TITLE: Recognizing January 27, 2015, as Laredo Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing January 27, 2015, as Laredo Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Laredo are gathering in Austin to celebrate Laredo Day at the State Capitol on January 27, 2015; and WHEREAS, Originally known as San Agustin de Laredo, the city was founded in 1755 as an outpost of the Spanish empire; it later belonged to Mexico, after that country gained independence from Spain in 1821, and served as the capital of the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande; Laredo became part of Texas in 1846 and was subsequently chosen as the seat of Webb County; and WHEREAS, From its earliest days, Laredo was an important crossing on the Rio Grande and a trading center for livestock, hides, and wool; its role in international trade expanded with the arrival of the railroad in 1881 and with the development of the Zona Libre, or free trade zone, along the border between the United States and Mexico; its economy was further helped by coal mining, the introduction of onion farming, and the discovery of rich oil and gas fields; and WHEREAS, Today, this bustling gateway city is the largest inland port along the U.S.-Mexico border and one of the top U.S. Customs districts in the nation, and its diverse economy benefits from the retail, hospitality, import and export, and petroleum industries; the city handles more than a third of all trade between the United States and Mexico; Laredo is also a focus for higher education in the Rio Grande Valley, as the home to Texas A&M International University, two campuses of Laredo Community College, and an extension campus of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; and WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike may explore such area attractions as the historic San Agustin Cathedral, the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum, and the Laredo Center for the Arts, while 40 blocks of import vendors along San Bernardo Avenue draw shoppers from near and far; in addition, Laredo is home to Washington's Birthday Celebration, a 118-year-old, month-long event that includes a carnival, a colonial pageant, a jalapeno festival, and a parade; and WHEREAS, Heirs to a rich history and a vibrant international culture, the citizens of Laredo may indeed take great pride in their city's two and a half centuries of progress and achievement; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby recognize January 27, 2015, as Laredo Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes for a memorable and meaningful visit to Austin. Raymond Straus Guerra Otto Allen Guillen Paddie Alonzo Gutierrez Parker Alvarado Harless Paul Anchia Hernandez Pe a Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips Ashby Huberty Pickett Aycock Hughes Price Bell Hunter Raney Blanco Isaac Raymond Bohac Israel Reynolds Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr. Button King of Parker Rose Canales King of Taylor Sanford Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer Clardy Klick Schofield Coleman Koop Shaheen Collier Krause Sheets Cook Kuempel Sheffield Craddick Landgraf Simmons Crownover Larson Simpson Dale Laubenberg Smith Darby Leach Smithee Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer Davis of Harris Lozano Springer Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson Dukes M rquez Stickland Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt Fallon Men ndez Turner of Collin Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles VanDeaver Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White of Bell Galindo Mu oz, Jr. White of Tyler Geren Murphy Workman Giddings Murr Wray Goldman Naishtat Wu Gonzales Nev rez Zedler Gonz lez Oliveira Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 191 was adopted by the House on January 27, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House