HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 5

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Dianne Miller Hamilton

FOR THE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE VETERANS' SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, THE TOURISM DEPARTMENT, THE SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS AND OTHER NECESSARY ORGANIZATIONS TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF USING THE FORT BAYARD CAMPUS FOR A VETERANS POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER TREATMENT FACILITY.

     WHEREAS, the mission of the veterans' services department is to serve the veterans of this state; and

     WHEREAS, the mission of the economic development department is to assist local businesses to develop, grow and enhance the economy of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the mission of the tourism department is to create, promote and develop tourism opportunities; and

     WHEREAS, the southwest New Mexico council of governments commissioned a Fort Bayard preservation and development plan in 2006; and

     WHEREAS, the department of health has vacated the buildings and terminated its lease of Fort Bayard; and

     WHEREAS, Fort Bayard is located in southwestern New Mexico adjacent to the Gila national forest; and

     WHEREAS, that site was chosen in 1863 for its springs and its commanding view of the Apache war trails surrounding the nearby mining camps; and

     WHEREAS, Fort Bayard was designated a national historic landmark in 2004; and

     WHEREAS, the Fort Bayard campus is situated upon more than four hundred sixty-five acres of pristine beauty with nineteen natural springs; and

     WHEREAS, the Fort Bayard campus offers an ideal quiet and serene setting for veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries to heal and readjust to civilian society;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the veterans' services department be requested to collaborate with the economic development department, the tourism department, the southwest New Mexico council of governments and other necessary organizations to study the feasibility of using the Fort Bayard campus as a veterans posttraumatic stress disorder treatment facility and that the findings of the study be presented to the interim military and veterans' affairs committee by November 2011; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the secretary of veterans' services, the secretary of economic development, the secretary of tourism, the governor and the southwest New Mexico council of governments.

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