REQUESTING THE TOURISM DEPARTMENT AND THE STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO PROMOTE AND MARKET THE SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF HISTORIC ROUTE 66 IN NEW MEXICO AS THE NATIONAL DIAMOND JUBILEE OF HISTORIC ROUTE 66.

WHEREAS, "Historic Route 66" was the major automobile artery that fed the growth of the southwest in the twentieth century; and

WHEREAS, Historic Route 66 has been elevated in legend and myth nationally and internationally as the "Mother Road" and "America's Main Street"; and

WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico declared remaining portions of former United States route 66 a state scenic and historic byway in 1994; and

WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico has designated large portions of former United States route 66 as part of its state highway system and dual-designated those portions as "New Mexico Historic Route 66" in 1998; and

WHEREAS, the federal government, with the leadership of New Mexico's United States congressional delegation, created the federal Route 66 Corridor Preservation Act in 1999; and

WHEREAS, the federal government in 2000 designated Historic Route 66 a "Community Millennium Trail" of the white house and a national scenic and historic byway through the federal highway department; and

WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico wishes to preserve, conserve, interpret and celebrate the historic and cultural assets related to Historic Route 66 communities in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico wishes to encourage economic development and heritage tourism in communities along the Historic Route 66 corridors and intends for its residents and visitors to be able to find easy access to Historic Route 66; and

WHEREAS, Historic Route 66 communities in New Mexico plan to celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the roadway in 2001; and

WHEREAS, the international celebration of Historic Route 66's seventy-fifth anniversary, "Remember the Route" will be held July 20-22, 2001 in Albuquerque; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the tourism department and the state highway and transportation department be requested to promote the seventy-fifth anniversary of Historic Route 66 in New Mexico as the "National Diamond Jubilee of Historic Route 66"; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the tourism department and the state highway and transportation department be requested to encourage all departments of the state of New Mexico with jurisdiction and oversight over the development, preservation, conservation, interpretation, promotion and marketing of Historic Route 66 assets, to cooperate and coordinate with municipalities and the New Mexico route 66 association in their efforts to celebrate this unique historic and cultural legacy of New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of tourism and the secretary of highway and transportation.