SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 46

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

Jose A. Campos

A JOINT MEMORIAL

HONORING UNITED STATES SENATOR PETE DOMENICI OF NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, Senator Pete Domenici was born on May 7, 1932 in Albuquerque, the only son of five children born to Italian immigrants; and

     WHEREAS, Senator Domenici graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1950 and received his law degree from the University of Denver in 1958; and

     WHEREAS, he married Nancy Burk in 1958, with whom he has eight children and many loving grandchildren; and

     WHEREAS, Senator Domenici was elected to the United States Senate in 1972, becoming the first Republican elected to the Senate from New Mexico in thirty-eight years; and

     WHEREAS, Senator Domenici is the longest-serving United States senator in New Mexico history and upon his retirement from the Senate in 2008, he will become the first senator in New Mexico history to serve six full terms; and

     WHEREAS, he is a ranking member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Budget Committee, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and

     WHEREAS, Senator Domenici sponsored the Energy Policy Act of 2005, a landmark bill that diversifies America's energy supply, and bipartisan legislation such as the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, and he is credited with developing many of the rules currently used by the Senate; and

     WHEREAS, Senator Domenici was known for his ability to negotiate on both sides of the aisle and to fight for issues important to New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, he sponsored a resolution designating one week a year as "National Character Counts Week" as a way for schools and after-school programs to develop strong character in students; and

     WHEREAS, he is an advocate for individuals with mental health conditions, sponsoring the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996, and spending two years negotiating with lawmakers and insurance companies to ensure fair insurance coverage under the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007; and

     WHEREAS, he has proven to be a pillar of strength for the economy of the state of New Mexico by fighting for Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories and for military installations and by bringing new businesses and jobs to the state; and

     WHEREAS, Senator Domenici will be remembered as a fighter for New Mexico, an advocate for negotiation and a constant source of stability in the world of politics; and

     WHEREAS, the retirement of Senator Pete Domenici marks the loss of a great senator who fought tirelessly for both New Mexico and the nation; and

     WHEREAS, his representation in the Senate will be sorely missed by all New Mexicans;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Senator Pete Domenici be honored for his many years of great service to the people of New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Senator Domenici be forever welcome at the New Mexico Legislature.

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