HCR142 - Designating Fort Worth as the official Aviation and Defense Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

      H.C.R. No. 142       HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION          WHEREAS, The city of Fort Worth has evolved into a prominent   center for the aviation and defense sectors, attracting major   corporations, manufacturing facilities, and a skilled workforce   that continues to drive innovation and economic growth in these   industries; and          WHEREAS, Fort Worth's connection to the military dates to its   establishment as a frontier outpost in 1849; later, as the United   States mobilized for World War I, the city served as the home of   Camp Bowie, which trained 100,000 soldiers in the U.S. Army's 36th   Infantry Division; during World War II, the construction of the   B-24 and B-32 bombers in Fort Worth and the development of Carswell   Air Force Base solidified the city's longstanding partnership with   the U.S. armed forces, which continues to this day; and          WHEREAS, Beginning in the 1970s, Fort Worth became a   manufacturing location for the F-16, one of the world's most widely   used fighter jets; today, the city remains at the forefront of   aerospace innovation as the assembly site of the F-35 Lightning II,   the most advanced fifth-generation fighter jet in the world, which   is produced by Fort Worth-based Lockheed Martin Aeronautics; in   March 2025, it was announced that the global F-35 fleet had   surpassed one million total flight hours; and          WHEREAS, In 1951, Bell Textron, Inc., opened in Fort Worth   the first factory in the world specifically designed to manufacture   helicopters, and in 2018, the location was designated a Vertical   Flight Heritage Site by the Vertical Flight Society; the company   has produced and delivered more than 35,000 Bell rotorcraft, and it   is slated to expand its Fort Worth operations by opening a new   advanced manufacturing facility for the U.S. Army's Future Long   Range Assault Aircraft; this state-of-the-art tiltrotor is   designed to fly two times farther and faster than the current fleet;   and          WHEREAS, Since 1974, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport   has served Fort Worth, the North Texas region, and the State of   Texas as a gateway to destinations around the globe; it has grown   into one of the busiest airports in the world and welcomes more than   86 million travelers a year and generates over $37 billion in annual   economic impact; and          WHEREAS, American Airlines relocated its corporate   headquarters to Fort Worth in 1979, and the carrier now maintains a   workforce of more than 36,000 in North Texas and operates thousands   of flights per day to more than 350 destinations in over 60   countries; and          WHEREAS, Fort Worth has played an integral part in advancing   America's leadership in military capability and aerospace   technology, and these contributions have brought profound benefits   to our state and nation; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas   hereby designate Fort Worth as the official Aviation and Defense   Capital of Texas; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section   391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in effect   until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally   passed by the legislature.     Geren   McQueeney       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.C.R. No. 142 was adopted by the House on May   16, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 125, Nays 0, 2 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.C.R. No. 142 was adopted by the Senate on May   25, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate      APPROVED: __________________                   Date                       __________________                 Governor