88R10983 JRI-D
By: Raney H.R. No. 206
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Longhorns and Aggies are uniting at the State
Capitol on February 15, 2023, to celebrate The University of Texas
at Austin and Texas A&M University with Orange and Maroon
Legislative Day, a day when the state's two largest universities
work together to promote higher education in the State of Texas; and
WHEREAS, Alumni from the two institutions total more than
1.15 million, and The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M
University had a combined annual enrollment of more than 127,000
students in the fall of 2022, with more than 33,000 students
receiving degrees that year; the schools boast superb museums and
libraries, including the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and
Museum and the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum,
and both universities are renowned for their exceptional research,
with combined annual research expenditures of over $1.93 billion;
and
WHEREAS, The teaching and research missions of The University
of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University benefit the State of
Texas through the cultivation of informed and engaged citizens, and
they drive economic prosperity through technological innovation,
entrepreneurial spirit, improved health care, and scientific
breakthroughs, including the development of a new clot-busting
medication at The University of Texas at Austin that can reduce the
risk of brain bleeding in stroke patients by half, as well as the
discovery of new biological technologies at Texas A&M University to
fight complex pathogens that infect Texas crops and cost the U.S.
agriculture industry billions of dollars each year; moreover, these
missions contribute to advancements in national defense; and
WHEREAS, Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin
and Texas A&M University explore, discover, and innovate in the
sciences, arts, and humanities and have been granted numerous
patents; as Tier One research institutions, both universities
provide students valuable opportunities for applied learning with
guidance from outstanding faculty across the disciplines, and as
Hispanic-Serving Institutions, the two universities broaden access
to higher education for historically underserved populations; and
WHEREAS, Both universities serve as important cultural
centers, engaging Texans in the visual and performing arts and
other creative endeavors, and they promote athletics and physical
education, inspiring Texans to stay active and bringing them
together in support of student-athletes; and
WHEREAS, The combined faculties feature 5 Nobel laureates and
more than 100 National Academy members, and those attending the
schools include National Merit scholars, Rhodes scholars, Olympic
gold medalists, military service veterans, and many of the Lone
Star State's most outstanding students; in addition, the two
universities offer an amazing range of postgraduate opportunities
with more than 500 graduate degree programs; and
WHEREAS, Both universities have proven records of support for
our nation's military, commissioning tens of thousands of uniformed
officers throughout their storied histories, and for our nation's
veterans, enrolling hundreds of veterans each semester,
establishing their commitment to providing new opportunities to our
nation's bravest in supportive, military-friendly environments;
and
WHEREAS, The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M
University have positioned themselves as preeminent institutions
of higher education on the state, national, and international
levels, and Texans are fortunate to have access to these two
exceptional state university systems; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 15, 2023, as Orange and
Maroon Legislative Day and commend alumni from The University of
Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University for their commitment to
supporting higher education in the Lone Star State.