SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 122
WHEREAS, A distinguished delegation from South Texas is
visiting Austin on February 7, 2017, 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, with more than 800,000 trucks, 11.5
million cars, and 5.8 million pedestrians crossing Rio Grande
Valley ports of entry and averaging more than $1.3 billion in goods
and services per day; the Rio Grande Valley is an economic
powerhouse for the State of Texas; and
WHEREAS, The Valley has over 1.5 million residents, and
local and state officials have focused on the need to expand
access to higher education, strengthen the workforce, and
introduce programs, such as SpaceX, which partnered with The
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to create STARGATE and
enables students to be involved in all aspects of space missions;
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Medical School enrolled
its first class of 55 medical students in July of 2016; and
WHEREAS, The Texas A&M University System officially broke
ground to expand in McAllen with a campus that will be linked to
the campus in College Station and will offer programs in
engineering, technology, biomedical sciences, agriculture, and
the laboratory sciences; and
WHEREAS, The focus for today's special legislative event is
workforce development, transportation and border infrastructure,
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Medical School funding,
the Texas A&M University's Healthy South Texas initiative, and the
Rio Grande Valley border image; major sponsors include The
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Texas A&M University, South
Texas College, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Foundation, the City of McAllen, the City of Edinburg, the City of
Weslaco, the Port of Brownsville, the Rio Grande Valley
Partnership, the McAllen Convention and Visitors Bureau, the
Edinburg Chamber of Commerce, the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce, the
McAllen Chamber of Commerce, the Brownsville Community Improvement
Corporation, the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, the
Mission Economic Development Corporation, the McAllen Economic
Development Corporation, the Edinburg Economic Development
Corporation, the Pharr Economic Development Corporation, the Rio
South Texas Economic Council, the McAllen-Hidalgo International
Bridge, the Anzalduas International Bridge, and the Food Bank of
the Rio Grande Valley; several private sector businesses, such
as the Warren Group Architects, BBVA Compass Bank, and IBC
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, 85th
Legislature, hereby recognize February 7, 2017, 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, Zaffirini
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 7, 2017.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate
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Member, Texas Senate
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Member, Texas Senate