To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to extend the provisions governing nonimmigrant status for spouses and children of permanent resident aliens awaiting the availability of an immigrant visa, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is an important date in America's history. On February 2, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, ending the Mexican-American war. I ask that my colleagues in Congress and all New Mexicans join me in commemorating this significant date.

In 2000, New Mexico's Senators Bingaman and Domenici requested a study by the General Accounting Office to investigate whether the United States fulfilled its obligations under the Treaty with regard to community land grants made by Spain and Mexico in what is now the State of New Mexico. I was proud to join in their effort because of the importance of this issue to many of my constituents.

In June of 2004 the General Accounting Office issued its final report in response to the requested investigation. The GAO also identified for consideration by Congress a range of possible options in response to community land grant concerns. Additionally, last month, a group of land grant community leaders submitted its own ambitious proposal to resolve this situation. I want to thank them for their efforts in drafting this plan, and I look forward to working with the New Mexico delegation and the land grant communities to consider all possible approaches.

Regardless of any individual's personal thoughts on celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2nd is a significant event in the history of the New Mexico and the United States. The Treaty is a living document in much the same way that the U.S. Constitution is. Many believe, however, that our Federal Government has failed to honor the commitments it made in the Treaty of 1848 in respect to the property rights of community grants. Many Mexicans who became American citizens as a result of the Treaty lost all right and title to much of their lands.

During the 107th Congress, I introduced H.R. 1823, the Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty Land Claims Act, which would have established a Presidential commission to determine and evaluate the validity of certain land claims arising out of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 1848 involving the descendants of persons who were Mexican citizens at the time of the Treaty. The GAO also recommended such a commission as one of their options for consideration by Congress.

For 158 years, descendants have been fighting to get the Federal Government to look into this matter. I am very proud to be part of the effort to bring justice to this issue. In order to move on, we need to close this sad chapter in our Nation's history. We have an obligation to do no less.