[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H10867-H10868]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HISPANIC CULTURAL CENTER ACT OF 1997

  Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 1417) to provide for the design, construction, 
furnishing, and equipping of a center for performing arts within the 
complex known as the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1417

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Hispanic Cultural Center Act 
     of 1997''.

     SEC. 2. CONSTRUCTION OF A CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The United States has an enriched legacy of Hispanic 
     influence in politics, government, economic development, and 
     cultural expression.
       (2) The Hispanic culture in what is now the United States 
     can be traced to 1528 when a Spanish expedition from Cuba to 
     Florida was shipwrecked on the Texas coast.
       (3) The Hispanic culture in New Mexico can be traced to 
     1539 when a Spanish Franciscan Friar, Marcos de Niza, and his 
     guide, Estevanico, traveled into present day New Mexico in 
     search of the fabled city of Cibola and made contact with the 
     people of Zuni.
       (4) The Hispanic influence in New Mexico is particularly 
     dominant and a part of daily living for all the citizens of 
     New Mexico, who are a diverse composite of racial, ethnic, 
     and cultural peoples. Don Juan de Onate and the first New 
     Mexican families established the first capital in the United 
     States, San Juan de los Caballeros, in July of 1598.
       (5) Based on the 1990 census, there are approximately 
     650,000 Hispanics in New Mexico, the majority having roots 
     reaching back ten or more generations.
       (6) There are an additional 200,000 Hispanics living 
     outside of New Mexico with roots in New Mexico.
       (7) The New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center is a living 
     tribute to the Hispanic experience and will provide all 
     citizens of New Mexico, the Southwestern United States, the 
     entire United States, and around the world, an opportunity to 
     learn about, partake in, and enjoy the unique Hispanic 
     culture, and the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center will 
     assure that this 400-year old culture is preserved.
       (8) The New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center will teach, 
     showcase, and share all facets of Hispanic culture, including 
     literature, performing arts, visual arts, culinary arts, and 
     language arts.
       (9) The New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center will promote a 
     better cross-cultural understanding of the Hispanic culture 
     and the contributions of individuals to the society in which 
     we all live.
       (10) In 1993, the legislature and Governor of New Mexico 
     created the Hispanic Cultural Division as a division within 
     the Office of Cultural Affairs. One of the principal 
     responsibilities of the Hispanic Cultural Division is to 
     oversee the planning, construction, and operation of the New 
     Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center.
       (11) The mission of the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center 
     is to create a greater appreciation and understanding of 
     Hispanic culture.
       (12) The New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center will serve as 
     a local, regional, national, and international site for the 
     study and advancement of Hispanic culture, expressing both 
     the rich history and the forward-looking aspirations of 
     Hispanics throughout the world.
       (13) The New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center will be a 
     Hispanic arts and humanities showcase to display the works of 
     national and international artists, and to provide a venue 
     for educators, scholars, artists, children, elders, and the 
     general public.
       (14) The New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center will provide a 
     venue for presenting the historic and contemporary 
     representations and achievements of the Hispanic culture.
       (15) The New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center will sponsor 
     arts and humanities programs, including programs related to 
     visual arts of all forms (including drama, dance, and 
     traditional and contemporary music), research, literary arts, 
     genealogy, oral history, publications, and special events 
     such as, fiestas, culinary arts demonstrations, film video 
     productions, storytelling presentations and education 
     programs.
       (16) Phase I of the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center 
     complex is scheduled to be completed by August of 1998 and is 
     planned to consist of an art gallery with exhibition space 
     and a museum, administrative offices, a restaurant, a 
     ballroom, a gift shop, an amphitheater, a research and 
     literary arts center, and other components.
       (17) Phase II of the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center 
     complex is planned to include a performing arts center 
     (containing a 700-seat theater, a stage house, and a 300-seat 
