Section 1 Findings
Congress finds the following:
Edwin L. Mechem was a land surveyor with the United States Reclamation Service in Las Cruces, New Mexico, from 1932–1935.
He served as a member of the New Mexico State Police Commission.
He was a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
He attended the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, which later became the New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
He was admitted to the New Mexico bar in 1939, and practiced law in Albuquerque and Las Cruces, New Mexico.
He served in the New Mexico House of Representatives from 1947–1948.
He was the first New Mexico governor born in New Mexico after statehood.
He served four terms as Governor of New Mexico between 1951 and 1962.
He served as a United States Senator from New Mexico from 1962–1964.
He was confirmed by the United States Senate as a United States District Judge for the District of New Mexico on October 8, 1970, and served in that position until his death in 2002.
He led a rich and accomplished life dedicated to public service which warrants recognition.