[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 16 (Thursday, February 26, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1130-S1131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     DESIGNATING 1998 AS THE ``ONATE CUARTOCENTENARIO,'' THE 400TH 
ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION OF THE FIRST PERMANENT SPANISH SETTLEMENT IN 
                               NEW MEXICO

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 306, S. Res. 
148.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 148) designating 1998 as the ``Onate 
     Cuartocentenario,'' the 400th anniversary commemoration of 
     the first permanent Spanish settlement in New Mexico.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution, which had been reported from the Committee on the Judiciary 
with an amendment, as follows:

       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 ``New Mexico 
     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 New Mexico 
     Cuartocentenario activities;
       (4) expresses its support for the events to be held in New 
     Mexico and the Southwest in observance of the New Mexico 
     Cuartocentenario;
       (5) requests that the President issue a proclamation--
       (A) declaring 1998 as the ``New Mexico 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 New Mexico 
     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, this year New Mexico is commemorating

[[Page S1131]]

the 400th anniversary of its first Spanish Settlement. In 1598, the 
first Spanish expedition arrived from Santa Barbara, Mexico, and 
settled near San Juan Pueblo in the Espanola valley.
  The Spanish settlement of New Mexico in 1598 predates the Pilgrims' 
landing at Plymouth Rock in 1620, by 22 years. It also predates the 
settlement of Jamestown in 1607 by 9 years.
  New Mexicans are exploring their roots with a renewed interest. The 
Pueblo Indians of New Mexico helped the Spanish to survive and 
flourish. The Spanish brought new crops, mining, weaving, cattle and 
other livestock, Christianity, and Spanish government.
  Although the history of two cultures meeting in New Mexico has had 
its difficult times, such as the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, New Mexico is 
today known for its harmonious intercultural life, including much 
intermarriage.
  Mr. President, I am proud to have 60 cosponsors of this resolution. 
Senator Lott, the Senate Majority Leader, and Senator Daschle, the 
Senate Minority Leader, are both original cosponsors of this 
resolution.
  This year we commemorate the brave and adventurous Spanish families 
who first set roots in the beautiful Land of Enchantment. By 
commemorating these early events, we are also honoring the important 
cultural, political, and economic contributions those Spanish families 
and their descendants have made to enrich our state and nation.
  The Onate expedition was part of a large Spanish effort to expand the 
Spanish Empire, convert more people to Christianity, and find great 
wealth in the New World. There was great excitement at the beginning of 
the 16th Century about these prospects.
  Spaniards like Hernan Cortes and Francisco Pizzaro (cousins from 
Medelli in and Cuidad Trujillo) left Spain in the early 1500's to seek 
their fortunes and spread the glory of Spain.
  When Mayan gold was taken back to Spain from the Yucatan Peninsula of 
Mexico in 1517 by Hernandez de Cordoba, it fueled the fires of the 
Spanish enthusiasm for finding the legendary Seven Cities of Gold in 
the New World.
  Spanish explorers like Ponce de Leon, Francisco Coronado, and Don 
Juan de Onate explored modern-day America from Florida to California.
  Some 400 Spanish settlers were led by Don Juan de Onate from Santa 
Barbara, Mexico, through El Paso to San Juan Pueblo (named by Onate for 
John the Baptist). The soldiers, priests, laymen, families, servants 
and their 83 wagons and 7,000 animals formed a 2 to 4 mile-long caravan 
as they journeyed up the Rio Grande.
  When they arrived at San Juan Pueblo on July 11, 1598, they 
established the first Spanish capital in the New World. They built the 
San Gabriel chapel and convento. Today, a beautiful replica of the San 
Gabriel chapel stands in the Espanola Plaza.
  It is well known that the Spanish people founded the oldest cities in 
America. First, St. Augustine, Florida was founded in 1565, followed by 
Santa Fe, New Mexico, the second oldest city in what is now the United 
States. In 1610, Santa Fe was named the capital of New Mexico making it 
the oldest capital city in America today.
  Before Santa Fe became the capital of the New Mexico territory, the 
San Gabriel mission served as the first Spanish Capital of New Mexico, 
beginning in 1598. San Gabriel is at San Juan Pueblo where the Rio 
Chama meets the Rio Grande. Its Indian name was Yunge Oweenge.
  The designation and renaming of this site by its first Governor, Don 
Juan de Onate, as San Gabriel del Yunge Oweenge marks the first 
permanent Spanish settlement in the west.
  1998 marks the 400th Anniversary of the founding of San Gabriel del 
Yunge Oweenge in the Espanola Valley of present-day New Mexico.
  This resolution highlights the importance of the Spanish explorations 
in America and pays tribute to the growing population of Hispanics who 
are anticipated to be twenty percent of our national population by the 
year 2030, with a projected population of 60 million Hispanics. Two-
thirds of the 26 million Hispanics in America (who make up eleven 
percent of our population today) are of Mexican origin, and 70 percent 
of Hispanics live in 4 states: California, Texas, New York, and 
Florida.
  New Mexico has the highest percentage of Hispanics at 39 percent or 
about 660,000 residents out of a total 1995 state population of 1.7 
million. Albuquerque, New Mexico, will be the site of a new Hispanic 
Cultural Center to celebrate and preserve Hispanic culture including 
literature, performing arts, visual arts, music, culinary arts, and 
language arts.
  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, 
Socorro, Aztec, 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 reentry spectacular will be performed twice before large 
New Mexico State Fair audiences. 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.
  This Senate Resolution calls upon the people of the United States to 
support, promote, and participate in the many New Mexico Cuarto-
centenario activities being planned to commemorate the historic event 
of the first Spanish settlement in the Southwest Region of the United 
States.
  Mr President, I thank my colleagues for their overwhelming support of 
Senate Resolution 148. This resolution designates 1998 as the ``New 
Mexico Cuartocentenario'' to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the 
first Spanish settlement in New Mexico.
  Mr. CHAFEE. I ask unanimous consent that the committee amendment be 
agreed to, the resolution be agreed to, the amendment to the title be 
agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that 
any statements relating to the resolution appear at this point in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee amendment was agreed to.
  The resolution (S. Res. 148), as amended, was agreed to.
  The title was amended so as to read:

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

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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