HR526 - Recognizing March 18, 2025, as Matagorda County Day at the State Capitol.

      H.R. No. 526       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, Residents of Matagorda County are gathering in   Austin on March 18, 2025, to celebrate Matagorda County Day at the   State Capitol; and          WHEREAS, Matagorda County, one of the oldest counties in   Texas, derives its name from the Spanish term for "thick brush,"   referencing the canebrakes that once lined its shores along the   Gulf Coast; located between Galveston and Corpus Christi, 72 miles   southwest of Houston, the county offers residents easy access to a   major metropolitan area while preserving the quiet lifestyle of a   rural South Texas community; and          WHEREAS, Bay City, the county seat of Matagorda County, is   often called the "Gateway to the Great Outdoors"; founded in 1894,   the city was named for its location in the center of a vast coastal   prairie, which has been known as "Bay Prairie" since the time of   Stephen F. Austin; although located 25 miles from the Gulf of   Mexico, the Port of Bay City was constructed in the 1960s to connect   the city to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway via the Colorado River,   and it proudly serves both the industrial and recreational needs of   the county; and          WHEREAS, Matagorda County is known for its abundant wildlife,   diverse geography, and rich natural resources; the county is   believed to be home to more species of birds than anywhere else in   the country during certain times of the year; its marshes, coastal   prairies, rivers, and forests provide outstanding birding   opportunities, with three Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail loops   encompassing 17 observation sites; the Matagorda County Birding   Nature Center and LCRA Matagorda Bay Nature Park are ideal places to   learn about birds, gardening, wildlife, and native plants; in   addition to its avian attractions, the county's bays are teeming   with redfish, flounder, trout, crab, oysters, and shrimp, and the   Port of Palacios is one of the largest shrimping ports in Texas,   home to more than 125 shrimp boats; and          WHEREAS, The county's economy is driven by ranching, farming,   and petroleum, with additional economic strength provided by the   South Texas Project; the county is also home to international   companies such as Tenaris Bay City, OQ Chemicals Corporation, and   LyondellBasell, and it has recently welcomed HIF USA, Air Liquide,   and Roehm America LLC to the area; moreover, Matagorda County is   seeing significant growth in residential development, with over 800   housing starts, as well as an influx of new retail outlets and   restaurants; and          WHEREAS, Matagorda County is blessed with a rich history and   abundant natural resources, and its residents may take great pride   in their county's legacy and bright future; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas   Legislature hereby recognize March 18, 2025, as Matagorda County   Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting   delegation.     Louderback     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. 526 was adopted by the House on March   18, 2025, by a non-record vote.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House