[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 139 (Thursday, October 14, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12640-S12641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DOMENICI:
  S. 1727. A bill to authorize for the expansion annex of the historic 
Palace of the Governors, a public history museum located, and relating 
to the history of Hispanic and Native American culture, in the 
Southwest and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.


               THE PALACE OF THE GOVERNORS EXPANSION ACT

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage 
Month I am introducing the Palace of the Governors Expansion Act. The 
Palace is a symbol of Hispanic influence in the United States and truly 
shows the coming together of many cultures in the New World--the 
various Native American, Hispanic and Anglo peoples who have lived in 
the region for over four centuries.
  It is appropriate that during Hispanic Heritage Month that a bill 
should be introduced to preserve a priceless collection of Spanish 
Colonial, Iberian Colonial paintings, artifacts, maps, books, guns, 
costumes, photographs. The collection includes such historically unique 
items as the helmets and armor worn by the Don Juan Onate expedition 
conquistadors who established the first capital in the United States, 
San Juan de los Caballeros, in July of 1598. It includes the Vara 
Stick, a type of yardstick used to measure land grants and other real 
property boundaries in Dona Ana County, New Mexico.
  We have all heard of Geronimo. The Collection includes a rifle 
dropped by one of his men during a raid in the Black Range area of 
Western New Mexico.
  We have all heard of Pancho Villa. His activities in the Southwest 
come alive when viewing some of the artifacts included in the Palace of 
the Governors Collection. The Columbus, New Mexico Railway Station 
clock was shot in the pendulum, freezing for all history the moment 
that Pancho Villa's raid and invasion began. It is part of the 
collection, but you wouldn't know it because there is no room to 
display it.
  Brigadier General Stephen Watts Kearny was posted to New Mexico 
during the Mexican War. He commanded the Army of the West as they 
traveled from the Santa Fe trail to occupy the territories of New 
Mexico and California. As Kearny travelled, he carried a field desk 
which he used to write letters, diaries, orders and other historical 
documents. It is part of the collection, but you can't see it because 
there is no display space for it in the Palace of the Governors.
  Many of us have read books by D. H. Lawrence, but none of us have 
seen the note from his mother that is part of the collection.
  There are more than 800,000 other historic photographs, guns, 
costumes, maps, books and handicrafts.
  Today, where are these treasures that Teddy Roosevelt wanted to make 
part of the Smithsonian housed now?
  Where is this collection that has been designated as National 
Treasures by the National Trust for Historic preservation kept?
  In the basement of a 400 year old building.
  It is a national travesty.
  This legislation would right this wrong by authorizing funds for a 
Palace of the Governors Expansion Annex. The entire project will cost 
$32 million. The legislation authorizes a $15 million federal grant if 
the Museum can match the grant on a 50-50 basis.
  The Palace of the Governors has acquired a half block right behind 
the current Palace. Obtaining this valuable real estate is evidence of 
the ingenuity and commitment of those involved in preserving the 
collection. Real estate near Santa Fe's plaza is seldom for sale at any 
price, much less an affordable price.
  Palace of the Governors has been the center of administrative and 
cultural activity over a vast region in the Southwest since its 
construction as New Mexico's second capitol in Santa Fe by Governor 
Pedro de Peralta in 1610. The building is the oldest continuously 
occupied public building in the United States. Since its creation, the 
Museum of New Mexico has worked to protect and promote Hispanic, 
Southwest and Native American arts and crafts.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this important 
legislation saving this important collection. I ask unanimous consent 
that a copy of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1727

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

     SECTION 1.

       (a) Short Title.--This act may be cited as Palace of the 
     Governors Expansion Act.

     SEC. 2. CONSTRUCTION OF PALACE OF THE GOVERNORS EXPANSION.