     film/video theater), a 150-seat black box theater, an art 
     studio building, a culinary arts building, and a research and 
     literary arts building.
       (18) It is appropriate for the Federal Government to share 
     in the cost of constructing the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural 
     Center because Congress recognizes that the New Mexico 
     Hispanic Cultural Center has the potential to be a premier 
     facility for performing arts and a national repository for 
     Hispanic arts and culture.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the Center for 
     Performing Arts, within the complex known as the New Mexico 
     Hispanic Cultural Center, which Center for the Performing 
     Arts is a central facility in Phase II of the New Mexico 
     Hispanic Cultural Center complex.
       (2) Hispanic cultural division.--The term ``Hispanic 
     Cultural Division'' means the Hispanic Cultural Division of 
     the Office of Cultural Affairs of the State of New Mexico.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (c) Construction of Center.--The Secretary shall award a 
     grant to New Mexico to pay for the Federal share of the costs 
     of the design, construction, furnishing, and equipping of the 
     Center for Performing Arts that will be located at a site to 
     be determined by the Hispanic Cultural Division, within the 
     complex known as the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center.
       (d) Grant Requirements.--
       (1) In general.--In order to receive a grant awarded under 
     subsection (c), New Mexico, acting through the Director of 
     the Hispanic Cultural Division--
       (A) shall submit to the Secretary, within 30 days of the 
     date of enactment of this section, a copy of the New Mexico 
     Hispanic Cultural Center Program document dated January 1996; 
     and
       (B) shall exercise due diligence to expeditiously execute, 
     in a period not to exceed 90 days after the date of enactment 
     of this section, the memorandum of understanding under 
     paragraph (2) recognizing that time is of the essence for the 
     construction of the Center because 1998 marks the 400th 
     anniversary of the first permanent Spanish settlement in New 
     Mexico.
       (2) Memorandum of understanding.--The memorandum of 
     understanding described in paragraph (1) shall provide--
       (A) the date of completion of the construction of the 
     Center;
       (B) that Antoine Predock, an internationally recognized 
     architect, shall be the supervising architect for the 
     construction of the Center or any other architect 
     subsequently named by the State;
       (C) that the Director of the Hispanic Cultural Division 
     shall award the contract for architectural engineering and 
     design services in accordance with the New Mexico Procurement 
     Code; and
       (D) that the contract for the construction of the Center--
       (i) shall be awarded pursuant to a competitive bidding 
     process; and
       (ii) shall be awarded not later than 3 months after the 
     solicitation for bids for the construction of the Center.
       (3) Federal share.--The Federal share of the costs 
     described in subsection (c) shall be 50 percent.
       (4) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the costs 
     described in subsection (c) shall be in cash or in kind 
     fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services. 
     The non-Federal share shall include any contribution received 
     by New Mexico for the design, construction, furnishing, or 
     equipping of Phase I or Phase II of the New Mexico Hispanic 
     Cultural Center complex prior to the date of enactment of 
     this section. The non-Federal share of the costs described in 
     subsection (c) shall include the following:
       (A) $16,410,000 that was appropriated by the New Mexico 
     legislature since January 1, 1993, for the planning, property 
     acquisition, design, construction, furnishing, and equipping 
     of the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center complex.
       (B) $116,000 that was appropriated by the New Mexico 
     legislature for fiscal year 1995 for the startup and 
     operating expenses of the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural 
     Center.
       (C) $226,000 that was appropriated by the New Mexico 
     legislature for fiscal year 1996 for the startup and 
     operating expenses of the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural 
     Center.
       (D) $442,000 that was appropriated by the New Mexico 
     legislature for fiscal year 1997 for the startup and 
     operating expenses of the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural 
     Center.
       (E) $551,000 that was appropriated by the New Mexico 
     legislature for fiscal year 1998 for the startup and 
     operating expenses of the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural 
     Center.
       (F) A 10.9-acre lot with a historic 22,000 square foot 
     building donated by the Mayor and City Council of 
     Albuquerque, New Mexico, to New Mexico for the New Mexico 
     Hispanic Cultural Center.
       (G) 12 acres of ``Bosque'' land adjacent to the New Mexico 
     Hispanic Cultural Center

