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[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 389 Introduced in House (IH)]

105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 389

Celebrating the ``New Mexico Cuartocentenario'', the 400th anniversary 
 commemoration of the first permanent Spanish settlement in New Mexico.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 18, 1998

  Mr. Schiff (for himself, Mr. Redmond, and Mr. Skeen) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Government 
                          Reform and Oversight

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Celebrating the ``New Mexico Cuartocentenario'', the 400th anniversary 
 commemoration of the first permanent Spanish settlement in New Mexico.

Whereas 400 years ago Don Juan de Onate of Spain settled the first permanent 
        colony of Europeans in the Southwest Region of the United States, known 
        as San Gabriel de Los Espanoles, located near the modern day cities of 
        San Juan Pueblo and Espanola, New Mexico;
Whereas 1998 marks the 400th anniversary, referred to as the Cuartocentenario, 
        of the first permanent settlement in New Mexico;
Whereas the first Spanish capital was established at San Juan de los Caballeros 
        in July of 1598, twelve years earlier than the English settled Jamestown 
        in 1610;
Whereas Spanish exploration activity in the New World began in 1512 when Ponce 
        de Leon explored the Florida peninsula, and included the explorations of 
        Francisco Coronado from California to Kansas and across Arizona, New 
        Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma from 1540 to 1542;
Whereas Hispanic Americans are the fastest growing minority group in the United 
        States and include descendants of the Spanish, Mexican, Cuban, Puerto 
        Rican, Central American, and other Hispanic peoples;
Whereas the United States Census Bureau estimated in March 1993 that the 
        Hispanic population of the United States was 22,800,000, and the current 
        estimate of the Hispanic population in the United States is 26,000,000, 
        with projections of 30,000,000 by the year 2000, 40,000,000 by 2010, and 
        almost 60,000,000 (or 20 percent of the total United States population) 
        by the year 2030;
Whereas the number of Hispanic immigrants to the United States has increased 
        from 1,500,000 in the 1960's, to 2,400,000 in the 1970's, to 4,500,000 
        in the 1980's, and the number of Hispanic immigrants is expected to 
        continue to rise;
Whereas two-thirds of all Hispanics in the United States today are of Mexican 
        origin, and 70 percent of United States Hispanics live in 4 States: 
        California, Texas, New York, and Florida;
Whereas New Mexico's Hispanic population is 39 percent (or over 660,000 of the 
        1995 total State population of 1,700,000) and represents the highest 
        percentage of Hispanics in any State in the United States;
Whereas the United States has an enriched legacy of Hispanic influence in 
        politics, government, business, and culture due to the early settlements 
        and continuous influx of Hispanics into the United States;
Whereas the New Mexico State government has funded a Hispanic Cultural Center in 
        Albuquerque, New Mexico, with assistance from the Federal Government, 
        local governments, and private contributors, to celebrate and preserve 
        Hispanic culture, including literature, performing arts, visual arts, 
        music, culinary arts, and language arts;
Whereas the Archbishop of Santa Fe, Michael Sheehan, is planning events 
        throughout 1998 in New Mexico, including the opening of ``Jubilee 
        year'', an encuentro at Santo Domingo Pueblo to mark the meeting of the 
        missionaries with the Pueblo peoples, an Archdiocesan reconciliation 
        service at the Santuario de Chimayo, and an Archdiocesan celebration of 
        St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe;
Whereas in order to commemorate Don Juan de Onate's arrival, the city of 
        Espanola will have a fiesta in July 1998, the city of Santa Fe is 
        planning several special events, and the New Mexico statewide committee 
        is planning a parade, a historical costume ball, and a pageant in 
        Albuquerque; and
Whereas many other religious, educational, and social events are being planned 
        around New Mexico to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first 
        permanent Spanish settlement in New Mexico: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commemorates the first permanent Spanish settlement in 
        New Mexico;
            (2) recognizes the cultural and economic importance of the 
        Spanish settlements throughout the Southwest Region of the 
        United States;
            (3) expresses its support for the work of the Espanola 
        Plaza Foundation, the Santa Fe and Albuquerque Cuartocentenario 
        committees, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, the New Mexico 
        Hispanic Cultural Center Board of Directors, the Hispanic 
        Cultural Foundation Board of Trustees, as well as other 
        interested groups that are preparing New Mexico 
        Cuartocentenario activities;
            (4) expresses its support for the events to be held in New 
        Mexico and the Southwest in observance of the New Mexico 
        Cuartocentenario; and
            (5) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        calling upon the people of the United States--
                    (A) to commemorate the first permanent Spanish 
                settlement in New Mexico with appropriate ceremonies, 
                activities, and programs to honor and celebrate the 
                contributions of Hispanic people to the cultural and 
                economic life of the United States; and
                    (B) to support, promote, and participate in the 
                many activities being planned to commemorate the 
                historic event of the early settling of the Southwest 
                Region of the United States by the Spanish.
                                 <all>
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