HR508 - Recognizing March 25, 2025, as Space Day at the State Capitol.

      H.R. No. 508       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, The State of Texas has played a central role in the   history and advancement of space exploration, and its continuing   leadership in the space industry remains a proud and defining   element of the state's identity; and          WHEREAS, Texas is home to more than 2,000 aerospace,   aviation, and defense businesses, including commercial spaceports   operating in Houston, Midland, McGregor, Van Horn, and Boca Chica;   long a cornerstone of America's space program, NASA's Lyndon B.   Johnson Space Center in Houston serves as the hub for astronaut   training and oversees mission control for the International Space   Station, which in 2025 is celebrating 25 years of continuous human   presence in space; among the Lone Star State's other major   aerospace landmarks is the Midland International Air & Space Port,   the first airport in the U.S. with both passenger air service and a   commercial spaceport license; and          WHEREAS, The robust space industry in Texas generates   $11 billion per year in gross product; the state's aerospace,   defense, and aviation sectors together employ 145,000 Texans, and   18 of the world's 20 leading aerospace companies have operations in   Texas; NASA alone invests more than $2.5 billion in the state   annually, while providing over 10,000 contract and civil service   jobs; the agency also engages some 2,000 students and educators   through its Texas High School Aerospace Scholars program and other   statewide STEM initiatives, and it facilitates research and   development through partnerships with Texas universities; the   state's space-related economy is further bolstered by Space Center   Houston and the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership's Space   Alliance Technology Outreach Program, which each generate more than   $200 million in economic impact; and          WHEREAS, Demonstrating its commitment to the continued   strength of the space industry, the State of Texas launched the   Texas Space Commission with the goal of driving commercial   aerospace growth and fostering innovation in the areas of space   exploration, research, and development; alongside this endeavor,   the state established the Texas Aerospace Research and Space   Economy Consortium and the Space Exploration and Aeronautics   Research Fund to support research efforts and award grants to   businesses, government entities, and nonprofits involved in space   exploration and science; funding provided by the State Legislature   has also helped advance The Texas A&M University System's endeavors   in space research and technology development, and construction is   currently underway on the Texas A&M University Space Institute in   the Johnson Space Center's new Exploration Park; and          WHEREAS, The commercialization of various NASA space   technologies has fueled significant innovation in Texas; the agency   continues to be at the forefront of advancements in aeronautics,   space science, and exploration through initiatives such as the   Artemis campaign, the Gateway space station, the Extravehicular   Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program, and the Human Landing   System program, which is enabling SpaceX and Blue Origin's   commercial lunar landing services; additionally, NASA's Commercial   Lunar Payload Services contracts are empowering companies such as   Firefly Aerospace and Intuitive Machines to deliver payloads to the   lunar surface in March 2025; and          WHEREAS, Through ongoing investments in the state's space   economy, Texas is charting new frontiers in an industry that holds   limitless potential for the future of humanity, and the observance   of Space Day serves to promote awareness of its importance to the   continued vitality of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas   Legislature hereby recognize March 25, 2025, as Space Day at the   State Capitol and pay tribute to the immeasurable contributions   made by the Texas space economy to our state and nation.     Paul     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. 508 was adopted by the House on March   25, 2025, by a non-record vote.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House