SR 85

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