HR697 - Recognizing April 1 and 2, 2025, as Collin County Days at the State Capitol.

      H.R. No. 697       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, Residents from Collin County are gathering in Austin   on April 1 and 2, 2025, to celebrate Collin County Days at the State   Capitol; and          WHEREAS, Collin County is one of the largest and   fastest-growing counties in the state; more than 90 percent of its   workforce over the age of 25 hold a high school diploma and about   half have earned at least a bachelor's degree; such highly skilled   workers also make the county a leader in job growth; and          WHEREAS, With a population of over 292,000, Plano is the   largest city in the county and home to more than 70 iconic global   corporations, including Toyota Motor North America, Liberty Mutual   Insurance, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Boeing Global Services, NTT DATA,   JCPenney, FedEx Office, Frito-Lay, Samsung, and Capital One   Finance; the city is consistently ranked as one of America's safest   cities, and it has been named one of the best places to live in   America and one of the best cities to buy a house in America by   Niche; it has also been recognized as one of the best places to   raise a family by WalletHub, one of the healthiest cities in America   by SmartAsset, and one of the best cities in America for jobs by   Forbes , while maintaining its status as one of the best-performing   cities in America by the Milken Institute; this thriving   municipality boasts nationally recognized schools, award-winning   parks, a lively historic downtown district, and multicultural   neighborhoods that appeal equally to families, young singles, and   retirees; its excellent restaurants, vibrant shopping districts,   exciting entertainment venues, and active local arts scene all   contribute to the city's high quality of life; and          WHEREAS, The county seat and one of the fastest-growing   cities in the country with a current population of over 224,000, the   city of McKinney continues to thrive as a hub of innovation,   opportunity, and exceptional quality of life; major employers such   as Raytheon, Emerson, SRS Distribution, Globe Life, and Encore Wire   anchor a diverse and expanding economy; upcoming projects include a   20,000-seat open-air amphitheater and a new terminal at the   McKinney National Airport to accommodate commercial service by   2026; nearly 50 technology startups have received funding to grow   their businesses in the community through the city's   internationally recognized Innovation Fund; the city has also   positioned itself on the global map for next-generation industries   by bringing one of the world's leading innovation platforms, Plug   and Play, to the local business community; more than 2,300   single-family permits and 76 non-residential permits were issued   last year; furthermore, the city's award-winning historic downtown   encompasses over 170 unique small businesses and restaurants; the   community is recognized among the best places to live in the U.S.,   and residents enjoy more than 70 parks, over 100 miles of trails,   and premier recreational facilities; and          WHEREAS, Allen is a dynamic and welcoming home to more than   113,000 residents and has been ranked among the safest, most   affordable, and most family-friendly cities nationwide, and the   city continues to enhance the Texas workforce through the addition   and expansion of such international companies as NETSCOUT, Boss   Fight Entertainment, and Amphenol Fiber Systems International; in   2017, the city was named the number two "Best Place to Live" and   number one "Best Place to Live in the South" by Money magazine, and   the city received the National Recreation and Park Association Gold   Medal Award in 2016 for the coveted stewardship of its parkland,   which today includes more than 1,864 acres, 67 parks and   facilities, and 83 miles of hike-and-bike trails; moreover, its   volunteer efforts were recognized with the 2012, 2016, and 2022   Keep Texas Beautiful Governor's Community Achievement Award for   efforts in environmental education, community beautification, and   litter prevention; the city is also part of the Six Cities trail   plan, a blueprint for creating a regional trail system connecting   Allen, Plano, McKinney, Richardson, Frisco, and Garland; and          WHEREAS, Defining "Progress in Motion," Frisco is one of the   fastest-growing cities in the country and the fastest-growing   community over the past decade, according to the United States   Census Bureau; it has maintained its quality of life amid rapid   development, and the Dallas Morning News named Frisco among its top   10 suburbs for schools, safety, families with children, young   adults, empty nesters, and "Best Overall" neighborhoods; known for   top-notch public safety services, the city received the highest   rating for fire protection, and it enjoys one of the lowest crime   rates, as well as low taxes; this once-small town is home to Collin   College, Preston Ridge Campus, world-class venues, and a number of   professional sports organizations, namely the Frisco RoughRiders,   Dallas Stars, FC Dallas, Texas Legends, Dallas Cowboys, and the PGA   of America; active residents have access to 49 parks, 86 miles of   trails, and an athletic center featuring an outdoor water park;   health care facilities include three hospitals, and the favorable   business climate supports more than nine million square feet of   retail and restaurants; among the cultural amenities are three   museums and hundreds of public and private art installations   displayed throughout Frisco's approximately 70-square-mile area;   recently, the University of North Texas opened a campus in Frisco,   becoming the first four-year college in Collin County; and          WHEREAS, The City of Wylie, Wylie Independent School   District, Wylie Chamber of Commerce, and Wylie Economic Development   Corporation work in concert to build a strong community that   strives to honor the past, embrace the present, and plan for the   future, while valuing unity, relationships, and trust; known as   "Wide Awake Wylie," the town of more than 63,000 residents fosters a   spirit of cooperation and features a thriving business environment   as well as outstanding schools; it is a place people treasure and   proudly call home, set apart by its strong sense of community and   long history; and          WHEREAS, The city of Richardson, which is known globally for   its high-tech business leadership, is home to the Telecom Corridor   area and was named the International Business Capital of North   Texas by the 82nd Texas Legislature; Richardson is a major   employment center, with companies including Blue Cross