[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 156 (Saturday, November 8, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12180-S12181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        SENATE RESOLUTION 148--DESIGNATING 1998 AS THE ``ONATE 
                           CUARTOCENTENARIO''

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

                              S. Res. 148

       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

[[Page S12181]]

     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.

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, next year, 1998, is the 400th 
anniversary of Don Juan de Onate's establishment of the first Hispanic 
colony in New Mexico. In July 1589, he and a few Spanish families 
settled near modern day San Juan Pueblo and the city of Espanola in 
northern New Mexico.
  New Mexico will be the center of many exciting events throughout the 
year to commemorate this extremely important historic milestone. Four 
hundred years ago Western civilization found itself ensconced in 
northern New Mexico, and since that time to the present it has been 
there and part of the culture and part of the value system in the State 
of New Mexico.
  New Mexico will be the center of many exciting events throughout the 
year to commemorate this important historic milestone. New Mexicans are 
looking forward to fiestas, balls, parades, and other stimulating 
events to mark this historic occasion.
  The Archbishop of Santa Fe will be opening a Jubilee year in January. 
Among other events, he will hold an encuentro at Santo Domingo Pueblo 
to mark the meeting of the missionaries with the Pueblo Peoples.
  The city of Espanola will have a fiesta in July to commemorate the 
actual arrival of the Spanish into the area. Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Taos, 
Albuquerque, and other New Mexico towns and cities will be holding such 
special events as fiestas, historic reenactments, a State Fair Pageant, 
an historic Spanish costume ball, and parades. Seminars and lectures 
will abound.
  State Fair pageant plans include a reenactment of De Vargas' reentry 
into New Mexico, a review of the Pueblo Revolt and its ramifications, 
life under the American flag during the middle to late 1800's, and a 
patriotic tribute to all Hispanics who have fought for the United 
States. This two and a half-hour spectacular will be performed twice 
before a large audience. It will also be televised.
  This resolution also asks the President to issue a proclamation 
declaring 1998 is a year to commemorate the arrival of Hispanics and 
celebrate their growth in importance in our Nation's culture and 
economy. An estimated 26 million Hispanics in the United States today 
make up about 11 percent of our population. In New Mexico, Hispanics 
make up 39 percent of the population, the largest percentage of any 
State.
  Some projections indicate that by the year 2010, Hispanics will 
number about 40 million, and by the year 2030, an estimated 60 million 
Hispanics will be living in the United States, making up about one-
fifth of the total population.
  As Hispanic culture continues to grow as a major influence in the 
United States, the State of New Mexico is creating a major Hispanic 
Cultural Center in Albuquerque to celebrate and preserve Hispanic arts, 
literature, performing arts, music, visual arts, culinary arts and 
other cultural treasures. We are hoping that this Hispanic Cultural 
Center will become a successful economic venture to attract tourism and 
to bring national and international attention to Hispanic life in the 
American Southwest.
  The Cuartocentenario, know in English as the 400th Anniversary, is a 
time for America to take note of the profound influence of Hispanics in 
the founding of America as a New World as well as the participation of 
Hispanics in all walks of life. Hispanics have been noteworthy 
contributors and will continue to be significant contributors to our 
national politics, science, arts, economy, and cultural life.
  Mr. President, 1998 is a major milestone for the Spanish settlement 
in the Southwestern United States. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
commemorating this important anniversary by supporting this resolution 
and participating in Hispanic events to mark this important year.

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