TITLE: Honoring the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi on being named the lead organization of Texas OneGulf, a RESTORE Act Center of Excellence.

SUMMARY: Honoring the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi on being named the lead organization of Texas OneGulf, a RESTORE Act Center of Excellence.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi has been named the lead institution of Texas OneGulf, a research consortium established under the federal RESTORE Act to promote the conservation and sustainable use of the Gulf of Mexico; and WHEREAS, Responding to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the U.S. Congress adopted, and the president signed into law, the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States (RESTORE) Act in 2012; the Act created a trust fund, using fines resulting from the Deepwater Horizon disaster, to support initiatives to rehabilitate and preserve the Gulf of Mexico; it also provided for the creation of Centers of Excellence in each of the five Gulf Coast states to conduct research and monitoring operations that can help guide restoration efforts; the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has named Texas OneGulf as one of two Centers of Excellence in the State of Texas; Texas OneGulf is composed of key marine institutions across the state and is led by the Harte Research Institute; and WHEREAS, Created in 2000, the Harte Research Institute is the only marine research organization whose work focuses solely on the Gulf of Mexico, the ninth-largest body of water in the world; bringing together experts from the three countries that border the Gulf, the institute is dedicated to finding science-driven solutions to Gulf problems and to assisting the response to Gulf-related emergencies stemming from both natural and man-made disasters; the institute has been under the direction of Dr. Larry McKinney since 2008; and WHEREAS, Conditions in the Gulf of Mexico have a significant impact on the economy and environment of Texas and on the health and well-being of Texas citizens, and through its efforts to expand our knowledge of the Gulf and to address critical issues concerning the Gulf, the Harte Research Institute is making an immeasurable contribution to the strength and vitality of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies on being named the lead organization of Texas OneGulf, a RESTORE Act Center of Excellence, and extend to all those involved in the institute and the Texas OneGulf consortium sincere best wishes for success with their important work; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the institute as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Hunter Herrero Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 438 was adopted by the House on February 19, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House