | 47 | | Aquarium Day and extend to all those associated with the aquarium |
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| 47 | 48 | | sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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| 48 | 49 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 49 | 50 | | prepared for the Texas State Aquarium as an expression of high |
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| 50 | 51 | | regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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