SENATE MEMORIAL 121

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Linda M. Lopez

A MEMORIAL

ASKING THE MEMBERS OF NEW MEXICO'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO WORK WITH NEW MEXICO'S FEDERAL FACILITIES AND INSTALLATIONS TO IMPLEMENT HIRING PRACTICES THAT RESULT IN A WORKFORCE THAT ACHIEVES PARITY IN EMPLOYMENT FOR HISPANICS AND FOR MINORITY GROUPS IN THE STATE.

     WHEREAS, in 1984, members of the New Mexico congressional delegation corresponded with, and met personally with Verne Orr, secretary of the air force, in the interest of improving unsatisfactory minority hiring practices at Kirtland air force base; and

     WHEREAS, over the course of their communication, New Mexico's congressional delegation specified seven initiatives to aid in the effort to improve minority hiring practices; and

     WHEREAS, in 1986, Tidal W. McCoy, assistant secretary of the air force, made clear his commitment to those seven initiatives in a signed letter addressed to New Mexico congressman Manuel Lujan, Jr.; and

     WHEREAS, to this day, despite Kirtland air force base having a diversity action plan targeting Hispanic employment, the Albuquerque-area base has not yet reached the goal of parity in employment for Hispanics and for minority groups in the state; and

     WHEREAS, in 1998, Sandia national laboratories, Los Alamos national laboratory, the university of New Mexico, central New Mexico community college, New Mexico highlands university, the city of Albuquerque, Bernalillo county and many other signatories signed as collaborative partners the Hispanic statement of cooperation agreement committing to employ a representative workforce of the New Mexico population and demographics to include the Hispanic community and all minority groups. The signatories agreed to partner in four key areas: education, employment, economic development and cultural celebration. All signatories committed to "look like the New Mexico population and demographics" in all areas of the partnership;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that members of New Mexico's congressional delegation work with the federal facilities and installations in the state to implement hiring practices that result in a workforce that achieves parity in employment for Hispanics and for minority groups; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, members of New Mexico's congressional delegation and the military and veterans' affairs committee.

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