| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 624 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Residents of Port Aransas are gathering in Austin on |
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| 6 | 6 | | April 12, 2023, to celebrate Port Aransas Day at the State Capitol; |
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| 7 | 7 | | and |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, In the early 1800s, Mustang Island was frequented by |
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| 9 | 9 | | the famed buccaneer Jean Lafitte, and in 1855, an English sheep and |
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| 10 | 10 | | cattle rancher named Robert A. Mercer built a cabin on the island; a |
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| 11 | 11 | | community developed around the site, and the first post office was |
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| 12 | 12 | | established in 1888; initially called Ropesville, the town was |
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| 13 | 13 | | renamed Tarpon eight years later to highlight the island's fine |
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| 14 | 14 | | fishing, and in 1911, it was officially designated as Port Aransas; |
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| 15 | 15 | | and |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, The city has since become one of the most popular |
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| 17 | 17 | | family destinations on the Texas Gulf Coast, and the superb beaches |
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| 18 | 18 | | draw campers, swimmers, and surfers from across the Lone Star |
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| 19 | 19 | | State; the town's launching ramps, lighted piers, and jetties |
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| 20 | 20 | | enable anglers to catch a wide variety of fish, including red |
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| 21 | 21 | | snapper, redfish, flounder, speckled trout, tuna, and more; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Port Aransas is one of the top bird-watching |
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| 23 | 23 | | locations in the country, and many areas afford fine opportunities |
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| 24 | 24 | | to view local species such as herons and roseate spoonbills as well |
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| 25 | 25 | | as the annual migrations of hummingbirds, flycatchers, orioles, and |
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| 26 | 26 | | whooping cranes; additionally, visitors may delight in the town's |
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| 27 | 27 | | art galleries, shops, restaurants, and locations of historical |
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| 28 | 28 | | interest; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Port Aransas boasts a thriving tourism industry, |
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| 30 | 30 | | which is an important economic engine for the state, generating |
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| 31 | 31 | | nearly $18 million in city and state hotel taxes and more than $15 |
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| 32 | 32 | | million in related sales taxes in 2022; and |
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| 33 | 33 | | WHEREAS, The community is served by the Port Aransas |
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| 34 | 34 | | Independent School District, which has consistently earned an A |
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| 35 | 35 | | accountability rating from the Texas Education Agency, and it |
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| 36 | 36 | | further benefits from the educational opportunities provided by The |
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| 37 | 37 | | University of Texas Marine Science Institute, which supports |
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| 38 | 38 | | sustainability and research in fields vital to the future of the |
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| 39 | 39 | | Texas coast; and |
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| 40 | 40 | | WHEREAS, Blessed with natural beauty and a colorful history, |
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| 41 | 41 | | Port Aransas is one of the Lone Star State's great treasures, and |
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| 42 | 42 | | its citizens may indeed take pride in their rich heritage and |
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| 43 | 43 | | ongoing achievements; now, therefore, be it |
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| 44 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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| 45 | 45 | | Legislature hereby recognize April 12, 2023, as Port Aransas Day at |
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| 46 | 46 | | the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere |
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| 47 | 47 | | best wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin. |
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| 48 | 48 | | Hunter |
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| 49 | 49 | | ______________________________ |
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| 50 | 50 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 51 | 51 | | I certify that H.R. No. 624 was adopted by the House on March |
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| 52 | 52 | | 30, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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| 53 | 53 | | ______________________________ |
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| 54 | 54 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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