Bill Text: TX SR2 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 2nd Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Recognizing that the Texas-Mexico border is vital to the economy, education, and character of our state, and that the cities and counties along the Texas-Mexico border are vibrant, prosperous, diverse, and safe communities.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (N/A - Dead) 2021-08-31 - Co-author authorized [SR2 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SR2-Introduced.html
| By: Zaffirini, et al. | S.R. No. 2 | |
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| WHEREAS, The Texas-Mexico border spans 14 counties in the | ||
| State of Texas, and approximately 10 percent of the state's | ||
| population resides in a Texas-Mexico border county; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Millions of people rely on crossing the border to | ||
| access education, health care, retail, and other service | ||
| industry necessities, and these activities have a positive | ||
| effect on the economic stability of the region; the border | ||
| generated more than $350 billion in annual gross domestic product | ||
| as of 2019, and trade within the region represents more than 5 | ||
| percent of Texas' gross domestic product; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In 2018, trade through the El Paso port of entry | ||
| affected approximately 165,000 net jobs in Texas and $25 billion | ||
| in gross domestic product; moreover, Port Laredo is the largest | ||
| inland trade port along the border, ranking third in the nation | ||
| for total trade in May 2021; across the United States, the | ||
| Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge is the second largest | ||
| produce-crossing land port, ensuring the efficient delivery of | ||
| fresh fruits and vegetables to all Americans; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The Texas-Mexico border is a vibrant, thriving, | ||
| multicultural region that contributes to the richness and | ||
| diversity of our state and country; the majority of area | ||
| residents are Americans of at least partial Mexican descent, and | ||
| the tri-national region includes tribal nations such as the | ||
| Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas and Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of | ||
| El Paso; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Border communities have long been recognized for | ||
| their steadfast commitment to safety; countless generations of | ||
| Texans have chosen to rear their families along the Texas-Mexico | ||
| border due to its peaceful community, and some of the safest | ||
| cities in the country include Brownsville, Eagle Pass, Del Rio, | ||
| Laredo, McAllen, and El Paso, which is known for Fort Bliss and | ||
| its significant military presence; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Multiple cities along the border have been | ||
| honored with the All-American City award; El Paso has won the | ||
| award four times, and Edinburg has won three times; other | ||
| recipients of this prestigious designation include Brownsville, | ||
| McAllen, Mission, Hidalgo, Pharr, and Weslaco; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The Texas-Mexico border features an ecologically | ||
| diverse environment; the region's natural sites include the | ||
| Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Quinta Mazatlán, the | ||
| Butterfly Center, and Big Bend National Park, which attracts | ||
| numerous species of birds, plants, butterflies, bats, reptiles, | ||
| and ants; in addition, one of the state's symbols, the Texas red | ||
| grapefruit, is grown in the Rio Grande Valley; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Countless Texans benefit from the border region's | ||
| premier educational institutions, which include four-year | ||
| universities, junior colleges, and trade schools; more than | ||
| 28,600 students are enrolled in The University of Texas Rio | ||
| Grande Valley, and the UTRGV School of Medicine currently serves | ||
| hundreds of medical students, medical residents, and fellows who | ||
| participate in hospital-based training programs; there are three | ||
| higher education institutions in Laredo, namely Texas A&M | ||
| International University and Laredo College, which are | ||
| designated Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and The University of | ||
| Texas System Multi-Institution Center; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The Texas-Mexico border region is playing a vital | ||
| role in the story of the Lone Star State, and it is indeed | ||
| deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 87th Texas Legislature, | ||
| 2nd Called Session, hereby recognize that the Texas-Mexico | ||
| border is vital to the economy, education, and character of our | ||
| state, and that the cities and counties along the Texas-Mexico | ||
| border are vibrant, prosperous, diverse, and safe communities. | ||
