The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE RESILIENCE OF THE PEOPLE, CULTURE, LAND, AND WATER OF
NEW MEXICO
______
HON. TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ
of new mexico
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, as we mark National Latino Conservation Week, I rise to celebrate the resiliency of the people of Las Vegas, Mora, and the surrounding New Mexico communities. Since April, the Forest Service-caused Hermit's Peak Fire and Calf Canyon Fire has ravaged the area. I am proud to join my resilient community to celebrate our combined strength and capacity to recover during challenging times. The Hispano heritage of this area is a strength we will rely on to heal.
Now in its fourth month, the fire has burned over 340,000 acres and become the biggest wildfire in New Mexico's history. It forced thousands of New Mexicans to evacuate and burned hundreds of homes and structures. Make no mistake, the negligence of the U.S. Forest Service caused this fire, and the federal government bears responsibility for the cost and the damage. I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support of my legislation to fully compensate affected residents and businesses, which passed through the House last week.
After the fire ignited, hurricane-force winds and an historic drought enabled the wildfire to strengthen and spread dangerously quickly. It destroyed places where I, and so many others like me, grew up and explored; places where we gathered wood and tended to our acequias; places where we buried loved ones and practiced our faith; places where we raised our children; places where we hunted and fished; and places of cherished memories. Yet, my hometown of Las Vegas and the communities in Mora and San Miguel counties, and our other dear neighbors continue to persevere despite devastating destruction. Hispano, together with Indigenous and Anglo families, have been stewards and conservationists of these lands for centuries, and they will not give up on their lands now.
There is one common thread among the countless people I've talked to and their stories of loss and heartache: resiliency. Residents bravely defended their land, honoring shared ancestors. Families and neighbors from across the community opened their doors to one another in a beautiful, shared sense of New Mexico community. Firefighters and first responders risked their lives to save others. We honor their sacrifice along with those who donated their time, resources, and money to help those forced from their homes.
Our land, water, culture, and communities will endure despite the catastrophic wildfires and ongoing floods. Our faith in each other remains unbroken. Our traditions remain unbroken. We remain unbroken.
I draw strength and determination from our shared commitment to protect the natural, cultural, and recreational resources that make these areas so beautiful. We will Rise from the Ashes and, as we have done for generations, continue to fight for what we love.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 120(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 120(2)
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