[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 10 (Wednesday, February 1, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E67]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO

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                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 1, 2006

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is an important date 
in America's history. On February 2, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe 
Hidalgo was signed, ending the Mexican-American war. I ask that my 
colleagues in Congress and all New Mexicans join me in commemorating 
this significant date.
  In 2000, New Mexico's Senators Bingaman and Domenici requested a 
study by the General Accounting Office to investigate whether the 
United States fulfilled its obligations under the Treaty with regard to 
community land grants made by Spain and Mexico in what is now the State 
of New Mexico. I was proud to join in their effort because of the 
importance of this issue to many of my constituents.
  In June of 2004 the General Accounting Office issued its final report 
in response to the requested investigation. The GAO also identified for 
consideration by Congress a range of possible options in response to 
community land grant concerns. Additionally, last month, a group of 
land grant community leaders submitted its own ambitious proposal to 
resolve this situation. I want to thank them for their efforts in 
drafting this plan, and I look forward to working with the New Mexico 
delegation and the land grant communities to consider all possible 
approaches.
  Regardless of any individual's personal thoughts on celebrating the 
anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 
2nd is a significant event in the history of the New Mexico and the 
United States. The Treaty is a living document in much the same way 
that the U.S. Constitution is. Many believe, however, that our Federal 
Government has failed to honor the commitments it made in the Treaty of 
1848 in respect to the property rights of community grants. Many 
Mexicans who became American citizens as a result of the Treaty lost 
all right and title to much of their lands.
  During the 107th Congress, I introduced H.R. 1823, the Guadalupe 
Hidalgo Treaty Land Claims Act, which would have established a 
Presidential commission to determine and evaluate the validity of 
certain land claims arising out of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 
1848 involving the descendants of persons who were Mexican citizens at 
the time of the Treaty. The GAO also recommended such a commission as 
one of their options for consideration by Congress.
  For 158 years, descendants have been fighting to get the Federal 
Government to look into this matter. I am very proud to be part of the 
effort to bring justice to this issue. In order to move on, we need to 
close this sad chapter in our Nation's history. We have an obligation 
to do no less.

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