Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SCR9 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	S.C.R. No. 9
	1	+	By: Zaffirini S.C.R. No. 9
	2	+	(Zwiener)
2	3
3	4
4	5		SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
5	6		WHEREAS, For thousands of years, the mermaid has been one of
6	7		the most striking symbols of humanity's connection with the natural
7	8		world, and over the past century, this legendary figure has come to
8	9		represent the city of San Marcos and its special relationship to the
9	10		water resources of Central Texas; and
10	11		WHEREAS, The story of the mermaid in San Marcos begins with
11	12		the abundant springs that every day release 100 million gallons of
12	13		freshwater from the Edwards Aquifer into the San Marcos River;
13	14		considered a sacred place by Native Americans and regarded as the
14	15		creation site of the Coahuiltecans, the springs have drawn people
15	16		to their banks for more than 11,500 years, making this area what is
16	17		thought to be one of the oldest continually inhabited sites in North
17	18		America; and
18	19		WHEREAS, In 1849, Edward Burleson, a former vice president of
19	20		the Republic of Texas, dammed the headwaters of the San Marcos,
20	21		thereby creating Spring Lake; over the ensuing years, the water
21	22		from the lake powered gristmills, sawmills, an ice factory, and an
22	23		electric light works; the San Marcos River also constituted an
23	24		important water stop along the Chisholm Trail; and
24	25		WHEREAS, A. B. Rogers bought the Burleson homestead in the
25	26		1920s and built a resort hotel on the shore of the lake; he later
26	27		began offering rides in glass-bottomed boats that allowed visitors
27	28		to see through the crystal clear water to the bubbling springs
28	29		beneath; his son Paul, who succeeded him, established the Aquarena
29	30		Springs amusement park on the property, and in 1950 he built an
30	31		underwater theater, where young women known as "aquamaids" staged
31	32		exhibitions of synchronized swimming and underwater ballet; at the
32	33		peak of its popularity, the park drew up to 350,000 visitors every
33	34		year and was featured in Life magazine, with the submerged theater
34	35		making it to the cover of Popular Mechanics; in time, the show came
35	36		to include Glurpo, a pipe-smoking clown, and a swimming pig named
36	37		Ralph; and
37	38		WHEREAS, The performances continued until the 1990s, when
38	39		Texas State University acquired the park and set a new course for
39	40		the property; today, the site hosts the Meadows Center for Water and
40	41		the Environment, which conducts research and educational programs
41	42		focused on promoting sustainable water management and
42	43		environmental stewardship; the critical nature of its work is
43	44		underscored by the fact that the Edwards Aquifer supplies drinking
44	45		water to nearly two million people and serves as the principal
45	46		source of water for agriculture, industry, and recreation
46	47		throughout the region; the aquifer system sustains over 40 highly
47	48		adapted species, a number of which are either threatened or
48	49		endangered, including several found in the San Marcos springs and a
49	50		stretch of river just below; and
50	51		WHEREAS, In 2016, the Mermaid Society of Texas, headquartered
51	52		in San Marcos, was created to foster harmony between environmental
52	53		sustainability, the arts, and economic growth; the society has
53	54		established an annual Mermaid SPLASH festival, which includes a
54	55		parade, the Mermaid Art Ball, and the riverside Aqua Faire
55	56		celebration; moreover, the city has funded mermaid-themed public
56	57		art through a program supported by the hotel occupancy tax; among
57	58		the works underwritten by this initiative are murals and a series of
58	59		seven-foot-tall statues, each one decorated by a different artist;
59	60		and
60	61		WHEREAS, By adopting the mermaid as a symbol of the city, the
61	62		people of San Marcos are encouraging public interest in the natural
62	63		environment and highlighting the central role their community is
63	64		playing in preserving the water resources of the Lone Star State;
64	65		now, therefore, be it
65	66		RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas
66	67		hereby designate the city of San Marcos as the official Mermaid
67	68		Capital of Texas; and, be it further
68	69		RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section
69	70		391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in effect
70	71		until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally
71	72		passed by the legislature.
72		-	______________________________ ______________________________
73		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
74		-	______________________________ ______________________________
75		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
76		-	I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 9 was adopted by the Senate
77		-	on April 19, 2021, by a viva-voce vote.
78		-	______________________________
79		-	Secretary of the Senate
80		-	I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 9 was adopted by the House
81		-	on May 8, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 117, Nays 21,
82		-	two present not voting.
83		-	______________________________
84		-	Chief Clerk of the House
85		-	Approved:
86		-	______________________________
87		-	Date
88		-	______________________________
89		-	Governor