SR85 - Recognizing the evolving partnership between the State of Texas and the United Kingdom.

          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 85          WHEREAS, The State of Texas and the United Kingdom have   enjoyed a long and fruitful partnership founded on shared   history, culture, language, and robust economic ties; and            WHEREAS, An official delegation from the United Kingdom   headed by British Consul General Sujeevan Satheesan is visiting   the State Capitol on February 11, 2025; and            WHEREAS, This special relationship dates back nearly two   centuries; Sam Houston, president of the Republic of Texas, was   the first Texas leader to send a diplomatic mission to London,   and a plaque on St. James Street still marks the site of the   legation of the Republic of Texas; in addition, the first British   Consulate in the State of Texas was established in Galveston in   1846; and            WHEREAS, The United Kingdom remains one of Texas's most   significant economic partners; it is the top source of foreign   direct investment in the Lone Star State, with subsidiaries of   British companies accounting for tens of thousands of Texas jobs;   every year, British households and businesses purchase billions   of dollars in services and goods from Texas, including petroleum   products, aerospace components, and medical equipment, among   others; major airlines connect Texas cities daily to the UK,   promoting commerce and tourism that bring our two peoples ever   closer; and            WHEREAS, Defense and security cooperation, including   longstanding ventures such as the F-35 fighter jet program based   in Fort Worth, highlights the shared commitment to peace and   stability; at the same time, the two partners look to the future   through collaboration on critical areas like innovation,   technology, advanced manufacturing, and a secure energy   infrastructure, especially as they seek to build resilient   supply chains and sustainable energy solutions; and            WHEREAS, Further underscoring the value of this   relationship, Governor Greg Abbott and The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch   MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade of the United   Kingdom, signed a Statement of Mutual Cooperation in March 2023;   through this landmark agreement, the Participants pledged to   deepen economic ties, promote trade and investment, foster   innovation, and coordinate efforts to bolster emerging   industries, showcasing a shared vision to cultivate job creation   and prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic; and            WHEREAS, By supporting an open dialogue on trade and   commerce within state jurisdiction and advocating for greater   collaboration at all levels of government, Texas and the UK   demonstrate their continued commitment to working in tandem for a   stronger bilateral relationship; the friendship between Texans   and Britons, and fostered by ongoing cultural and economic   engagement, will continue to grow in the years ahead; now,   therefore, be it            RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th   Legislature, hereby recognizes the vital importance of the   enduring and evolving partnership between the StateofTexasand   the United Kingdom, commend all those individuals who have worked   and continue to work toward maintaining and strengthening this   remarkable friendship, and celebrate the recent signing of the   Statement of Mutual Cooperation as a testament to the lasting   bonds between Texans and Britons; and, be it further            RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be   prepared for the Consul General of the United Kingdom in Houston   and the British Ambassador to the United States in Washington,   D.C., as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.     Parker     Alvarado Hagenbuch Menéndez   Bettencourt Hall Middleton   Birdwell Hancock Miles   Blanco Hinojosa of Hidalgo Nichols   Campbell Hinojosa of Nueces Paxton   Cook Huffman Perry   Creighton Hughes Schwertner   Eckhardt Johnson Sparks   Flores King West   Gutierrez Kolkhorst Zaffirini     Patrick, President of the Senate             ________________________________          President of the Senate               I hereby certify that the     above Resolution was adopted by     the Senate on February 11, 2025.             ________________________________          Secretary of the Senate             ________________________________           Member, Texas Senate