IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1432 

Honoring the State of New Mexico on the passage of the Hispanic Education 

Act. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 10, 2010 

Mr. HEINRICH submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Education and Labor 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the State of New Mexico on the passage of the 

Hispanic Education Act. 

Whereas Hispanic culture has significantly impacted the 

State of New Mexico’s history and made it what it is 

today; 

Whereas 56 percent of the student population in New Mexico 

is Hispanic; 

Whereas nearly half of Hispanic students in New Mexico do 

not graduate from high school; 

Whereas nationally, only 57 percent of Hispanics age 25 and 

older graduate high school compared to 85 percent of 

non-Hispanics; 


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•HRES 1432 IH 

Whereas 40 percent of Hispanics age 25 and older in New 

Mexico have not completed high school, compared to 14 

percent of non-Hispanics; 

Whereas only 43 percent of Hispanic students graduate high 

school at or above proficiency in reading; 

Whereas only 25 percent of Hispanic students graduate high 

school at or above proficiency in mathematics; 

Whereas to address these education disparities in New Mexico, the Hispanic Education Act was introduced in the 

New Mexico State Legislature on January 25, 2010; 

Whereas the Hispanic Education Act was signed into law by 

Governor Richardson on March 10, 2010, at Washington 

Middle School in Albuquerque, New Mexico; 

Whereas the Hispanic Education Act will close the achievement gap while increasing graduation rates, post-secondary enrollment, retention, and completion; 

Whereas the Hispanic Education Act will create a Hispanic 

Education liaison who will focus on issues related to Hispanic education and develop a strategic plan to improve 

elementary, secondary, and post-secondary educational 

outcomes; 

Whereas the Hispanic Education Act will create a Hispanic 

Education Advisory Council to advise the New Mexico 

Secretary of Education on Hispanic education; 

Whereas the Hispanic Education Act sets into motion a 

multipronged approach to bring the community together 

to tackle the growing achievement gap that exists between Hispanic students and their peers; and 


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•HRES 1432 IH 

Whereas the Hispanic Education Act is the first law of its 

kind anywhere in the United States: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the importance of the Hispanic 

3 Education Act and its meaningful contribution to 

4 education in the State of New Mexico; 

5 (2) congratulates New Mexico Governor Bill 

6 Richardson, State Senator Bernadette Sanchez, 

7 State Representative Rick Miera, and Education 

8 Secretary Veronica Garcia for having the courage to 

9 champion the Hispanic Education Act; 

10 (3) honors New Mexico’s Latino/Hispano Edu11 cation Improvement Task Force for fighting to 

12 eliminate the achievement gap in New Mexico; and 

13 (4) recognizes the need to replicate this impor14 tant legislation at the national level. 

Æ 


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