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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. |