| 1 | 1 | | 88R12188 JRI-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Eckhardt S.R. No. 163 |
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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 representatives of four major metropolitan |
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| 7 | 7 | | LGBTQ chambers of commerce from across the state are gathering in |
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| 8 | 8 | | Austin for the first Texas LGBTQ Chambers of Commerce Advocacy Day |
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| 9 | 9 | | at the State Capitol on February 14, 2023; and |
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| 10 | 10 | | WHEREAS, These organizations include the Austin LGBT Chamber |
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| 11 | 11 | | of Commerce, the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the |
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| 12 | 12 | | North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and the San Antonio LGBT |
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| 13 | 13 | | Chamber of Commerce, and they have joined together to form a |
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| 14 | 14 | | statewide coalition of more than 1,000 LGBT-owned and allied |
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| 15 | 15 | | businesses; the cities the chambers represent account for nearly |
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| 16 | 16 | | half of the state's population; and |
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| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Having originally joined forces to combat |
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| 18 | 18 | | discrimination and promote equality, inclusion, and economic |
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| 19 | 19 | | vitality across Texas, the chambers are also pursuing a legislative |
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| 20 | 20 | | agenda that includes support for economic development and the |
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| 21 | 21 | | promotion of tourism, for comprehensive nondiscrimination |
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| 22 | 22 | | legislation that makes Texas a competitive, business-friendly |
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| 23 | 23 | | state, for increased funding for public schools, and for |
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| 24 | 24 | | improvements to the state's health care system and its public |
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| 25 | 25 | | safety and transportation policies; in addition, the group |
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| 26 | 26 | | advocates for racial equity in all sectors of the state, including |
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| 27 | 27 | | education, employment, health care, and criminal justice; and |
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| 28 | 28 | | WHEREAS, By bringing their collective voices together in |
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| 29 | 29 | | behalf of the LGBTQIA+ business community in the Lone Star State, |
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| 30 | 30 | | these chambers of commerce have jointly become a powerful advocate |
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| 31 | 31 | | for the dignity and prosperity of all Texans; now, therefore, be it |
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| 32 | 32 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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| 33 | 33 | | hereby recognize February 14, 2023, as Texas LGBTQ Chambers of |
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| 34 | 34 | | Commerce Advocacy Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome |
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| 35 | 35 | | to the visiting delegation. |
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