By: Creighton  S.C.R. No. 37          (In the Senate - Filed March 13, 2025; March 17, 2025, read   first time and referred to Committee on Economic Development;   April 7, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable Committee   Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 7, 2025,   sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.C.R. No. 37 By:  Sparks     SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION     WHEREAS, The Panama Canal is a vital maritime passage that   facilitates trade and ensures the efficient movement of goods   between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; and          WHEREAS, The expansion of the Panama Canal has significantly   increased the volume of cargo passing through the waterway,   benefiting the shipping industry and the economies of the United   States and Texas; and          WHEREAS, The ports of Texas serve as critical hubs and are   directly impacted by the efficiency and security of the Panama   Canal; and          WHEREAS, Texas ports handle a substantial portion of U.S.   exports, including energy products such as liquefied natural gas   (LNG), crude oil, and refined petroleum, as well as agricultural   goods and manufactured products; and          WHEREAS, The economic prosperity of the State of Texas and   the broader United States depends on the continued free flow of   goods through the Panama Canal to support supply chains, trade   agreements, and domestic industries; and          WHEREAS, Ensuring the security and stability of the Panama   Canal is essential for maintaining U.S. national security   interests, preventing disruptions of trade, and countering foreign   influence in the region; and          WHEREAS, Investments in Texas ports, infrastructure, and   trade partnerships reinforce the strategic position of the United   States as a global economic leader; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas   hereby recognize the strategic importance of the Panama Canal to   the economic strength of the United States and the State of Texas;   and, be it further          RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislature support continued   investment in Texas ports and infrastructure to maximize the   benefits of global trade and ensure long-term economic   competitiveness; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislature urge the Trump   Administration to prioritize diplomatic engagement with Panama to   maintain the security, efficiency, and accessibility of the canal   for U.S. commerce; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislature encourage policies that   enhance the ability of Texas industries to compete in global   markets through reliable and cost-effective shipping channels;   and, be it further          RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislature call for collaboration   between federal, state, and private sector stakeholders to   strengthen supply chain resilience and safeguard U.S. economic   interests; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official   copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to   the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of   Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the   members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that   this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a   memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.     * * * * *