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| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, Residents of Port Aransas are gathering in Austin on |
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| 8 | 9 | | March 5, 2025, to celebrate Port Aransas Day at the State Capitol; |
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| 9 | 10 | | and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, In the early 1800s, Mustang Island was frequented by |
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| 11 | 12 | | the famed buccaneer Jean Lafitte, and in 1855, an English sheep and |
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| 12 | 13 | | cattle rancher named Robert A. Mercer built a cabin on the island; a |
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| 13 | 14 | | community developed around the site, and the first post office was |
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| 14 | 15 | | established in 1888; initially called Ropesville, the town was |
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| 15 | 16 | | renamed Tarpon eight years later to highlight the island's fine |
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| 16 | 17 | | fishing, and in 1911, it was officially designated as Port Aransas; |
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| 17 | 18 | | and |
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| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, The city has since become one of the most popular |
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| 19 | 20 | | family destinations on the Texas Gulf Coast, and the superb beaches |
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| 20 | 21 | | draw campers, swimmers, and surfers from across the Lone Star |
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| 21 | 22 | | State; the town's launching ramps, lighted piers, and jetties |
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| 22 | 23 | | enable anglers to catch a wide variety of fish, including red |
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| 23 | 24 | | snapper, redfish, flounder, speckled trout, tuna, and more; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Port Aransas is also one of the top bird-watching |
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| 25 | 26 | | locations in the country, and many areas afford fine opportunities |
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| 26 | 27 | | to view local species such as herons and roseate spoonbills as well |
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| 27 | 28 | | as the annual migrations of hummingbirds, flycatchers, orioles, and |
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| 28 | 29 | | whooping cranes; additionally, visitors may delight in the town's |
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| 29 | 30 | | art galleries, shops, restaurants, and locations of historical |
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| 30 | 31 | | interest; and |
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| 31 | 32 | | WHEREAS, Port Aransas boasts a thriving tourism industry, |
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| 32 | 33 | | which is an important economic engine for the state, generating |
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| 33 | 34 | | nearly $19 million in city and state hotel taxes and more than |
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| 34 | 35 | | $15 million in related sales taxes per year; and |
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| 35 | 36 | | WHEREAS, The community is served by the Port Aransas |
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| 36 | 37 | | Independent School District, and over the course of its 112-year |
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| 37 | 38 | | history, it has demonstrated a long-standing tradition of |
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| 38 | 39 | | excellence and a commitment to helping students become responsible |
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| 39 | 40 | | citizens and reach their full potential; the area further benefits |
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| 40 | 41 | | from the educational opportunities provided by The University of |
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| 41 | 42 | | Texas Marine Science Institute, which supports sustainability and |
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| 42 | 43 | | research in fields vital to the future of the Texas coast; and |
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| 43 | 44 | | WHEREAS, Blessed with natural beauty and a colorful history, |
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| 44 | 45 | | Port Aransas is one of the Lone Star State's great treasures, and |
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| 45 | 46 | | its citizens may indeed take pride in their rich heritage; now, |
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| 46 | 47 | | 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 March 5, 2025, as Port Aransas 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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