       (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 Palace of the Governors has been the center of 
     administrative and cultural activity over a vast region of 
     the Southwest since its construction as New Mexico's second 
     capitol in Santa Fe by Governor Pedro de Peralta in 1610.
       (3) The Palace of the Governors is the oldest continuously 
     occupied public building in the United States and has been 
     occupied for 390 years.
       (4) Since its creation the Museum of New Mexico has worked 
     to protect and promote Southwest, Hispanic and Native 
     American arts and crafts.
       (5) The Palace of the Governors is the history division of 
     the Museum of New Mexico and was once proposed by Teddy 
     Roosevelt to be part of the Smithsonian Museum and known as 
     the ``Smithsonian West.''
       (6) The Museum has a extensive and priceless collection of:
       (A) Spanish Colonial and Iberian Colonial paintings 
     including the Sagesser Hyde paintings on buffalo hide dating 
     back to 1706,
       (B) Pre-Columbian Art,
       (C) Historic artifacts including:
       (i) helmets and armor worn by the Don Juan Onate expedition 
     conquistadors who established the first capital in the United 
     States, San Juan de los Caballeros, in July of 1598.
       (ii) The Vara Stick used to measure land grants and other 
     real property boundaries in Dona Ana County, New Mexico.
       (iii) The Columbus, New Mexico Railway Station clock that 
     was shot, stopping the pendulum, freezing for all history the 
     moment when Pancho Villa's raid began. It marks the beginning 
     of the last invasion of the continental United States.
       (iv) the field desk of Brigadier General Stephen Watts 
     Kearny who was posted to New Mexico during the Mexican War 
     and whose Army of the West traveled the Santa Fe trail to 
     occupy the territories of New Mexico and California.
       (v) more than 800,000 other historic photographs, guns, 
     costumes, maps, books and handicrafts.
       (7) The Palace of the Governors and the Sagesser Hyde 
     paintings were designated Natural Treasures by the National 
     Trust for Historic Preservation.
       (8) The facilities both for exhibiting and storage of this 
     irreplaceable collection are so totally inadequate and 
     dangerously unsuitable that their existence is endangered and 
     their preservation is in jeopardy.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Annex.--The term ``Annex'' means the Palace of the 
     Governors, Museum of New Mexico addition to be located 
     directly behind the historic Palace of the Governors building 
     at 110 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (c) Construction of the Annex.--Subject to the availability 
     of appropriations, the Secretary shall award a grant to New 
     Mexico to pay for the Federal share of the costs of the final 
     design, construction, furnishing and equipping of the Palace 
     of the Governors Expansion Annex that will be located 
     directly behind the historic Palace of the Governors at 110 
     Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
       (d) Grant Requirements.--(1) In General.--In order to 
     receive a grant awarded under subsection (c), New Mexico, 
     acting through the Office of Cultural Affairs--
       (A) shall submit to the Secretary, within 30 days of the 
     date of enactment of this section, a copy of the 
     architectural blueprints for the Palace of the Governors 
     Expansion Annex.
       (B) shall exercise due diligence to obtain an appropriation 
     from the New Mexico State Legislature for at least $8 
     million.
       (C) shall exercise due diligence to expeditiously execute a 
     memorandum of understanding recognizing that time is of the 
     essence for the construction for the Annex because 2010 marks 
     the 400th anniversary of the continuous occupation and use of 
     the Palace of the Governors.
       (2) Memorandum of understanding.--The memorandum of 
     understanding described in paragraph (1) shall provide--
       (A) the date of completion of the construction of the 
     Annex.
       (B) that Office of Cultural Affairs shall award the 
     contract for construction of the

[[Page S12641]]

     Annex in accordance with the New Mexico Procurement Code; and
       (C) that the contract for the construction of the Annex--
       (i) shall be awarded pursuant to a competitive bidding 
     process.
       (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 section (c) shall be in cash or in kind fairly 
     evaluated, including land, art and artifact collections, 
     plant, equipment, or services. The non-Federal share shall 
     include any contribution received by New Mexico for the 
     design, land acquisition, library acquisition, library 
     renovation, Palace of the Governors conservation, and 
     construction, furnishing, equipping of the Annex, or 
     donations of art collections to the Museum of New Mexico 
     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) cost of the land at 110 Lincoln Avenue, Sante Fe, New 
     Mexico,
       (B) Library acquisition expenditures,
       (C) Library renovation expenditures,
       (D) Palace conservation expenditures,
       (E) New Mexico Foundation and other endowments funds,
       (F) Donations of art collections or other artifacts.
       (e) Use of Funds for Construction.--Furnishing and 
     Equipment.--Subject to funds being appropriated, the funds 
     received under a grant awarded under subsection (c) shall be 
     used only for the final design, construction, management, 
     inspection, furnishing and equipment of the Annex.
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--Subject to funds 
     being appropriated, there is authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Secretary to carry out this section a total of 
     $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 and succeeding fiscal years. 
     Funds appropriated pursuant to the authority of the preceding 
     sentence shall remain available until expended but are 
     conditioned upon the New Mexico State legislature 
     appropriating at least $8 million between date of enactment 
     and 2010 and other non-federal sources providing enough 
     funds, when combined with the New Mexico State legislature 
     appropriations, to make this federal grant based on a fifty-
     fifty match.
                                 ______