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| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Mission are gathering in Austin on |
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| 8 | 9 | | February 18, 2025, to celebrate Mission Day at the State Capitol; |
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| 9 | 10 | | and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, The city of Mission was founded in 1908, the year the |
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| 11 | 12 | | Missouri Pacific Railroad established a station in the area, and |
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| 12 | 13 | | the city was named for La Lomita Mission, which was located nearby; |
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| 13 | 14 | | since then, Mission, home of the grapefruit, has grown to be a |
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| 14 | 15 | | thriving city with a population of more than 87,000 people; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, The first citrus trees in the Rio Grande Valley were |
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| 16 | 17 | | planted in the Mission area; today, the citrus industry is a |
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| 17 | 18 | | multimillion-dollar business and is celebrated each year at the |
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| 18 | 19 | | Texas Citrus Fiesta; and |
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| 19 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Mission is a center for international trade and |
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| 20 | 21 | | entrepreneurship, and its Anzalduas International Bridge provides |
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| 21 | 22 | | a vital trade and tourism connection to Mexico; several |
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| 22 | 23 | | international manufacturers and other dynamic firms call Mission |
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| 23 | 24 | | home, including Stanley Black & Decker, Royal Technologies, |
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| 24 | 25 | | Wonderful Citrus, and the Texas International Produce Association; |
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| 25 | 26 | | Mission EDC manages the city's Center for Education and Economic |
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| 26 | 27 | | Development, a unique, 55,000-square-foot business incubator and |
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| 27 | 28 | | coworking space that has spawned numerous local enterprises; and |
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| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, A popular destination for "Winter Texans," Mission |
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| 29 | 30 | | boasts about 50 RV parks and welcomes an estimated 25,000 seasonal |
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| 30 | 31 | | residents during the coldest months of the year; and |
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| 31 | 32 | | WHEREAS, Recreational opportunities are abundant in Mission, |
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| 32 | 33 | | with such attractions as the National Butterfly Center, the World |
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| 33 | 34 | | Birding Center headquarters, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, |
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| 34 | 35 | | and the 10-mile Mission Hike and Bike Trail; since 2019, Mission has |
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| 35 | 36 | | been recognized as an All-America City; and |
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| 36 | 37 | | WHEREAS, Mission was immortalized in Larry McMurtry's novel |
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| 37 | 38 | | and television miniseries, Lonesome Dove, and notable residents |
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| 38 | 39 | | have included United States Senator and Treasury Secretary Lloyd |
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| 39 | 40 | | Bentsen and United States Congressman Kika de la Garza; moreover, |
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| 40 | 41 | | Mission was the childhood home of legendary Dallas Cowboys coach |
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| 41 | 42 | | Tom Landry and a second home to Texas Governor Allan Shivers, |
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| 42 | 43 | | Oscar-winning actress Sissy Spacek, and three-time presidential |
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| 43 | 44 | | candidate William Jennings Bryan; and |
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| 44 | 45 | | WHEREAS, Mission Day at the Capitol provides an opportunity |
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| 45 | 46 | | to honor the border city's heritage and its many charms, which are |
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| 46 | 47 | | enjoyed by residents and vacationers alike; now, therefore, be it |
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| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 48 | 49 | | Legislature hereby recognize February 18, 2025, as Mission Day at |
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| 49 | 50 | | the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting |
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| 50 | 51 | | delegation. |
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