87R18159 JGH-D     By: Goldman H.R. No. 641       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, The Railroad Commission of Texas is celebrating the   130th anniversary of its founding in April 2021, and this milestone   presents a fitting opportunity to recognize this venerable   institution; and          WHEREAS, Established by the Texas Constitution in 1891, the   Railroad Commission was created to oversee the rates and operations   of railroads, terminals, wharves, and express companies; in 1917,   the Texas Legislature declared pipelines to be common carriers   under the authority of the Railroad Commission and designated the   commission as the agency to administer the conservation laws   relating to oil and gas; in March 1919, with the rapid rise in oil   and gas production, the legislature enacted a statute requiring the   conservation of oil and gas, forbidding waste, and giving the   Railroad Commission jurisdiction over the industry; and          WHEREAS, In the decades since, the commission's roles and   responsibilities have grown as the state has changed; its rail   functions have been transferred to other agencies, but its   jurisdiction has been extended to the oversight not only of oil and   gas exploration and production, but also of pipeline safety and the   safety of alternative fuels, natural gas utilities, and the surface   mining of coal and uranium; the commission's staff includes highly   skilled engineers, geologists, and field inspectors, as well as   professionals with expertise in information technology, the law,   finance, safety, communications, and administration, who are   tasked with ensuring the protection of the public, the environment,   and the economy; and          WHEREAS, Today, the Railroad Commission conducts inspections   of oil and gas wells, pipeline infrastructure, alternative fuels   facilities, and coal surface mining sites; it also conducts field   audits of natural gas utilities and of the number of abandoned well   sites that have been cleaned up with the use of state-managed funds;   in addition, the commission's staff is working tirelessly to   modernize its IT systems, transforming outdated processes into new   platforms that allow streamlined and transparent business   operations; and          WHEREAS, For 130 years, the Railroad Commission of Texas has   played a vital role in promoting the energy independence of our   nation, and the agency has earned a national and international   reputation for its accomplishments; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas   Legislature hereby commemorate the 130th anniversary of the   Railroad Commission of Texas and extend to the commissioners and   the commission's staff sincere best wishes for success with their   important work; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be   prepared for the Railroad Commission as an expression of high   regard by the Texas House of Representatives.