88R20781 BPG-D
By: Alvarado, et al. S.R. No. 387
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Port Houston has served as an advocate and strategic
leader for the Houston Ship Channel for more than a century; and
WHEREAS, Established in 1914, Port Houston now owns and
operates eight public terminals along the 52-mile waterway,
including the area's largest break-bulk facility and two of the
most efficient container terminals in the country; and
WHEREAS, With more than 200 public and private facilities,
the ship channel complex is the nation's largest for waterborne
tonnage; the Houston Ship Channel handles more cargo than the Ports
of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and New York and New Jersey combined;
and
WHEREAS, Port Houston has handled a record amount of cargo
tonnage in the past year; representing over 20 percent of Texas'
GDP, this cargo generates over 1.35 million jobs and more than $339
billion in economic activity in the state; and
WHEREAS, Guided by a seven-member board of port
commissioners, along with 13 executive staff members, Port Houston
works to advance the efficient flow of seaborne cargo on a global
scale; it ensures that the channel is properly dredged, and through
community initiatives and international partnerships, it adopts
innovative technologies and implements continual improvements in
productivity, reliability, and resiliency; while ensuring maximal
freight mobility, it also serves as a guardian of the channel
environment; and
WHEREAS, Port Houston is the principal advocate for the ship
channel, and its efforts have been vital in the rapid expansion of
the waterway in order to take full advantage of opportunities for
international trade; currently, it is in the process of widening
and deepening the channel, coordinating with strategic partners
throughout the region on a project requiring over $1 billion in
investment; Port Houston also strives to raise awareness of the
needs of 19 other Texas seaports, whose efforts are also crucial in
maintaining the status of preferred state for maritime commerce;
and
WHEREAS, Through its skilled and forward-looking stewardship
of the Houston Ship Channel, Port Houston plays an enormous role in
the continued prosperity of Texas and in the dominance of our energy
industry, and it is indeed a pleasure to welcome the port's
representatives to the State Capitol; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature
hereby honor Port Houston for its contributions to the Texas
economy and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes
for the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the group as an expression of high regard by the Texas
Senate.