Whereas New Mexico has a rich heritage and history, dating
as far back as 11,000 B.C. when the Clovis people left the earliest evidence of
human existence in what is now New Mexico;
Whereas Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, was
established in 1610 and is the oldest capital city in the United States, as
well as the highest in elevation at 7,000 feet above sea level;
Whereas, on September 9, 1850, the portion of the
Compromise of 1850 (9 Stat. 446) that created the New Mexico Territory was
enacted;
Whereas, on January 6, 1912, President William Howard Taft
signed the proclamation making New Mexico the 47th State of the Union;
Whereas the nickname of New Mexico is the “Land of
Enchantment” because of its scenic beauty and rich history and culture;
Whereas the natural wonder of New Mexico is preserved by a
broad range of national parks, forests, wilderness areas, and wildlife refuge
centers;
Whereas the diverse cultural roots of New Mexico come from
the many different groups of people who have inhabited the State, notably the
strong tribal and Hispanic cultural influences in the State;
Whereas New Mexico has one of the richest indigenous
tribal populations in the United States, including 19 Pueblo nations, 2 Apache
nations, and the Navajo Nation;
Whereas the Hispanic population of New Mexico has rich and
distinct cultural roots in its historic land grants as recognized by the Treaty
of Peace, Friendship, Limits, and Settlement between the United States and
Mexico, signed at Guadalupe Hidalgo February 2, 1848, and entered into force
May 30, 1848 (9. Stat. 922) (commonly referred to as the Treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo
);
Whereas New Mexico continues to derive strength from the
new Hispanic communities in the State with roots in Latin America;
Whereas New Mexico has an extensive variety of
prehistoric, tribal, and Hispanic archaeological ruins;
Whereas New Mexico has a long tradition of artistic
expression inspired by its natural beauty, unique architecture, and diverse
people;
Whereas the people of New Mexico have a proud history of
military service, predating and continuing after statehood, including the
participation of the people of New Mexico in every major war of the United
States since the Civil War, with notable participation by the people of New
Mexico in Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, the Navajo Code Talkers, the defense
of Bataan and Corregidor, the wars in Korea and Vietnam, and the wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan;
Whereas New Mexico is a center for scientific innovation
and laboratory research, serving as the home to the Los Alamos National
Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories;
Whereas, on July 16, 1945, the United States Army
conducted the Trinity test, the first test of a nuclear weapon, which was
developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory and tested at the White Sands
Proving Ground in New Mexico;
Whereas, in 1980, New Mexico dedicated the Very Large
Array, one of the world’s premier astronomical radio observatories that studies
the history of the universe;
Whereas, in October 2011, New Mexico dedicated Spaceport
America, propelling New Mexico into the future with the first commercial
spaceport;
Whereas New Mexico is home to the Albuquerque
International Balloon Fiesta, the largest hot air balloon event in the world,
which is also considered to be the most photographed event in the world;
Whereas New Mexico has a long history of agricultural
sustainability and productivity, supporting cattle and dairy, as well as many
crops, including chile, corn, wheat, onions, peanuts, pistachios, pecans, hay,
cotton, and beans;
Whereas the Hatch Valley of New Mexico, known as the
Chile Capital of the World
, is recognized worldwide for its
bountiful chile crop; and
Whereas New Mexico celebrated the centennial anniversary
of its admission to the Union as the 47th State of the United States on January
6, 2012: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate recognizes the
extraordinary history and heritage of the State of New Mexico, and honors and
commends the State of New Mexico and its people on its centennial
anniversary.