SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 324
WHEREAS, Community and business leaders of Eagle Pass are
gathering in Austin on March 6 and 7, 2019, to celebrate Eagle
Pass Legislative Days at the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Located in Maverick County along the United
States-Mexico border in southwest Texas, Eagle Pass was
established in 1849 and serves as the county seat; the city was
originally named El Paso del Águila because of the frequent
flights of eagles over the area; and
WHEREAS, Artifacts uncovered throughout Eagle Pass and the
region attest to the presence of hunter-gatherers in prehistoric
times; the area was also visited by Spanish explorers and
settlers, who traversed the Camino Real, later known as Old San
Antonio Road, in greater numbers than in any other section of the
state; various expeditions, including that of Alonso de León in
1690, served to forge the trail and elevate its significance in
the early history of Texas; and
WHEREAS, In the tumultuous years of the Civil War, Eagle
Pass was a trade depot for the Military Board of Texas, and Fort
Duncan north of the town was occupied by Confederate troops;
after the fort's abandonment during the war, Native American
populations seized control of the region, leading to several
violent skirmishes; and
WHEREAS, Today, City of Eagle Pass officials are committed
to working together to create jobs, encourage young people, and
improve the quality of life in their region; among the
accomplishments in recent years are a renovated public library,
revitalized downtown, completion of infrastructure projects at
ports of entry, upgraded parks with the addition of a skate park,
and construction of a new public safety building; and
WHEREAS, The City of Eagle Pass has established a Business &
Economic Development Committee, which serves as a special
advisory committee to the mayor and city council; it includes
nine standing committees and works through collaborative efforts
with the public and private sector groups to support economic
development and to attract and retain solid business, industry,
and trade, as well as affordable housing; specific goals include
expanding the region's transportation, infrastructure, and
health care services and the establishment of a four-year college
to broaden the educational opportunities provided by local
institutions Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College and
Southwest Texas Junior College; and
WHEREAS, With three international bridges, including a
rail bridge, Eagle Pass and Maverick County have become an
important port of entry for international commerce that supports
over $25.2 billion in manufactured goods and averages 10,000
cars, 700 commercial trucks, and 3,000 pedestrians daily and over
450,000 rail cars annually; and
WHEREAS, The city hosted the first Babe Ruth World Series
last summer with teams from throughout the United States, and the
Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas provides an important source
of jobs, revenue, and tourism; visitors to the region can also
learn about area history at Fort Duncan Park and San Juan Plaza
and enjoy outdoor recreation at Maverick County Lake; moreover,
they can stroll the streets of historic downtown Eagle Pass,
which has been designated as a Texas Main Street City by the Texas
Historical Commission; and
WHEREAS, The residents of Eagle Pass, led by Mayor Ramsey
English-Cantu, Mayor Pro Tem Yolanda Ramon, and city council
members Rudy Villalpando, Luis Sifuentes, and William "Billy"
Davis, are justifiably proud of their rich heritage, and it is
most fitting that they be honored for their contributions to the
story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th
Legislature, hereby recognize March 6 and 7, 2019, as Eagle Pass
Legislative Days at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting
delegation sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable
stay in Austin.
Flores
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 6, 2019.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate