TITLE: Recognizing February 26, 2025, as Orange and Maroon Legislative Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing February 26, 2025, as Orange and Maroon Legislative Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Longhorns and Aggies are uniting at the State Capitol on February 26, 2025, to celebrate The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University with Orange and Maroon Legislative Day, a day when the state's two largest universities work together to promote higher education in the State of Texas; and WHEREAS, Alumni from the two institutions total more than 1.17 million, and The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University had a combined enrollment of nearly 133,000 students in the fall of 2024, with nearly 35,000 students receiving degrees that year; the schools boast superb museums and libraries, including the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum, and both universities are renowned for their exceptional research, with combined annual research expenditures of more than $2.3 billion; and WHEREAS, The teaching and research missions of The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University benefit the State of Texas through the cultivation of informed and engaged citizens, and they drive economic prosperity through technological innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, improved health care, and scientific breakthroughs; and WHEREAS, Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University explore, discover, and innovate in the sciences, arts, and humanities and have been granted numerous patents; as Tier One research institutions, both universities provide students valuable opportunities for applied learning with guidance from outstanding faculty across the disciplines, and both universities broaden access to higher education for underserved populations; and WHEREAS, Both universities serve as important cultural centers, engaging Texans in the visual and performing arts and other creative endeavors, and they promote athletics and physical education, inspiring Texans to stay active and bringing them together in support of student-athletes; and WHEREAS, The combined faculties feature Nobel laureates and more than 100 National Academy members, and those attending the schools include National Merit scholars, Rhodes scholars, Olympic gold medalists, and many of the Lone Star State's most outstanding students; in addition, the two universities offer an amazing range of postgraduate opportunities with more than 350 graduate degree programs; and WHEREAS, The two universities have proven records of support for our nation's military, commissioning tens of thousands of uniformed officers throughout their storied histories, and for our nation's veterans, enrolling hundreds of veterans each semester, establishing their commitment to providing new opportunities to our nation's bravest in supportive, military-friendly environments; and WHEREAS, The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University have positioned themselves as preeminent institutions of higher education on the state, national, and international levels, and Texans are fortunate to have access to these two exceptional state university systems; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 26, 2025, as Orange and Maroon Legislative Day and commend students and alumni from The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University for their commitment to supporting higher education in the Lone Star State. Dyson 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. 219 was adopted by the House on February 26, 2025, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House