44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO APPOINT AN INTERIM COMMITTEE TO STUDY NEW MEXICO'S NEEDS TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY FOR THE STATE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WHEREAS, New Mexico is last among the fifty states in per capita income and is consistently among those states with the highest unemployment rate; and

WHEREAS, we are a large rural state with great distances between job centers, we have limited natural resources, such as water, are far from major markets and therefore must take advantage of the resources we have, such as high technology and brain power; and

WHEREAS, the future of the world's economy will be deeply connected to the quality of its electronic connections; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico needs to catch up with the world's rate of installing the infrastructure needs of the future, such as fiber optic cables;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to appoint an interim committee to study New Mexico's needs to participate fully in the information superhighway for its economic development; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of the New Mexico legislative council.