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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Cisneros
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
1-18-2008
HB
SHORT TITLE NM Buffalo Soldiers Monument
SB 55
ANALYST Dearing
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY08
FY09
$60.0 Non-Recurring
General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 55 appropriates $100 thousand from the general fund to the Veterans’ Services
department for the purpose of placing a monument to honor the legacy of buffalo soldiers who
have historically served in New Mexico.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $100 thousand contained in this bill is a nonrecurring expense to the
General Fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY09 shall
revert to the General Fund.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
In 1866 Congress created six African American army units. These units became the first African
American professional soldiers in the US Military. The nickname “buffalo soldier" began with
the Cheyenne warriors in 1867 out of respect for the fierce fighting ability of the 10
th
Cavalry.
Over time, buffalo soldier became a generic term for all African American soldiers. Buffalo
soldiers served in New Mexico for eight years, from 1867 to 1975, mostly in the southern and
southeastern areas of New Mexico. They also served under General John J. Pershing’s campaign
to capture Pancho Villa, the famous raider of Columbus, NM.