HR297 - Commemorating the 100th anniversary of Port Freeport in Brazoria County.

      H.R. No. 297       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, Port Freeport is celebrating the 100th anniversary   of its founding in 2025; and          WHEREAS, The port traces its history to the early 1820s, when   Stephen F. Austin first recognized the potential of the Brazos   River as a deep-water port and selected the area for his own colony;   over the years, the region became a hub for economic activity, and   following a recommendation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,   the Brazoria County Commissioners Court held an election to   establish the Brazos River Harbor Navigation District, to divert   the Brazos River and construct a bridge over the Diversion Channel;   the district was officially established in December 1925, and the   Diversion Channel was completed four years later; the first public   dock facilities were constructed in 1936; and          WHEREAS, Following the passage of Texas House Bill 542 in   2007, the Brazos River Harbor Navigation District was renamed Port   Freeport; since its inception, the port has grown to become a   strategic gateway for international trade, ranking among the top   ports in the United States for foreign waterborne export tonnage;   in addition, the port is one of the largest petrochemical and energy   ports in the nation and encompasses facilities for top leaders in   the chemical, crude oil, gases, agriculture, and automobile   industries; and          WHEREAS, Port Freeport has significantly contributed to the   state and national economy, generating an annual economic impact of   $157.3 billion and sustaining more than 266,000 jobs nationwide;   the port has driven economic growth through infrastructure   investments such as the Freeport Harbor Channel Improvement   Project, which is scheduled for completion in 2025; the $295   million project includes the widening and deepening of the Freeport   Harbor Channel to depths ranging from 51 to 56 feet, making it the   deepest port in Texas; moreover, in September 2024, the Port   Freeport Commission voted to adopt a zero-tax rate, enabling the   port to operate as a self-reliant entity with no tax assessment; and          WHEREAS, Over the past century, Port Freeport has played an   important role in the economic vitality of the State of Texas,   demonstrating a steadfast commitment to sustainability,   innovation, and operational excellence, and it is indeed fitting to   join the people of Brazoria County in celebrating this important   milestone in the port's rich history; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas   Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of Port   Freeport and extend to all those affiliated with the port sincere   best wishes for continued success; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be   prepared for Port Freeport as an expression of high regard by the   Texas House of Representatives.     Vasut     Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw   Alders Guillen Morgan   Allen Harless Muñoz   Anchía Harris Noble   Ashby Harris Davila Olcott   Barry Harrison Oliverson   Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz   Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr   Bernal Hernandez Patterson   Bhojani Hickland Paul   Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso   Bowers Holt Perez of Harris   Bryant Hopper Phelan   Buckley Howard Pierson   Bucy Hull Plesa   Bumgarner Hunter Raymond   Button Isaac Reynolds   Cain Johnson Richardson   Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos   Canales Jones of Harris Romero   Capriglione Kerwin Rose   Cole King Rosenthal   Collier Kitzman Schatzline   Cook LaHood Schofield   Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft   Craddick Lambert Shaheen   Cunningham Landgraf Shofner   Curry Leach Simmons   Darby Leo Wilson Slawson   A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee   Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller   Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson   DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico   Dorazio Louderback Tepper   Dutton Lowe Thompson   Dyson Lozano Tinderholt   Fairly Lujan Toth   Flores Luther Troxclair   Frank Manuel Turner   Gámez Martinez VanDeaver   Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut   Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos   Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell   Gates Metcalf Vo   Gerdes Meyer Walle   Geren Meza Ward Johnson   Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton   González of Dallas Moody Wilson   González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu   Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener     ______________________________   Speaker of the House                 I certify that H.R. No. 297 was adopted by the House on February   25, 2025, by a non-record vote.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House