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| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, Proud residents of Waco are gathering in Austin on |
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| 8 | 9 | | March 19, 2025, to celebrate Waco Day at the State Capitol; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Waco was founded in 1849 and played a central role in |
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| 10 | 11 | | the development of the Lone Star State in the 1880s; it served as a |
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| 11 | 12 | | center for cotton farming, a stopping point for cowboys on the |
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| 12 | 13 | | Chisholm Trail, and a thriving transportation and marketing hub; |
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| 13 | 14 | | and |
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| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, By the mid-1900s, Waco had grown into an important |
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| 15 | 16 | | manufacturing center, and in recent decades, other sectors such as |
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| 16 | 17 | | supply chain management, health care, and aerospace and defense |
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| 17 | 18 | | have made significant contributions to the local economy; and |
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| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Tourism is also a factor in the region's prosperity, |
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| 19 | 20 | | and Waco has one of the highest hotel occupancy rates in the state; |
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| 20 | 21 | | residents and visitors alike are drawn to such attractions as the |
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| 21 | 22 | | Texas Sports Hall of Fame and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and |
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| 22 | 23 | | Museum, as well as the scenic surroundings of Lake Waco and Cameron |
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| 23 | 24 | | Park on the banks of the Brazos River; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Institutions of higher education have been a key |
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| 25 | 26 | | element in Waco's success throughout its history; Baylor University |
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| 26 | 27 | | has been a part of the city since 1887, and Texas State Technical |
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| 27 | 28 | | College and McLennan Community College have further enhanced the |
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| 28 | 29 | | town's reputation as a place of learning and innovation; and |
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| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, During the presidency of George W. Bush, Waco was |
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| 30 | 31 | | home to the White House Press Center, which provided briefing and |
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| 31 | 32 | | office facilities for the press corps when President Bush was at the |
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| 32 | 33 | | "Western White House," his ranch in Crawford, 20 miles west of Waco; |
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| 33 | 34 | | and |
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| 34 | 35 | | WHEREAS, A fitting symbol of the City of Waco's |
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| 35 | 36 | | forward-thinking attitude is the home of the Greater Waco Chamber |
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| 36 | 37 | | of Commerce, which opened in June 2008 and was specifically |
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| 37 | 38 | | designed to qualify for gold-level certification from the United |
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| 38 | 39 | | States Green Building Council; the structure incorporates a range |
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| 39 | 40 | | of innovative features to create an environmentally sensitive |
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| 40 | 41 | | landmark that serves as a model for additional sustainable |
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| 41 | 42 | | construction projects; and |
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| 42 | 43 | | WHEREAS, Even as they celebrate their unique heritage, the |
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| 43 | 44 | | citizens of Waco are looking ahead to the opportunities of the |
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| 44 | 45 | | future, and they may reflect with pride on their contributions to |
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| 45 | 46 | | the story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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| 46 | 47 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 47 | 48 | | Legislature hereby recognize March 19, 2025, as Waco Day at the |
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| 48 | 49 | | State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best |
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| 49 | 50 | | wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin. |
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