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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Hundreds of civic-minded residents of Beaumont, |
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Orange, Port Arthur, and other communities in Jefferson and Orange |
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Counties are visiting Austin on March 1-3, 2015, to promote the |
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advancement of their region during Golden Triangle Days at the |
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State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, A strategically important source of energy and |
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chemical manufactured products, the Golden Triangle refines about |
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13 percent of the nation's gasoline daily, including 60 percent of |
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its commercial jet fuel and the majority of its military jet fuel; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The region is served by the Sabine Neches Waterway, |
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which ranks fourth in the nation for total tonnage and supports a |
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large percentage of the nation's petrochemical industry; it is the |
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nation's top commercial military out-load port and the first in |
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crude oil imports, and on June 10, 2014, the federal government |
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authorized an improvement project that will deepen the channel to |
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48 feet, enhancing the global competitiveness of this key gateway; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The Golden Triangle is also linked to an extensive |
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rail and pipeline system; construction has been completed on a |
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pipeline from Oklahoma to Jefferson County, and with over $21 |
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billion in announced new economic development projects and another |
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$24 billion under consideration, the region has become an |
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increasingly vital contributor to the economic prosperity of the |
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state; and |
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WHEREAS, The area's population has access to such notable |
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institutions of higher education as Lamar University, Lamar State |
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College-Orange, Lamar State College-Port Arthur, and the Lamar |
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Institute of Technology; moreover, a number of training programs |
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are available to ensure the preparedness of the workforce; |
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residents further benefit from unique cultural and environmental |
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sites, among them Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, |
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Big Thicket National Preserve, and coastal habitats such as Sea Rim |
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State Park and the McFadden National Wildlife Refuge, which also |
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draw many tourists; and |
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WHEREAS, Public-spirited residents of Jefferson and Orange |
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Counties are working together to build a bright, prosperous future |
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for their region, and it is indeed fitting to honor their steadfast |
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commitment to the betterment of their communities and of the Lone |
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Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 1-3, 2015, as Golden Triangle |
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Days at the State Capitol and extend to all those participating |
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sincere best wishes for an informative and enjoyable stay in |
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Austin. |