TITLE: Commemorating the 130th anniversary of the Railroad Commission of Texas.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the 130th anniversary of the Railroad Commission of Texas.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Railroad Commission of Texas is celebrating the 130th anniversary of its founding in April 2021, and this milestone presents a fitting opportunity to recognize this venerable institution; and WHEREAS, Established by the Texas Constitution in 1891, the Railroad Commission was created to oversee the rates and operations of railroads, terminals, wharves, and express companies; in 1917, the Texas Legislature declared pipelines to be common carriers under the authority of the Railroad Commission and designated the commission as the agency to administer the conservation laws relating to oil and gas; in March 1919, with the rapid rise in oil and gas production, the legislature enacted a statute requiring the conservation of oil and gas, forbidding waste, and giving the Railroad Commission jurisdiction over the industry; and WHEREAS, In the decades since, the commission's roles and responsibilities have grown as the state has changed; its rail functions have been transferred to other agencies, but its jurisdiction has been extended to the oversight not only of oil and gas exploration and production, but also of pipeline safety and the safety of alternative fuels, natural gas utilities, and the surface mining of coal and uranium; the commission's staff includes highly skilled engineers, geologists, and field inspectors, as well as professionals with expertise in information technology, the law, finance, safety, communications, and administration, who are tasked with ensuring the protection of the public, the environment, and the economy; and WHEREAS, Today, the Railroad Commission conducts inspections of oil and gas wells, pipeline infrastructure, alternative fuels facilities, and coal surface mining sites; it also conducts field audits of natural gas utilities and of the number of abandoned well sites that have been cleaned up with the use of state-managed funds; in addition, the commission's staff is working tirelessly to modernize its IT systems, transforming outdated processes into new platforms that allow streamlined and transparent business operations; and WHEREAS, For 130 years, the Railroad Commission of Texas has played a vital role in promoting the energy independence of our nation, and the agency has earned a national and international reputation for its accomplishments; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the 130th anniversary of the Railroad Commission of Texas and extend to the commissioners and the commission's staff sincere best wishes for success with their important work; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the Railroad Commission as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Goldman Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 641 was adopted by the House on April 16, 2021, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House