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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8412
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AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Passed Legislature - 1989 Reg.
State of Washington 51st Legislature 1989 Regular Session
By Senators Hayner, Sellar, Vognild and Warnke
Read first time 3/31/89. Under suspension of the rules, read second and third times and passed.
WHEREAS, The legislature finds and declares that the year of 1992, being the Quincentennial of the first voyage of Christopher Columbus to the Americas, is a time for all people of the State of Washington to reflect upon and celebrate the significance of the events which have occurred in the Americas since the Genovese navigator, and sponsor for the Spanish Crown, first discovered the lands and befriended the peoples of the Western Hemisphere; and
WHEREAS, The voyages of Christopher Columbus and his crew produced an historic encounter between the people and civilizations of two hemispheres, enabling new nations to flourish from the European countries blending with the native people of all the Americas, and later arrivals from Africa, Asia, and Oceania, all inlaid in the societal and cultural mosaic of the greater Western Hemisphere; and
WHEREAS, On the eve of United States independence, Juan Perez in command of the frigate Santiago from San Blas, Mexico, arrived in Washington waters in 1774 and gave Spain exclusive claim to the Pacific Northwest until 1819; and
WHEREAS, The Spanish navy, under the direction of skillful commanders such as Esteban Martinez, Salvador Fidalgo, Manual Quimpar, Gonzalo Lopez de Haro, Bruno de Hezeta, and Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra explored the Pacific Northwest region, established settlements, conducted scientific studies with the local flora and fauna, collected ethnographic data and transcribed the native languages, mapped and named most of the striking features of much of the Pacific Northwest coastline, and introduced unknown fruits, vegetables, livestock, iron, and other western technology; and
WHEREAS, The Spanish-Mexican outpost at Nunez Gaona, (Neah Bay, Washington), founded in 1792 to establish a southern limit to Russian and English encroachment on Spanish territory in the north Pacific, was the first European settlement in the state of Washington; and
WHEREAS, The legislature finds that adequate preparations must be effected to assure that the events leading up to the Quincentennial, as well as the events and celebrations of the year 1992, are as rich and significant as befit this historic moment, it is imperative that the Legislature assume a leading role in developing the means and resources necessary to plan and implement those events in partnership with the state historical society, local community organizations, Hispanic cultural and research organizations, and the business, cultural, and educational communities of the State of Washington;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, that a select committee on the 1992 Washington Quincentennial of the first voyage of Christopher Columbus, also to be known as the 1992 Washington Spanish Quincentennial Committee, is hereby created and is authorized and directed to:
(1) Encourage the participation of the people of the state of Washington in activities fostering cultural enrichment, social purpose, and economic opportunity within the context of the Quincentennial celebration of the voyages of Christopher Columbus;
(2) Seek the assistance of the people of Washington in achieving these goals by appointing any advisory or other committees which may become necessary to carry out the work of the committee;
(3) Plan and implement events, exchanges, expositions, exhibitions, productions, or other public events or occurrences which further the purposes or goals of the committee and of this resolution; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall be comprised of four members of the Senate, two from either caucus, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, and four members of the House of Representatives, two from each caucus, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, with the permanent chair of the 1992 Washington Spanish Quincentennial Committee to be selected by a vote of the membership of the committee; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall seek the leadership of the Honorable Booth Gardner, Governor of the State of Washington, to serve as its Honorary Chair, and the Honorable Joel Pritchard, Lieutenant Governor of the State of Washington, and the Honorable Ralph Munro, Secretary of State, to serve as its Honorary Vice-Chairs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the 1992 Washington Spanish Quincentennial Committee shall continue in existence until December 31, 1992, at which time the committee shall cease to exist; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the staff for the 1992 Washington Spanish Quincentennial Committee shall be provided by the Senate Economic Development and Labor and House of Representatives Commerce and Labor Committees.