TITLE: Commemorating the 100th anniversary of Port Freeport in Brazoria County.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the 100th anniversary of Port Freeport in Brazoria County.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Port Freeport is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding in 2025; and WHEREAS, The port traces its history to the early 1820s, when Stephen F. Austin first recognized the potential of the Brazos River as a deep-water port and selected the area for his own colony; over the years, the region became a hub for economic activity, and following a recommendation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Brazoria County Commissioners Court held an election to establish the Brazos River Harbor Navigation District, to divert the Brazos River and construct a bridge over the Diversion Channel; the district was officially established in December 1925, and the Diversion Channel was completed four years later; the first public dock facilities were constructed in 1936; and WHEREAS, Following the passage of Texas House Bill 542 in 2007, the Brazos River Harbor Navigation District was renamed Port Freeport; since its inception, the port has grown to become a strategic gateway for international trade, ranking among the top ports in the United States for foreign waterborne export tonnage; in addition, the port is one of the largest petrochemical and energy ports in the nation and encompasses facilities for top leaders in the chemical, crude oil, gases, agriculture, and automobile industries; and WHEREAS, Port Freeport has significantly contributed to the state and national economy, generating an annual economic impact of $157.3 billion and sustaining more than 266,000 jobs nationwide; the port has driven economic growth through infrastructure investments such as the Freeport Harbor Channel Improvement Project, which is scheduled for completion in 2025; the $295 million project includes the widening and deepening of the Freeport Harbor Channel to depths ranging from 51 to 56 feet, making it the deepest port in Texas; moreover, in September 2024, the Port Freeport Commission voted to adopt a zero-tax rate, enabling the port to operate as a self-reliant entity with no tax assessment; and WHEREAS, Over the past century, Port Freeport has played an important role in the economic vitality of the State of Texas, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to sustainability, innovation, and operational excellence, and it is indeed fitting to join the people of Brazoria County in celebrating this important milestone in the port's rich history; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of Port Freeport and extend to all those affiliated with the port sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Port Freeport as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Vasut Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw Alders Guillen Morgan Allen Harless Mu oz Anch a Harris Noble Ashby Harris Davila Olcott Barry Harrison Oliverson Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr Bernal Hernandez Patterson Bhojani Hickland Paul Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso Bowers Holt Perez of Harris Bryant Hopper Phelan Buckley Howard Pierson Bucy Hull Plesa Bumgarner Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Cain Johnson Richardson Campos Jones of Dallas Rodr guez Ramos Canales Jones of Harris Romero Capriglione Kerwin Rose Cole King Rosenthal Collier Kitzman Schatzline Cook LaHood Schofield Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft Craddick Lambert Shaheen Cunningham Landgraf Shofner Curry Leach Simmons Darby Leo Wilson Slawson A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico Dorazio Louderback Tepper Dutton Lowe Thompson Dyson Lozano Tinderholt Fairly Lujan Toth Flores Luther Troxclair Frank Manuel Turner G mez Martinez VanDeaver Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell Gates Metcalf Vo Gerdes Meyer Walle Geren Meza Ward Johnson Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton Gonz lez of Dallas Moody Wilson Gonz lez of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 297 was adopted by the House on February 25, 2025, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House