| 1 | 1 | | 88R10831 JRI-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Raymond H.R. No. 141 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Proud residents of Laredo are gathering in Austin to |
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| 7 | 7 | | celebrate Laredo Day at the State Capitol on February 7, 2023; and |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, Originally known as San Agustin de Laredo, the city |
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| 9 | 9 | | was founded in 1755 as an outpost of the Spanish empire; it later |
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| 10 | 10 | | belonged to Mexico, after that country gained independence from |
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| 11 | 11 | | Spain in 1821, and nearly two decades later it was named the capital |
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| 12 | 12 | | of the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande; Laredo became part of |
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| 13 | 13 | | Texas in 1846 and was subsequently chosen as the Webb County seat; |
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| 14 | 14 | | and |
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| 15 | 15 | | WHEREAS, From its earliest days, Laredo was an important |
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| 16 | 16 | | crossing on the Rio Grande and a trading center for livestock, |
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| 17 | 17 | | hides, and wool; its role in international trade expanded with the |
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| 18 | 18 | | arrival of the railroad in 1881 and with the development of the Zona |
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| 19 | 19 | | Libre, or free trade zone, along the border between the United |
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| 20 | 20 | | States and Mexico; its economy was further helped by coal mining, |
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| 21 | 21 | | the introduction of onion farming, and the discovery of rich oil and |
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| 22 | 22 | | gas fields; and |
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| 23 | 23 | | WHEREAS, Today, this bustling gateway city is the largest |
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| 24 | 24 | | inland port along the U.S.-Mexico border and one of the top U.S. |
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| 25 | 25 | | Customs districts in the nation, and its diverse economy benefits |
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| 26 | 26 | | from the retail, hospitality, import and export, and petroleum |
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| 27 | 27 | | industries; Laredo is also a focus for higher education in the Rio |
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| 28 | 28 | | Grande Valley, as the home to Texas A&M International University, |
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| 29 | 29 | | two campuses of Laredo Community College, and The University of |
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| 30 | 30 | | Texas Education and Research Center at Laredo; and |
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| 31 | 31 | | WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike may explore such area |
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| 32 | 32 | | attractions as the historic San Agustin Cathedral, the Republic of |
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| 33 | 33 | | the Rio Grande Museum, and the Laredo Center for the Arts, while 40 |
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| 34 | 34 | | blocks of import vendors along San Bernardo Avenue draw shoppers |
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| 35 | 35 | | from near and far; in addition, Laredo is home to Washington's |
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| 36 | 36 | | Birthday Celebration, a month-long event that includes a carnival, |
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| 37 | 37 | | a colonial pageant, a jalapeño festival, and a parade; and |
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| 38 | 38 | | WHEREAS, Boasting a rich heritage and a vibrant international |
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| 39 | 39 | | culture, the people of Laredo may indeed take great pride in the |
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| 40 | 40 | | role their community continues to play in the story of the Lone Star |
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| 41 | 41 | | State; now, therefore, be it |
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| 42 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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| 43 | 43 | | Legislature hereby recognize February 7, 2023, as Laredo Day at the |
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| 44 | 44 | | State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting delegation. |
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