[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1010-S1011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SALUTE TO ELUID L. MARTINEZ, COMMISSIONER OF THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

 Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I wish to salute my fellow New 
Mexican, Eluid L. Martinez, who has just finished a remarkable five-
year term as Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. As the 
first Commissioner to serve in two different centuries, Mr. Martinez 
assumed control over the nation's second largest wholesale water 
supplier and hydroelectric producer in the country when he was 
appointed by the President in 1995.
  A native of Cordova in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, Commissioner 
Martinez was the first member of his family to receive a college 
degree. He holds an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from New 
Mexico State University and is a licensed Professional Engineer and 
Land Surveyor.
  During his tenure Commissioner Martinez has been recognized by many 
Reclamation stakeholders for his evenhanded approach in addressing 
western water and power issues. He received the Statesman of the Year 
award by the National Water Resources Association in November, 2000, 
for his diligence in helping solve the chronic water shortages in the 
western United States. He has been responsible for implementing the 
Bureau of Reclamation transition to a water resources agency with 
responsibilities for delivering project benefits while balancing the 
conflicting demands of Reclamation's constituencies.
  Commissioner Martinez' professionalism and expertise in his field has 
gained him the respect of all members of Congress who have worked with 
him.
  Commissioner Martinez has been a leader in privatizing Reclamation 
projects wherever possible, returning projects to the users who paid 
for them. He has been an important factor in implementing legislatively 
mandated environmental requirements, and trying to stretch a finite 
supply of water to an ever thirsty West. Commissioner Martinez has 
endeavored to create a more diverse workforce to ensure a future supply 
of capable individuals for the Federal government. In fact, preparing 
for the future is one of Commissioner Martinez's hallmarks of 
achievement.
  Before entering Federal service, Eluid Martinez retired as the State 
Engineer for New Mexico. He has served as Secretary of the New Mexico 
Interstate Stream Commission, as the New Mexico Commissioner to six 
Interstate Compact Commissions, and as a member of the New Mexico Water 
Quality Commission. He has held executive positions in 12 regional and 
national water associations, but, as the parent of three children, took 
the time to run for and serve as President of the City of Santa Fe 
School Board.
  Filling many positions over a 27 year career in the State Engineer's 
office, Eluid Martinez developed many skills that served him well as 
Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. His service in New Mexico 
started with the State Highway Department in 1968 and subsequently in 
the State Engineer's Office included positions as Chief of the 
Hydrographic Survey Section, Acting

[[Page S1011]]

Chief of the Administrative Services Division, Acting Chief of the 
Water Use and Planning Section, Chief of the Technical Division, 
principal Hearing Examiner for the State Engineer, and ultimately State 
Engineer from 1990 to 1994.
  I am proud to count as a friend such a hardworking fellow native of 
New Mexico, who has made the most of his opportunities. Eluid Martinez 
has performed a valuable service to the Nation and especially to the 
people of the West in both his state and Federal positions.
  In addition to his extensive administrative abilities Mr. Martinez 
hails from a rich heritage of nine generations of woodcarvers, or 
santeros. He is the nephew of internationally famous Santero Woodcarver 
and sculptor George Lopez of Cordova.
  Eluid himself is also a quite talented artist and I was very honored 
to have received several of his beautiful drawings. The fact that 
Eluid's sculptures, lithographs, and prints reside in the permanent 
collections of the Smithsonian Institution's American Art Museum, the 
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, the Denver Art Museum and other 
major collections adds to and broadens his legacy to the United States 
and his home state of New Mexico.
  Eluid will be a tough act to follow and I hope that his successor 
will have an understanding of western water issues and will continue 
working to achieve a balance between New Mexico's many competing 
interests.
  I know that as he leaves the demanding job of Commissioner, Eluid and 
his wife, Suzanne, are looking forward to spending more time in our 
beautiful home state of New Mexico.

                          ____________________