SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 9

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Mary Kay Papen

A JOINT MEMORIAL

PROCLAIMING JANUARY 23, 2014 TO BE "COLONIAS DAY AT THE LEGISLATURE" AND REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR AND HER CABINET TO ASSIST LOCAL EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN NEW MEXICO BY ADDING RURAL COMMUNITIES AND COLONIAS TO THE STATE'S PRIORITY ACTION LIST OF PROGRAMS.

     WHEREAS, residents of rural and colonias communities statewide face harsh challenges on a daily basis, but they are proud people who are reluctant to ask for help; and

     WHEREAS, individual counties continue to undertake independent and ambitious infrastructure improvement plans designed to enhance social and economic development opportunities for all residents of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, by initiating a statewide improvement program for rural and colonias communities, the state could partner with the thirty-three counties to empower these small communities and dramatically improve the quality of life in them, while simultaneously creating new entrepreneurial zones that will complement existing projects in incorporated municipalities;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that January 23, 2014 be recognized as "Colonias Day at the Legislature"; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Governor Martinez and her cabinet be requested to work with the board of directors of the New Mexico association of counties to assist local efforts to improve the quality of life in the state and to add improvements for rural communities and colonias to the state's priority action list of programs for legislative funding; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor and to the board of directors of the New Mexico association of counties.

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