Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance
committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports
if they are used for other purposes.
Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).
Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and
attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.
F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Lujan, B
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
1/29/08
HM 36
SHORT TITLE
Requesting the New Mexico Congressional
Delegation to introduce legislation to award
Dr. Victor Westphall a Congressional Gold Medal
SB
ANALYST Shaya
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Memorial 36 requests that the New Mexico Congressional Delegation introduce
legislation to award Dr. Victor Westphall a Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his
service to the United States and that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of the
New Mexico congressional delegation and to Governor Richardson.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
•
In order to honor those who fought and died in the Vietnam war, and to give the survivors
a spiritual home, Dr. Victor Westphall built the Vietnam veterans peace and brotherhood
chapel, which would later become the Vietnam veterans national memorial state park at
Angel Fire; and
•
In building the Vietnam veterans peace and brotherhood chapel, Dr. Westphall honored
the courage and sacrifice of his own son, Victor David Westphall, III, who gave his life
in the Vietnam war; and
•
Dr. Westphall built the Vietnam veterans peace and brotherhood chapel in 1968, a period
in which the nation was divided over the war being fought by the United States in
Vietnam; and
•
Americans in 1968 were deeply divided over the Vietnam war, while the soldiers
returning from the Vietnam war were often shunned and scapegoated as blameworthy for
the United States' policies in southeast Asia; and
•
In being the first to build a memorial honoring those who had fallen in the service of their
country, Dr. Westphall bravely made a stand in the name of honor during a time of great
social unrest; and