[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6633-S6634]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 585--RECOGNIZING THE EXTRAORDINARY HISTORY AND 
 HERITAGE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, AND HONORING AND COMMENDING THE 
    STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND ITS PEOPLE ON ITS CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. BINGAMAN (for himself and Mr. Udall of New Mexico) submitted the 
following resolution; which was:

                              S. Res. 585

       Whereas New Mexico has a rich heritage and history, dating 
     as far back as 11,000 B.C. when the Clovis people left the 
     earliest evidence of human existence in what is now New 
     Mexico;
       Whereas Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, was 
     established in 1610 and is the oldest capital city in the 
     United States, as well as the highest in elevation at 7,000 
     feet above sea level;
       Whereas, on September 9, 1850, the portion of the 
     Compromise of 1850 (9 Stat. 446) that created the New Mexico 
     Territory was enacted;
       Whereas, on January 6, 1912, President William Howard Taft 
     signed the proclamation making New Mexico the 47th State of 
     the Union;
       Whereas the nickname of New Mexico is the ``Land of 
     Enchantment'' because of its scenic beauty and rich history 
     and culture;
       Whereas the natural wonder of New Mexico is preserved by a 
     broad range of national parks, forests, wilderness areas, and 
     wildlife refuge centers;
       Whereas the diverse cultural roots of New Mexico come from 
     the many different groups of people who have inhabited the 
     State, notably the strong tribal and Hispanic cultural 
     influences in the State;
       Whereas New Mexico has one of the richest indigenous tribal 
     populations in the United States, including 19 Pueblo 
     nations, 2 Apache nations, and the Navajo Nation;
       Whereas the Hispanic population of New Mexico has rich and 
     distinct cultural roots in its historic land grants as 
     recognized by the Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits, and 
     Settlement between the United States and Mexico, signed at 
     Guadalupe Hidalgo February 2, 1848, and entered into force 
     May 30, 1848 (9. Stat. 922) (commonly referred to as the 
     ``Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo'');
       Whereas New Mexico continues to derive strength from the 
     new Hispanic communities in the State with roots in Latin 
     America;
       Whereas New Mexico has an extensive variety of prehistoric, 
     tribal, and Hispanic archaeological ruins;
       Whereas New Mexico has a long tradition of artistic 
     expression inspired by its natural beauty, unique 
     architecture, and diverse people;
       Whereas the people of New Mexico have a proud history of 
     military service, predating and continuing after statehood, 
     including the participation of the people of New Mexico in 
     every major war of the United States since the Civil War, 
     with notable participation by the people of New Mexico in 
     Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders, the Navajo Code Talkers, the 
     defense of Bataan and Corregidor, the wars in Korea and 
     Vietnam, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan;
       Whereas New Mexico is a center for scientific innovation 
     and laboratory research, serving as the home to the Los 
     Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories;
       Whereas, on July 16, 1945, the United States Army conducted 
     the Trinity test, the first test of a nuclear weapon, which 
     was developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory

[[Page S6634]]

     and tested at the White Sands Proving Ground in New Mexico;
       Whereas, in 1980, New Mexico dedicated the Very Large 
     Array, one of the world's premier astronomical radio 
     observatories that studies the history of the universe;
       Whereas, in October 2011, New Mexico dedicated Spaceport 
     America, propelling New Mexico into the future with the first 
     commercial spaceport;
       Whereas New Mexico is home to the Albuquerque International 
     Balloon Fiesta, the largest hot air balloon event in the 
     world, which is also considered to be the most photographed 
     event in the world;
       Whereas New Mexico has a long history of agricultural 
     sustainability and productivity, supporting cattle and dairy, 
     as well as many crops, including chile, corn, wheat, onions, 
     peanuts, pistachios, pecans, hay, cotton, and beans;
       Whereas the Hatch Valley of New Mexico, known as the 
     ``Chile Capital of the World'', is recognized worldwide for 
     its bountiful chile crop; and
       Whereas New Mexico celebrated the centennial anniversary of 
     its admission to the Union as the 47th State of the United 
     States on January 6, 2012: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate recognizes the extraordinary 
     history and heritage of the State of New Mexico, and honors 
     and commends the State of New Mexico and its people on its 
     centennial anniversary.

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