and Blue   Shield of Texas, Fossil, RealPage, Fujitsu Network Communications,   and Cisco Systems having headquarters in the city; other major   employers include State Farm, Raytheon, UnitedHealthcare, Texas   Instruments, and AT&T; Richardson offers a high quality of life, a   diverse array of neighborhoods, and easy access to a multimodal   transportation infrastructure; the city has repeatedly been   recognized as one of the top places to live, work, and obtain an   education by national and local media; in 2018, CBS News ranked   Richardson the 16th-best city in the United States to live, and it   finished ninth nationally among top cities for STEM workers by   Livability; Richardson is home to The University of Texas at   Dallas, one of the fastest-growing universities in the state, and   the city remains dedicated to continued improvement as well as to   the principles of open government and two-way communication with   residents; and          WHEREAS, The city of Murphy, a diverse, historically   significant residential community in southeastern Collin County,   continues to create a distinctive ambience of homeowner pride and   neighborhood vitality, and it has been designated multiple times as   a Top 10 Best Suburb by D Magazine ; Murphy's commitment to an   enhanced quality of life is reflected in the number and level of   excellence in its parks system, as well as its highly regarded   year-round special events; the business community offers a wide   range of desirable retail and culinary options, and residents enjoy   the safety and security of professionally managed public safety   functions; and          WHEREAS, With approximately 46,000 residents, Prosper is   dedicated to high-quality development while promoting a strong   sense of community; located where the rapidly expanding Dallas   North Tollway meets the booming U.S. 380 Corridor, the town is   poised for continued commercial, office, retail, and residential   development that aligns with the Town Council's Strategic Vision;   more than $500 million in pediatric medical care facilities have   been built in Prosper, such as Cook Children's Medical Center and   Children's Health Specialty Center; the establishment of major   retailers, including the Gates of Prosper, Costco, and H-E-B,   contribute to the city's economy, and the acceleration of   infrastructure is at the forefront of its growth strategy, which is   reflected in the town's multimillion dollar Capital Improvement   Plan; the town has implemented several projects downtown to enhance   existing businesses and attract new ones, and it recently adopted a   Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan and a Library Master   Plan to serve the growing community; Prosper is utilizing   leading-edge technology to prevent crime through the deployment of   the Flock program; the Prosper Independent School District serves   over 29,000 students, and thanks to its excellent programs and   highly qualified teachers, it is one of the top school districts in   Texas and the nation; Prosper has a CAPRA-accredited Parks and   Recreation Department with more than 727 acres of parks and open   space and over 62 miles of hike-and-bike trails, and the town offers   such community engagement programs as the Prosper Citizens Academy,   the Citizens Police and Fire Academies, and special events for all   ages and interests; Prosper continues to live up to its name and   motto as "a place where everyone matters"; and          WHEREAS, Embracing its natural setting, the town of Fairview   has distinguished itself as a platinum-level Scenic City in Texas   since 2011; it has also been recognized as a Tree City USA community   and earned a Growing Green Cities Award, and it is home to the first   street in Texas to be illuminated by LED lighting; the town is a   three-time recipient of the Texas Municipal League Municipal   Excellence Award and continues to earn the annual Certificate of   Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the   Government Finance Officers Association; the Fairview Economic   Development Corporation was awarded a Certificate of Achievement   for Economic Excellence by the Texas Economic Development Council   in 2017, and for three consecutive years, the Texas Chapter of the   American Planning Association honored Fairview with Certificates   of Achievement for Planning Excellence; in addition, the town's   Veterans Park has been recognized with a Patriotic Achievement   Award from the Military Order of the World Wars; Fairview also   features two high-ranking school districts and continues to be one   of the safest and most desirable places to live in Texas; and          WHEREAS, With 78 square miles of land, Celina has the   second-largest geographic footprint of any city in Collin County;   strategic growth plans allow the city to manage new development   along the Dallas North Tollway, Preston Road, and future Collin   County Outer Loop corridors; with its population increasing from   17,000 in 2020 to 54,000 in 2025, Celina has been named the   fastest-growing city in the nation by the United States Census   Bureau, and its projected build-out population of 340,000 makes it   one of the future population centers of Collin County; the city's   robust "Texas historic" downtown is filled with a number of unique   shops, offices, and award-winning restaurants, and its business   community is growing rapidly; Celina recently celebrated the   opening of its first hospital, Celina Methodist, which represents a   $270 million investment into the city; its school district was   recognized for its academic achievements with a prestigious "A"   rating, and the city has received numerous accolades for its   outstanding budgeting and financial reporting; residents and   visitors come together to enjoy a number of special events   throughout the year, including Movie Nights on the Square,   Oktoberfest, Splash & Blast, and Cajun Fest; Celina is focused on   being "The City of the Future, Connected to its Past," welcoming new   members of the community while maintaining its small-town culture;   and          WHEREAS, Lucas was founded in 1888 and became incorporated as   a city government on February 19, 1959; the city is currently home   to more than 9,000 residents, and in recent years, it has   experienced significant growth spurred by its quality housing,   large lot sizes, exceptional education systems, low crime rate, and   animal-friendly neighborhoods; the community has maintained a   peaceful, rural lifestyle, helping to sustain a high quality of   life for its citizens; the city is pleased to offer 25 miles of   trails along Lake Lavon for pedestrians and equestrian enthusiasts,   and it conti [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]