TITLE: Recognizing January 30, 2019, as Laredo Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing January 30, 2019, as Laredo Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Laredo are gathering in Austin to celebrate Laredo Day at the State Capitol on January 30, 2019; 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 nearly two decades later it was named the capital of the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande; Laredo became part of Texas in 1846 and was subsequently chosen as the county 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 a regional campus of The University of Texas Health Science Center; 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 month-long event that includes a carnival, a colonial pageant, a jalape o festival, and a parade; and WHEREAS, Boasting a rich heritage and a vibrant international culture, the people of Laredo may indeed take great pride in the role their community continues to play in the story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas Legislature hereby recognize January 30, 2019, as Laredo Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes for an enjoyable and informative visit to Austin. Raymond Bonnen of Brazoria Guerra Oliverson Allen Guillen Ortega Allison Gutierrez Pacheco Anchia Harless Paddie Anderson Harris Parker Ashby Hefner Patterson Bailes Hernandez Paul Beckley Herrero Perez Bell of Kaufman Hinojosa Phelan Bell of Montgomery Holland Price Bernal Howard Ramos Biedermann Huberty Raney Blanco Hunter Raymond Bohac Israel Reynolds Bonnen of Galveston E. Johnson of Dallas Rodriguez Bowers J. Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Buckley Johnson of Harris Rose Bucy Kacal Rosenthal Burns King of Hemphill Sanford Burrows King of Parker Schaefer Button King of Uvalde Shaheen Cain Klick Sheffield Calanni Krause Sherman, Sr. Canales Kuempel Shine Capriglione Lambert Smith Clardy Landgraf Smithee Cole Lang Springer Coleman Larson Stephenson Collier Leach Stickland Cortez Leman Stucky Craddick Longoria Swanson Cyrier Lozano Talarico Darby Lucio III Thierry Davis of Dallas Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Harris Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Dean Metcalf Tinderholt Deshotel Meyer Toth Dominguez Meza Turner of Dallas Dutton Middleton Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miller VanDeaver Flynn Minjarez Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Mu oz, Jr. Wilson Gervin-Hawkins Murphy Wray Goldman Murr Wu Gonz lez of Dallas Neave Zedler Gonz lez of El Paso Nev rez Zerwas Goodwin Noble Zwiener Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 121 was adopted by the House on January 30, 2019, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House