| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 36 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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| 3 | 3 | | join Texans across the state in celebrating January 24, 2017, as |
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| 4 | 4 | | Oyster Day; and |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Oysters are among the wide variety of mollusks |
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| 6 | 6 | | found in the estuarine waters of the Texas Gulf Coast; they |
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| 7 | 7 | | typically grow as consolidated reefs that provide habitat for |
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| 8 | 8 | | more than 300 marine aquatic species; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Oysters function as the lungs of our coastal |
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| 10 | 10 | | systems and play an important role in maintaining good water |
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| 11 | 11 | | quality in the state's bays and estuaries; each oyster is a small |
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| 12 | 12 | | filtering system and is able to pump 50 gallons of water through |
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| 13 | 13 | | its body every day to remove bacteria, sediments, and even toxins |
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| 14 | 14 | | from oil spills; oyster reefs stabilize ocean shorelines and make |
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| 15 | 15 | | them less susceptible to damage from hurricanes and strong |
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| 16 | 16 | | storms; and |
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| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, A valuable source of food, oysters provide high |
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| 18 | 18 | | levels of omega-3 fatty acids and zinc; they support a robust |
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| 19 | 19 | | commercial fishing industry in Matagorda, Galveston, and San |
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| 20 | 20 | | Antonio Bays; the Texas oyster industry has a $50 million impact |
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| 21 | 21 | | on the state's economy and provides roughly 15 percent of the |
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| 22 | 22 | | nation's total harvest; and |
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| 23 | 23 | | WHEREAS, Oysters serve as one of Texas' prized natural |
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| 24 | 24 | | resources, and it is fitting that a day be set aside to recognize |
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| 25 | 25 | | the essential ecological and economic roles oysters play in our |
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| 26 | 26 | | state; now, therefore, be it |
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| 27 | 27 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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| 28 | 28 | | Legislature, hereby proclaim January 24, 2017, as Oyster Day; and, |
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| 29 | 29 | | be it further |
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| 30 | 30 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in honor |
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| 31 | 31 | | of this special occasion. |
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| 32 | 32 | | Taylor of Galveston |
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| 33 | 33 | | ________________________________ |
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| 34 | 34 | | President of the Senate |
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| 35 | 35 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 36 | 36 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 37 | 37 | | the Senate on January 24, 2017. |
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| 38 | 38 | | ________________________________ |
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| 39 | 39 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 40 | 40 | | ________________________________ |
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| 41 | 41 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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