TITLE: Recognizing March 5, 2013, as Coastal Bend Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing March 5, 2013, as Coastal Bend Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend area are gathering in Austin on March 5, 2013, to celebrate Coastal Bend Day at the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, Home to many of Texas' top attractions, this region along the Gulf Coast is an economic powerhouse with a notable history and a bright future; and WHEREAS, The Padre Island National Seashore's 68-mile beach constitutes the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world and is a favorite of outdoor enthusiasts; the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge draws 80,000 visitors a year, and another attraction, the Texas Maritime Museum, completed a new expansion of its educational and collections space in 2012; and WHEREAS, The Port of Corpus Christi is the fifth-largest port in the nation and an important strategic deployment port for the United States military; Naval Air Station Kingsville is one of the United States Navy's premier jet-training bases, and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi has played a vital role in the growth of the area; and WHEREAS, Postsecondary education is also important in the life of Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend area, with Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University--Kingsville, and Del Mar College serving over 38,000 students; in 2006, Texas A&M University--Kingsville opened the doors of its Rangel College of Pharmacy, the first health-related professional school to open in South Texas, and in 2005, Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi opened the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies; and WHEREAS, With its deepwater port facilities, abundant natural resources, and hardworking citizens, the Coastal Bend area of Texas is an inviting place in which to live, work, and raise a family; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby recognize March 5, 2013, as Coastal Bend Day at the State Capitol and commend the residents of the area for their many contributions to the rich cultural and economic fabric of our state. Hunter Lozano Herrero Morrison Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 278 was adopted by the House on March 5, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House