| 1 | 1 | | 2017S0600-1 03/20/17 |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: RodrÃguez S.R. No. 706 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | SENATE RESOLUTION |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, From the founding of our country onward, |
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| 7 | 7 | | generations of immigrants have come to the United States in hopes |
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| 8 | 8 | | of realizing the promise of the American dream; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, In 2015, immigrants of all statuses accounted for |
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| 10 | 10 | | 20.6 percent of the Texas labor force; many of those individuals |
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| 11 | 11 | | have greatly benefited the state economy as small business owners |
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| 12 | 12 | | and entrepreneurs--9.4 percent of immigrants in Texas are |
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| 13 | 13 | | self-employed, compared to just 5.8 percent of the native-born |
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| 14 | 14 | | population--while more still have played an essential role in a |
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| 15 | 15 | | wide range of industries, especially education, health care, and |
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| 16 | 16 | | social-assistance services; and |
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| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Immigrants residing in Texas earned an estimated |
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| 18 | 18 | | $119 billion in wage, salary, and self-employment income in 2015, |
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| 19 | 19 | | and undocumented immigrants in the state pay approximately $1.5 |
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| 20 | 20 | | billion in state and local taxes each year; and |
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| 21 | 21 | | WHEREAS, A dynamic and diverse workforce is vital to the |
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| 22 | 22 | | prosperity of the Lone Star State, and it is indeed fitting that |
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| 23 | 23 | | immigrants be recognized for their innumerable contributions to |
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| 24 | 24 | | the Texas economy; now, therefore, be it |
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| 25 | 25 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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| 26 | 26 | | Legislature, hereby honor the economic contributions made by |
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| 27 | 27 | | immigrants to the Lone Star State. |
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