[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 148 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 148

     Designating 1998 as the ``Onate Cuartocentenario'', the 400th 
anniversary commemoration of the first permanent Spanish settlement in 
                              New Mexico.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            November 8, 1997

  Mr. Domenici (for himself and Mr. Bingaman) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Designating 1998 as the ``Onate Cuartocentenario'', the 400th 
anniversary commemoration of the first permanent Spanish settlement in 
                              New Mexico.

Whereas Don Juan de Onate of Spain settled the first permanent colony of 
        Europeans in the Southwest Region of the United States, known as San 
        Gabriel de Los Espanoles, and located near modern day San Juan Pueblo 
        and Espanola, New Mexico;
Whereas the first Spanish capital was established at San Juan de los Caballeros 
        in July of 1598, predating the English settlement of Jamestown in 1610 
        by 12 years;
Whereas Spanish exploration activity in the New World began in 1512 when Ponce 
        de Leon explored the Florida peninsula, and included the explorations of 
        Francisco Coronado throughout California to Kansas and across Arizona, 
        New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma from 1540 to 1542;
Whereas the major Spanish settlement efforts were focused in modern day Florida 
        and New Mexico, and 1998 marks the 400th anniversary of the first 
        permanent settlement in New Mexico, referred to as the Cuartocentenario;
Whereas Hispanic Americans are the fastest growing minority group in the United 
        States and include descendants of the Spanish, Mexican, Cuban, Puerto 
        Rican, Central American, and other Hispanic peoples;
Whereas the United States Census Bureau estimated in March 1993 that the 
        Hispanic population of the United States was 22,800,000; the current 
        estimate of the Hispanic population in the United States is 26,000,000, 
        with projections of 30,000,000 by the year 2000, 40,000,000 by 2010, and 
        almost 60,000,000 (or 20 percent of the total United States population) 
        by the year 2030;
Whereas the number of Hispanic immigrants to the United States has increased 
        from 1,500,000 in the 1960's, to 2,400,000 in the 1970's, to 4,500,000 
        in the 1980's, and the number of Hispanic immigrants is expected to 
        continue to rise;
Whereas two-thirds of all Hispanics in the United States today are of Mexican 
        origin, and 70 percent of United States Hispanics live in 4 States: 
        California, Texas, New York, and Florida;
Whereas New Mexico's Hispanic population is 39 percent (or over 660,000 of the 
        1995 total State population of 1,700,000) and represents the highest 
        percentage of Hispanics in any State in the United States;
Whereas the United States has an enriched legacy of Hispanic influence in 
        politics, government, business, and culture due to the early settlements 
        and continuous influx of Hispanics into the United States;
Whereas the New Mexico State Government has funded a Hispanic Cultural Center in 
        Albuquerque, New Mexico, with assistance from the Federal Government, 
        local governments, and private contributions, to celebrate and preserve 
        Hispanic culture including literature, performing arts, visual arts, 
        music, culinary arts, and language arts;
Whereas the Archbishop of Santa Fe, Michael Sheehan, is planning events 
        throughout 1998 in New Mexico, including the opening of ``Jubilee 
        year'', an encuentro at Santo Domingo Pueblo to mark the meeting of the 
        missionaries with the Pueblo peoples, an Archdiocesan reconciliation 
        service at the Santuario de Chimayo, and an Archdiocesan celebration of 
        St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe;
Whereas in order to commemorate Don Juan de Onate's arrival, the city of 
        Espanola will have a fiesta in July 1998, the city of Santa Fe is 
        planning several special events, and the New Mexico statewide committee 
        is planning a parade, a historical costume ball, and a pageant in 
        Albuquerque; and
Whereas many other religious, educational, and social events are being planned 
        around New Mexico to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first 
        permanent Spanish settlement in New Mexico: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the year 1998 as the ``Onate 
        Cuartocentenario'' to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the 
        first permanent Spanish settlement in New Mexico;
            (2) recognizes the cultural and economic importance of the 
        Spanish settlements throughout the Southwest Region of the 
        United States;
            (3) expresses its support for the work of the Espanola 
        Plaza Foundation, the Santa Fe and Albuquerque Cuartocentenario 
        committees, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, the New Mexico 
        Hispanic Cultural Center Board of Directors, the Hispanic 
        Cultural Foundation Board of Trustees, as well as other 
        interested groups that are preparing Onate Cuartocentenario 
        activities;
            (4) expresses its support for the events to be held in New 
        Mexico and the Southwest in observance of the Onate 
        Cuartocentenario;
            (5) requests that the President issue a proclamation--
                    (A) declaring 1998 as the ``Onate 
                Cuartocentenario'' to commemorate the 400th anniversary 
                of the first permanent Spanish settlement in New 
                Mexico; and
                    (B) calling on the people of the United States and 
                interested groups to observe the year with appropriate 
                ceremonies, activities, and programs to honor and 
                celebrate the contributions of Hispanic people to the 
                cultural and economic life of the United States; and
            (6) calls upon the people of the United States to support, 
        promote, and participate in the many Onate Cuartocentenario 
        activities being planned to commemorate the historic event of 
        the early settling of the Southwest Region of the United States 
        by the Spanish.
                                 <all>