[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 254 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 254

 Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the heritage and 
 culture of Latinos in the United States and the immense contributions 
                    of Latinos to the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 15, 2015

   Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Reid, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Bennet, Mr. 
 Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Brown, Mr. Casey, Mr. Coons, 
Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Franken, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Heinrich, 
Mr. Heller, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Markey, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson, 
Mr. Peters, Mr. Reed, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Udall, 
 Mr. Warner, and Ms. Warren) submitted the following resolution; which 
                      was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the heritage and 
 culture of Latinos in the United States and the immense contributions 
                    of Latinos to the United States.

Whereas the United States celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15, 
        2015, through October 15, 2015;
Whereas the United States Census Bureau estimates the Hispanic population in the 
        United States at more than 55,000,000 people, making Hispanic Americans 
        17.4 percent of the population of the United States and the largest 
        racial or ethnic minority group in the United States;
Whereas there were 1,000,000 or more Latino residents in Puerto Rico and each of 
        the following 8 States in 2014: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, 
        Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Texas;
Whereas Latinos grew the United States population by more than 1,150,000 people 
        between July 1, 2013, and July 1, 2014, accounting for nearly \1/2\ of 
        all population growth during this period;
Whereas the Latino population in the United States is projected to grow to 
        105,550,000 by 2050, at which point the Latino population will comprise 
        more than 25 percent of the total population of the United States;
Whereas the Latino population in the United States is currently the third 
        largest worldwide, exceeding the population in every Latin American and 
        Caribbean country except for Mexico and Brazil;
Whereas there were 12,200,000 Latino family households in the United States and 
        more than 17,900,000 Latino children under the age of 18 in 2014, 
        representing approximately \1/3\ of the total Latino population in the 
        United States;
Whereas more than 1 in 4 public school students in the United States is Latino, 
        and the share of Latino students is expected to rise to nearly 30 
        percent in the next decade;
Whereas 19 percent of all college students between the ages of 18 and 24 years 
        old are Latino, making Latinos the largest racial or ethnic minority 
        group on college campuses in the United States, including both 2-year 
        community colleges and 4-year colleges and universities;
Whereas a record 11,200,000 Latinos voted in the 2012 Presidential election, 
        representing a record 8.4 percent of the electorate in the United 
        States;
Whereas an estimated 28,500,000 Latinos will be eligible to vote in the 2016 
        Presidential election, and the number of eligible Latino voters is 
        expected to rise to 40,000,000 by 2030, accounting for 40 percent of the 
        growth in the eligible electorate in the United States over the next 15 
        years;
Whereas more than 2,000 Latino citizens currently turn 18 and become eligible to 
        vote every day, and an estimated 1,000,000 Latino citizens will turn 18 
        and become eligible to vote every year by 2024;
Whereas the annual purchasing power of Hispanic Americans was an estimated 
        $1,300,000,000,000 in 2014, larger than the economy of all but 15 
        countries in the world;
Whereas there are more than 3,200,000 Hispanic-owned firms in the United States, 
        supporting millions of employees nationwide and contributing more than 
        $468,000,000,000 in revenue to the economy of the United States;
Whereas Hispanic-owned businesses represent the fastest growing segment of small 
        businesses in the United States, with Latino entrepreneurs starting 
        businesses at more than twice the national rate;
Whereas, as of August 2015, more than 26,000,000 Latino workers represented 16.6 
        percent of the total civilian labor force in the United States, and the 
        Latino share of the labor force is expected to grow to 19.1 percent by 
        2022, with the Latino population accounting for more than 40 percent of 
        the increase in employment in the United States over the next 5 years;
Whereas Latinos have the highest labor force participation rate of any racial or 
        ethnic group at 65.6 percent, compared to 62.6 percent overall;
Whereas there were 270,000 Latino elementary and middle school teachers, 75,000 
        Latino chief executives of businesses, 63,000 Latino lawyers, and 64,000 
        Latino physicians and surgeons contributing to the United States through 
        their professions in 2014;
Whereas Hispanic Americans serve in all branches of the United States Armed 
        Forces and have bravely fought in every war in the history of the United 
        States;
Whereas, as of July 31, 2015, more than 164,000 Hispanic active duty service 
        members served with distinction in the United States Armed Forces;
Whereas, as of August 31, 2015, approximately 284,000 Latinos have served in 
        overseas contingency operations since September 11, 2001, including more 
        than 8,500 Latinos currently serving in operations in Iraq and 
        Afghanistan;
Whereas, as of September 2015, at least 675 United States Armed Forces 
        fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan were Hispanic;
Whereas an estimated 200,000 Latinos were mobilized for World War I and 
        approximately 500,000 Latinos served during World War II;
Whereas more than 80,000 Latinos served in the Vietnam War, representing 5.5 
        percent of individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice for the United 
        States in the conflict, even though Latinos comprised only 4.5 percent 
        of the population of the United States at the time;
Whereas approximately 148,000 Hispanic soldiers served in the Korean War, 
        including Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry Regiment known as the 
        ``Borinqueneers'', the only active-duty segregated Latino military unit 
        in the history of the United States;
Whereas, as of September 2015, there are an estimated 1,500,000 living Latino 
        veterans of the United States Armed Forces;
Whereas 61 Hispanic Americans have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, 
        the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be 
        bestowed on an individual serving in the United States Armed Forces;
Whereas Hispanic Americans are dedicated public servants, holding posts at the 
        highest levels of government, including 1 seat on the Supreme Court of 
        the United States, 3 seats in the Senate, 34 seats in the House of 
        Representatives, and 3 seats in the Cabinet; and
Whereas Hispanic Americans harbor a deep commitment to family and community, an 
        enduring work ethic, and a perseverance to succeed and contribute to 
        society: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month 
        from September 15, 2015, through October 15, 2015;
            (2) esteems the integral role of Latinos and the manifold 
        heritage of Latinos in the economy, culture, and identity of 
        the United States; and
            (3) urges the people of the United States to observe 
        Hispanic Heritage Month with appropriate programs and 
        activities that celebrate the contributions of Latinos to life 
        in the United States.
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