TITLE: Recognizing February 10, 2015, as Texas State Aquarium Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing February 10, 2015, as Texas State Aquarium Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi is an outstanding institution that is committed to connecting people with nature and promoting conservation of the Gulf of Mexico; and WHEREAS, After two decades of planning and fund-raising, TSA first opened the doors to its original Gulf of Mexico exhibit in 1990; over the years, many new permanent and special exhibits have been introduced, allowing spectators to see a live bald eagle, to touch and feed stingrays, to watch Atlantic bottlenose dolphins play, and to get an underwater view of the habitat formed around an oil platform in the Gulf; the aquarium also features a splash park, an artificial fossil dig site for uncovering casts of prehistoric animal bones, and the Hawn Wild Flight Theater, with presentations featuring trained birds, and in 2014, it announced an expansion project that will more than double the size of the facilities; and WHEREAS, In addition to entertaining and delighting visitors, this private, not-for-profit institution gives back to the community through its education and conservation programs; field trips, summer camps, and distance learning empower Texans of all ages to discover more about nature and marine wildlife, while the Second Chances Wildlife Rehabilitation Program provides care for ill or injured shorebirds, birds of prey, marine mammals, and sea turtles, returning them to their natural habitats whenever possible; furthermore, the aquarium coordinates beach cleanups three times a year, fosters awareness of Texas watersheds with its Keepers of the Coast program, and awards grants through its Wildlife Care, Conservation, and Research Fund; and WHEREAS, TSA has been honored with numerous accolades, including the Outstanding Public-Private Partnership Award from Mutual of America, the Munson Aquatic Conservation Exhibitry Award from the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, and the Conservation and Environmental Stewardship Award for Public Awareness from the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation; in 2014, it became one of only six aquariums in the nation to earn a prestigious four-star rating from Charity Navigator; and WHEREAS, By encouraging Texans to appreciate the diversity and vulnerability of marine life, the aquarium is making a significant contribution to the Lone Star State, and the efforts and achievements of all involved in this worthy endeavor indeed merit special commendation; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 10, 2015, as Texas State Aquarium Day and extend to all those associated with the aquarium sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the Texas State Aquarium as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Herrero Hunter Lozano 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. 354 was adopted by the House on February 10, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House