HR299 - Recognizing February 19, 2025, as Rio Grande Valley Day at the State Capitol.

      H.R. No. 299       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, A distinguished delegation from South Texas is   visiting Austin on February 19, 2025, 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   United States-Mexico border, with more than 1.15 million trucks,   11.7 million cars carrying 24.3 million passengers, 28,000 buses   carrying over 300,000 passengers, and 6.2 million pedestrians   crossing Rio Grande Valley ports of entry and averaging more than   $140 million in goods and services per day, with over $51 billion in   commercial trade per year flowing across various land ports of   entry; the Rio Grande Valley is an economic powerhouse for the State   of Texas with approximately $47.16 billion in taxable sales   recorded in reporting year 2024; and          WHEREAS, The Valley has around 1.4 million residents, with   approximately 565,000 individuals under the age of 25, and local   and state officials have focused on the need to expand access to   higher education and health care, strengthen the workforce,   increase transportation and ports of entry infrastructure, and   increase funding for public education; The University of Texas Rio   Grande Valley serves some 35,000 students; the UTRGV School of   Medicine is in its ninth year of operation with numerous GME   programs and patient care sites; and          WHEREAS, The six higher education institutions in the Rio   Grande Valley, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, the Texas   A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen, the Texas A&M   University Health Science Center, South Texas College, Texas   Southmost College, and Texas State Technical College, serve a   student population of more than 100,000; and          WHEREAS, Major sponsors for the day's legislative event   include the Texas Regional Bank, UTRGV, the Edinburg Economic   Development Corporation, Linebarger Attorneys at Law, Charter   Communications, the City of Edinburg, Texas Gas Service, the Texas   International Produce Association, AEP, Raise Your Hand Texas,   NextDecade, Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, and AT&T, all of which   are 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 89th Texas   Legislature hereby recognize February 19, 2025, as Rio Grande   Valley Day at the State Capitol and extend to all participants   sincere best wishes for a productive and enjoyable visit.     Guillen     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. 299 was adopted by the House on February   19, 2025, by a non-record vote.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House