IV 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1186 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 21, 2018 Mr. Meadows submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of Congress that Fort San Juan holds a significant place in the early history of North Carolina and of the United States.

Whereas Fort San Juan was originally settled by the Spanish in western North Carolina in 1567; Whereas Fort San Juan predates the English settlement on Roanoke Island by 20 years and the settlement at Jamestown by 40 years; Whereas Fort San Juan was the first European settlement in the interior of the United States; Whereas Captain Juan Pardo built Fort San Juan as part of the greater mission of the Spanish exploring North America from Santa Elena (modern-day Parris Island, South Carolina) into what are now Tennessee and Alabama under Hernando de Soto; Whereas Fort San Juan served as the base for Captain Juan Pardo’s expedition into the Appalachian Mountains in search for silver mines; Whereas Fort San Juan after 18 months was destroyed in a fire after the relationship between the Spanish settlers and Native Americans at Joara deteriorated; Whereas Fort San Juan was rediscovered near Morganton, North Carolina, between the years of 2004 and 2006; and Whereas archaeologists investigating the site have expressed their appreciation for the cooperation of the landowners, the Berry family, for preserving the site and providing access: Now, therefore, be it