Senator Domenici Introduces Archaeological Research Bill

S. 643. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation with the University of New Mexico, to construct and occupy a portion of the Hibben Center for Archaeological Research at the University of New Mexico; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise to reintroduce a bill that authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to help construct and occupy part of the Hibben Center for Archaeological Research at the University of New Mexico. This bill will help the University of New Mexico finish a state of the art museum facility to store, and display the National Park Service's Chaco Collection.

Let me give you a bit of background. In 1907, Theodore Roosevelt founded the Chaco Canyon Culture National Historical Park in Northwestern New Mexico. The Monument was created to preserve the extensive prehistoric pueblo ruins in Chaco Canyon.

The height of the Chaco culture began in the mid 800's and lasted over 300 years. Dozens of complex multi-storied masonry buildings containing hundreds of rooms were built over that time. These complexes were connected to communities by a network of prehistoric roads. I helped to establish the Chaco Culture National Historic Park to preserve these areas.

Since 1907, the University of New Mexico and the National Park Service have been partners in this area. From 1907 to 1949, the University owned the land within the Park boundaries. During this period, Dr. Frank Hibben excavated in Chaco Canyon and remained interested in the area throughout his long career. The University built a large collection of artifacts that it retains today.

In 1949, the University deeded the land to the Federal Government, and since that time, the University and the Park Service have continued a partnership through a series of memoranda of understanding. Since 1985, the NPS Chaco collections have been housed at University of New Mexico's Maxwell Museum of Anthropology. As both the University of New Mexico and the National Park Service collections have begun to grow, a new home for them is needed.

To this end, Dr. Hibben began planning a new research and curation facility at the University of New Mexico. He asked the Park Service to partner with him on this project, and today, construction of the Hibben Center, a modern, professional facility to house the University of New Mexico's collections as well as the Park Service collections, is a reality.

Dr. Hibben recently passed away, and left the University of New Mexico the funds to assist with this project. The partnership between the Park Service and the University will mean that the Hibben Center will hold a world-class collection of historical artifacts and will facilitate and encourage the study of these important Southwestern collections.

This bill will provide authorization to pay for the Federal share of the improvement costs to the Hibben Center. This bill is long overdue, and will honor both the legacy of Dr. Hibben and the Chaco Culture.

I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.

I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the RECORD.