TITLE: Recognizing February 10, 2015, as Rio Grande Valley Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing February 10, 2015, as Rio Grande Valley Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, A distinguished delegation from South Texas is visiting Austin on February 10, 2015, to celebrate Rio Grande Valley Day at the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, Enjoying a strategic location on the Gulf of Mexico and along the Mexican border, the Rio Grande Valley was an important ranching region when Texas became the nation's 28th state in 1845; over time, the economy shifted from ranching to agriculture, and the Valley became the state's center of citrus and vegetable production; and WHEREAS, In the 1960s, industry flourished and international trade became increasingly prominent; the region has contributed significantly to the tremendous increase in commerce across the U.S.-Mexico border, which now averages more than $1.3 billion in goods and services per day, and also accounts for a major portion of the $4.5 billion a year that Mexican nationals spend on retail purchases in Texas; and WHEREAS, The Valley has over 1.3 million residents, and local and state officials have focused on the need to expand access to higher education, strengthen the workforce, and introduce pioneering businesses, such as United Launch Alliance, which has been engineering rockets in the area for over a decade, and now, SpaceX, which promises to be the Rio Grande Valley's gateway to space exploration; furthermore, in 2013, the legislature created The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, partnering with SpaceX to create STARGATE, the first research center of excellence for UTRGV; the university is enrolling its first class in Fall 2015, and the new UTRGV Medical School is slated to open the following year; and WHEREAS, The focus for today's special legislative event is border security, workforce development, infrastructure, and higher education, and major sponsors include The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, the City of Harlingen, the City of Edinburg, the City of McAllen, the Port of Brownsville, the RGV Partnership, the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, the Mission Economic Development Corporation, South Texas College, the Anzalduas International Bridge, the McAllen Economic Development Corporation, the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, and the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce; several private sector businesses, such as AEP, Linebarger, and Texas Regional Bank, are also promoting greater regional cooperation in the 21st century; and WHEREAS, A vibrant region with a rich heritage, the Rio Grande Valley is poised to take advantage of tremendous opportunities for continued economic development, and it is indeed most fitting to honor Valley residents for their dedication to building a bright and prosperous future for the area; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 10, 2015, as Rio Grande Valley Day at the State Capitol and extend to all participants sincere best wishes for a productive and enjoyable visit. Mu oz, Jr. Oliveira Lucio III Martinez Guillen Canales Guerra Longoria 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. 443 was adopted by the House on February 10, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House