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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Laredo are gathering in Austin to |
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celebrate Laredo Day at the State Capitol on January 24, 2011; and |
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WHEREAS, Originally known as San Agustin de Laredo, the city |
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was founded in 1755 as an outpost of the Spanish empire; it later |
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belonged to Mexico, after that country gained independence from |
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Spain in 1821, and served as the capital of the short-lived Republic |
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of the Rio Grande; Laredo became part of Texas in 1846 and was |
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subsequently chosen as the seat of Webb County; and |
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WHEREAS, From its earliest days, Laredo was an important |
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crossing of the Rio Grande and a trading center for livestock, |
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hides, and wool; its role in international trade expanded with the |
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arrival of the railroad in 1881 and with the development of the Zona |
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Libre, or free trade zone, along the border between the United |
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States and Mexico; its economy was further helped by coal mining, |
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the introduction of onion farming, and the discovery of rich oil and |
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gas fields; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, this bustling gateway city is the largest |
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inland port along the Rio Grande and one of the top four |
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ports-of-commerce in the nation, and its diverse economy benefits |
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from the retail, hospitality, import and export, and petroleum |
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industries; in 2008, it handled 40 percent of all trade between the |
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United States and Mexico; Laredo is also a focus for higher |
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education in the Rio Grande Valley, as the home to Texas A&M |
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International University, two campuses of Laredo Community |
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College, and a new extension campus of The University of Texas |
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Health Science Center at San Antonio; and |
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WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike may explore such area |
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attractions as the historic San Agustin Cathedral, the Republic of |
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the Rio Grande Museum, and the Laredo Center for the Arts, while 40 |
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blocks of import vendors along San Bernardo Avenue draw shoppers |
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from near and far; in addition, Laredo is home to Washington's |
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Birthday Celebration, a 114-year-old, 10-day event that includes a |
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carnival, a beauty pageant, a jalapeno festival, and a parade; and |
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WHEREAS, Heirs to a rich history and a vibrant international |
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culture, the citizens of Laredo may indeed take great pride in their |
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city's two and a half centuries of progress and achievement; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize January 24, 2011, as Laredo Day at the |
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State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best |
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wishes for a memorable and meaningful visit to Austin. |