[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 256 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 256

 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 14, 2017

Mr. Schumer (for Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Blumenthal, 
  Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Franken, Mr. Reed, Mr. Kaine, Mr. 
   Bennet, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Heller, Mr. Nelson, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. 
    Heinrich, Mr. Warner, Mr. Udall, and Mr. Rubio)) 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 from September 15, 2017, through October 15, 2017, the United States 
        celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month;
Whereas the Bureau of the Census estimates the Hispanic population living in the 
        continental United States at over 57,000,000, plus an additional 
        3,500,000 living in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, making Hispanic 
        Americans almost 18 percent of the total population of the United States 
        and the largest racial or ethnic minority group in the United States;
Whereas, in 2016, there were close to 1,000,000 or more Latino residents in the 
        Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and in each of the States of Arizona, 
        California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, 
        New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and 
        Washington;
Whereas, between July 1, 2015, and July 1, 2016, Latinos grew the United States 
        population by approximately 1,131,766 individuals, accounting for \1/2\ 
        of the total population growth during that period;
Whereas, by 2060, the Latino population in the United States is projected to 
        grow to 119,000,000, and the Latino population will comprise more than 
        28.6 percent of the total United States population;
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 2016, there were more than 18,345,742 Latino children under the age 
        of 18 in the United States, which represents 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 are Latino, 
        and the ratio of Latino students is expected to rise to nearly 30 
        percent by 2027;
Whereas 19 percent of all college students between the ages of 18 and 24 are 
        Latino, making Latinos the largest racial or ethnic minority group on 
        college campuses in the United States, including 2-year community 
        colleges and 4-year colleges and universities;
Whereas a record 12,700,000 Latinos voted in the 2016 Presidential election, 
        representing a record 9.2 percent of the electorate in the United 
        States;
Whereas 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 by 2032;
Whereas each year approximately 800,000 Latino citizens turn 18 years old and 
        become eligible to vote, a number that could grow to 1,000,000 by 2030, 
        adding a potential 18 million new Latino voters by 2032;
Whereas, in 2016, the annual purchasing power of Hispanic Americans was an 
        estimated $1,400,000,000,000, which is an amount greater than the 
        economy of all except 17 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 2017, more than 27,000,000 Latino workers represented 17 
        percent of the total civilian labor force of the United States, and the 
        rate of Latino labor force participation is expected to grow to 28 
        percent by 2024, accounting for approximately 48 percent of the total 
        labor force increase in the United States by that year;
Whereas, with 65.8 percent labor force participation, Latinos have the highest 
        labor force participation rate of any racial or ethnic group, as 
        compared to 62.9 percent labor force participation overall;
Whereas, as of 2016, there were 312,228 Latino elementary and middle school 
        teachers, 92,344 Latino chief executives of businesses, 63,448 Latino 
        lawyers, 62,599 Latino physicians and surgeons, and 11,109 Latino 
        psychologists, who contribute to the United States through their 
        professions;
Whereas Hispanic Americans serve in all branches of the Armed Forces and have 
        fought bravely in every war in the history of the United States;
Whereas, as of July 31, 2016, more than 164,000 Hispanic active duty service 
        members served with distinction in the Armed Forces;
Whereas, as of August 31, 2016, more than 284,000 Latinos have served in post-
        September 11, 2001, overseas contingency operations, including more than 
        8,500 Latinos serving as of September 2017 in operations in Iraq and 
        Afghanistan;
Whereas, as of September 2015, at least 675 United States military fatalities in 
        Iraq and Afghanistan were Hispanic;
Whereas an estimated 200,000 Hispanics were mobilized for World War I, and 
        approximately 500,000 Hispanics served in 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 during the Vietnam War;
Whereas approximately 148,000 Hispanic soldiers served in the Korean War, 
        including the 65th Infantry Regiment of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
        known as the ``Borinqueneers'', the only active duty, segregated Latino 
        military unit in United States history;
Whereas, as of 2015, there were more than 1,200,200 living Hispanic veterans of 
        the Armed Forces, including 136,000 Latinas;
Whereas 61 Hispanic Americans have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, 
        the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force bestowed on 
        an individual serving in the Armed Forces;
Whereas Hispanic Americans are dedicated public servants, holding posts at the 
        highest levels of the Government of the United States, including 1 seat 
        on the Supreme Court of the United States, 4 seats in the Senate, 34 
        seats in the House of Representatives, and 1 seat 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, 2017, through October 15, 2017;
            (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 the 
        United States.
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