89R25651 JH-D
By: Geren H.C.R. No. 142
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The city of Fort Worth has evolved into a prominent
center for the aviation and defense sectors, attracting major
corporations, manufacturing facilities, and a skilled workforce
that continues to drive innovation and economic growth in these
industries; and
WHEREAS, Fort Worth's connection to the military dates to its
establishment as a frontier outpost in 1849; later, as the United
States mobilized for World War I, the city served as the home of
Camp Bowie, which trained 100,000 soldiers in the U.S. Army's 36th
Infantry Division; during World War II, the construction of the
B-24 and B-32 bombers in Fort Worth and the development of Carswell
Air Force Base solidified the city's longstanding partnership with
the U.S. armed forces, which continues to this day; and
WHEREAS, Beginning in the 1970s, Fort Worth became a
manufacturing location for the F-16, one of the world's most widely
used fighter jets; today, the city remains at the forefront of
aerospace innovation as the assembly site of the F-35 Lightning II,
the most advanced fifth-generation fighter jet in the world, which
is produced by Fort Worth-based Lockheed Martin Aeronautics; in
March 2025, it was announced that the global F-35 fleet had
surpassed one million total flight hours; and
WHEREAS, In 1951, Bell Textron, Inc., opened in Fort Worth
the first factory in the world specifically designed to manufacture
helicopters, and in 2018, the location was designated a Vertical
Flight Heritage Site by the Vertical Flight Society; the company
has produced and delivered more than 35,000 Bell rotorcraft, and it
is slated to expand its Fort Worth operations by opening a new
advanced manufacturing facility for the U.S. Army's Future Long
Range Assault Aircraft; this state-of-the-art tiltrotor is
designed to fly two times farther and faster than the current fleet;
and
WHEREAS, Since 1974, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
has served Fort Worth, the North Texas region, and the State of
Texas as a gateway to destinations around the globe; it has grown
into one of the busiest airports in the world and welcomes more than
86 million travelers a year and generates over $37 billion in annual
economic impact; and
WHEREAS, American Airlines relocated its corporate
headquarters to Fort Worth in 1979, and the carrier now maintains a
workforce of more than 36,000 in North Texas and operates thousands
of flights per day to more than 350 destinations in over 60
countries; and
WHEREAS, Fort Worth has played an integral part in advancing
America's leadership in military capability and aerospace
technology, and these contributions have brought profound benefits
to our state and nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby designate Fort Worth as the official Aviation and Defense
Capital of Texas; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section
391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in effect
until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally
passed by the legislature.