Recognizing the 271st anniversary of Laredo, Texas.

Whereas, in 2026, Laredo, Texas, one of the oldest cities in the United States, will celebrate the 271st anniversary of its founding;
Whereas, over the span of its history, Laredo has been ruled under seven flags, including the flags of France, Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Rio Grande, Texas, the Confederacy, and the United States;
Whereas, in 1755, Spanish Captain Don Tomas Sanchez, along with settlers, founded Laredo as a Spanish settlement;
Whereas, in 1840, for 11 months, Laredo became its own nation, the Republic of Rio Grande;
Whereas, in 1848, following the end the Mexican-American War and signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, under which Laredo officially became part of Texas, where it remains a proud part of the rich history of the State of Texas;
Whereas, today, located at the center of the primary trade route connecting Canada, the United States, and Mexico, Laredo is a critical inland port of the United States, a gateway to increased trade with Mexico;
Whereas, known today as both the city under seven flags and the gateway city, Laredo has greatly benefited from its unique history and culture;
Whereas Laredo’s urban core continues to be reinvigorated as commercial areas, residential communities, and diverse populations make this city their home;
Whereas 2026 marks the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America, known as America250, a nationwide commemoration of the Nation’s founding on July 4, 1776, bringing together communities across the country in celebration of American history, culture, and the democratic ideals upon which the Nation was built; and
Whereas the 271st anniversary of Laredo marks Laredo a living symbol of the American story, a city founded in 1755 that has endured under seven flags, welcomed generations of families, and grown into a vital gateway city whose history is inseparable from the broader tapestry of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That the House of Representatives—
recognizes and celebrates the 271st anniversary of the founding of Laredo, Texas, and acknowledges the city’s singular place in American history as the oldest independent settlement in the State of Texas;
honors the citizens of Laredo, Texas, for their patriotism, their service to the United States, and their contributions to the cultural, economic, and civic life of the Nation;
recognizes Laredo’s extraordinary legacy of surviving and thriving under seven flags, and salutes its people for building a vibrant, bicultural community on the banks of the Rio Grande;
acknowledges that, as the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence on July 4, 2026, Laredo, Texas, stands as a proud and enduring part of the American story; and
calls upon all United States citizens, in the spirit of the Nation’s 250th anniversary, to discover and honor the history of Laredo, Texas, as a powerful example of the deep roots, cultural richness, and remarkable diversity that have always been at the heart of the American experience.