[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 28, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              ROY E. DISNEY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HEATHER WILSON

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 28, 2001

  Mrs. WILSON. Mr. Speaker, Disney is a name that promises a special 
kind of magic--real magic--to the children of every generation and 
every age around the world. Today, the Disney Magic is finding a 
special home in New Mexico . . . the land of enchantment.
  ``It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values 
are,'' Roy Disney says, and he put his values to work with his decision 
to provide substantial financial support to the National Hispanic 
Cultural Center in Albuquerque.
  Groundbreaking ceremonies were held last week for the Roy E. Disney 
Center for the Performing Arts. The center will include a 700-seat 
proscenium theater, a 300-seat film and video theater, and a 150-seat 
black box theater. Edward Lujan, chairman of the National Hispanic 
Cultural Center, said Mr. Disney is being saluted not only for his 
personal financial support of the facility but for the assistance he 
gave in raising other funds.
  With his generosity, Mr. Disney proves himself a worthy heir to the 
name made famous by his uncle, Walt Disney, and his father, Roy O. 
Disney. They would be proud to see their name on the marquee of this 
facility which celebrates the genius and dreams of Hispanic culture. 
The mission of the facility is not only to educate all Americans about 
the unique contributions of Hispanics to the American story, but to 
nurture the wide ranging talents emerging in the Hispanic community.
  I'm proud, too, to stand with Mr. Disney in making this dream come 
alive. Several months ago, the House approved my request for $1.5 
million in federal funds for the Center.
  Mr. Disney began his career working as an assistant film editor on 
the ``Dragnet'' TV series, and later was assistant film editor of two 
classic and Oscar-winning Disney films, ``The Living Desert'' and ``The 
Vanishing Prairie.''
  As chairman of Disney's Feature Animation Division, Mr. Disney 
personally produced a new golden age of Disney features, including The 
Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. But it was with Fantasia 2000 
that Mr. Disney fulfilled the long-deferred dream of his Uncle Walt and 
immortalized his own creative talent.
  Mr. Disney's gift to the National Hispanic Cultural Center is truly a 
gift to the diverse community of New Mexico and a gift to the nation, 
and we thank him for it.

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