[[Page H10868]]

     complex for use by the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center.
       (H) The $30,000 donation by the Sandia National 
     Laboratories and Lockheed Martin Corporation to support the 
     New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center and the program 
     activities of the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center.
       (e) Use of Funds for Design, Construction, Furnishing, and 
     Equipment.--The funds received under a grant awarded under 
     subsection (c) shall be used only for the design, 
     construction, management, inspection, furnishing, and 
     equipment of the Center.
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section 
     a total of $17,800,000 for fiscal year 1998 and succeeding 
     fiscal years. Funds appropriated pursuant to the authority of 
     the preceding sentence shall remain available until expended.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin [Mr. Petri] and the gentleman from California [Mr. Martinez] 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Petri].
  Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of S. 1417, the Hispanic 
Cultural Center Act of 1997. This bill provides for the design, 
construction and equipping of a Center for Performing Arts with the 
complex of the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center.
  Already, $5.5 million has been appropriated for the center. These 
funds are subject to authorization, which can be provided through the 
passage of the bill that is before us.
  Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from New Mexico [Mr. Redmond].
  (Mr. REDMOND asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. REDMOND. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. 
Petri] for yielding me time to speak in support of Senate bill 1417, 
the Hispanic Cultural Center Act.
  Madam Speaker, 1998 will mark the 400th anniversary of the 
establishment of the Hispanic community in New Mexico. The anniversary 
represents a perfect time to pay tribute to the Spanish people of New 
Mexico, the Southwest, and the United States.
  The State of New Mexico has invested over $17.7 million toward the 
establishment of phase 1 of the New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center. In 
addition, the city of Albuquerque has donated 10.9 acres and a historic 
22,000-square-foot building. Twelve acres of bosque land near the Rio 
Grande have also been donated by the Middle Grande Conservancy 
District. Private contributors are also helping to meet the Hispanic 
Cultural Center goals.
  This bill authorizes funding to match the New Mexico contribution. 
This authorization is to build a critical Hispanic performing arts 
center at an estimated cost of $17.8 million.

                              {time}  1345

  This multifaceted Hispanic Cultural Center is designed to showcase, 
share, archive, preserve, and enhance the rich Hispanic culture for 
local, regional, and national audiences. The Hispanic Cultural Center 
will be an Hispanic arts and humanities showcase to display the works 
of national and international artists and to provide for a venue of 
educators, scholars, artists, children, elders, and the general public.
  Once built, the Hispanic Cultural Center will employ over 100 people. 
A whole new industry of preserving, showcasing, and enhancing the pride 
in Hispanic cultural roots is vital for New Mexico and for Hispanic 
culture.
  I would like to note that New Mexico is indebted to the gentleman 
from New Mexico [Mr. Steve Schiff], my colleague from the First 
District. I believe that authorizing the Federal funding for the 
Hispanic Performing Arts Center will be a significant step towards 
building a national treasure in its critical, formative stages.
  I urge my colleagues to support the funding for the Hispanic 
Performing Arts Center in Albuquerque, NM, in honor of the 40th 
anniversary of Spanish culture, and in hopes of seeing the preservation 
and enhancement of this culture flourish to its 50th year, I urge my 
colleagues to pass the Senate bill, S. 1417.
  Mr. MARTINEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1417, an act to 
authorize funding for the Hispanic Performing Arts Center in 
Albuquerque, New Mexico. This appropriation, as the gentleman who just 
spoke has said, will match the $17.8 million the State of New Mexico 
has appropriated for the project.
  The construction of the center is being undertaken in preparation for 
the 40th anniversary of Spanish presence in New Mexico. The Hispanic 
Cultural Center, of which the Performing Arts Center is part, is 
designed to showcase, share, archive, preserve, and enhance the rich 
Hispanic culture for local, regional, and national audiences.
  I understand this measure has bipartisan support, both here and in 
the Senate. I urge support for this important cultural initiative.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Petri] that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill, S. 1417.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________