[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 574 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 574

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 26, 2016

   Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Reid, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Bennet, Mr. 
Booker, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Carper, Mr. Coons, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Heller, Ms. 
Hirono, Mr. Merkley, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Peters, Ms. Stabenow, 
 Mr. Warner, Mr. Udall, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Brown, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Heinrich, 
  Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr. Franken) 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 and Latinas to the United States.

Whereas the United States will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from September 
        15, 2016, through October 15, 2016;
Whereas the United States Census Bureau estimates the Hispanic population in the 
        United States at more than 56,500,000 people, making Hispanic Americans 
        17.6 percent of the population of the United States and the largest 
        racial or ethnic minority group in the United States;
Whereas, in 2015, there were 1,000,000 or more Latino residents in Puerto Rico 
        and each of the following 9 States: Arizona, California, Colorado, 
        Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, and Texas;
Whereas Latinos grew the United States population by more than 1,215,000 people 
        between July 1, 2014, and July 1, 2015, accounting for nearly \1/2\ of 
        all population growth during that period;
Whereas the Latino population in the United States is projected to grow to 
        119,000,000 people by 2060, at which point the Latino population will 
        comprise more than 28.6 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 size of the population in every Latin 
        American and Caribbean country except Mexico and Brazil;
Whereas, in 2015, there were 15,062,452 Latino households in the United States 
        and more than 18,000,000 Latino children younger than 18 years of age, 
        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 18 and 24 years of age 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 27,300,000 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 in the United States reach 18 years of 
        age and become eligible to vote every day and an estimated 1,000,000 
        Latino citizens in the United States will turn 18 and become eligible to 
        vote every year by 2024;
Whereas, in 2015, the annual purchasing power of Hispanic Americans was an 
        estimated $1,500,000,000,000, which is larger than the economy of all 
        but 15 countries in the world;
Whereas there are more than 4,700,000 Hispanic-owned firms in the United States, 
        supporting millions of employees nationwide and contributing more than 
        $600,000,000,000 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 owned businesses growing at 
        more than 15 times the national rate;
Whereas, as of August 2016, almost 27,000,000 Latino workers represented 16.9 
        percent of the total civilian labor force in the United States;
Whereas the share of the Latino labor force participation is expected to grow to 
        28 percent by 2024, 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 66.1 percent, compared to 62.7 percent overall;
Whereas, in 2015, there were 267,920 Latino elementary and middle school 
        teachers, 83,435 Latino chief executives of businesses, 63,800 Latino 
        lawyers, 64,448 Latino physicians and surgeons, and 11,194 Latino 
        psychologists contributing to the United States through their 
        professions;
Whereas Hispanic Americans serve in all branches of the 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 had served with distinction in the Armed Forces;
Whereas, as of July 31, 2016, approximately 284,000 Latinos have served in post-
        September 11, 2001, overseas contingency operations, including more than 
        9,870 Latinos currently serving in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan;
Whereas, as of September 2016, not fewer than 680 fatalities in Iraq and 
        Afghanistan were members of the Armed Forces who were Hispanic;
Whereas an estimated 200,000 Hispanics were mobilized for World War I and about 
        500,000 Hispanics served during World War II;
Whereas more than 80,000 Hispanics 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 Hispanics comprised only 4.5 percent 
        of the population of the United States at the time;
Whereas approximately 148,000 Hispanic members of the Armed Forces 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 Hispanic 
        veterans of the 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 Armed Forces;
Whereas Hispanic Americans are dedicated public servants, holding posts at the 
        highest levels of the Federal 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 4 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, 2016, through October 15, 2016;
            (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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