[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 59 (Thursday, March 30, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H4010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO CESAR CHAVEZ

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Filner] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember a great 
American leader and hero, Cesar E. Chavez. He was a husband, father, 
grandfather, labor organizer, community leader, and symbol of the 
ongoing struggle for equal rights and equal opportunity. March 31, the 
birthday of Cesar Chavez, has already been declared a State holiday in 
California. Today, I ask my colleagues to support legislation I just 
introduced to make March 31 a Federal holiday so that our entire Nation 
can honor Cesar Chavez for his many contributions.
  Cesar Chavez, the son of migrant farm workers, dedicated his life to 
fighting for the human rights and dignity of farm workers. He was born 
March 31, 1927, on a small farm near Yuma, AZ, and died just 2 years 
ago, on April 23, 1993. Over the course of his 66 years, Cesar Chavez' 
work inspired millions and earned him a major place in American 
history.
  In 1962, Cesar Chavez and his family founded the National Farm 
Workers Association, which organized thousands of farm workers to 
confront one of the most powerful industries in the country. He 
inspired them to join together and nonviolently demand safe and fair 
working conditions.
  Through the use of a grape boycott, he was able to secure the first 
union contracts for farm workers in the United States. These contracts 
provided farm workers with the basic services that most workers take 
for granted--services such as clean drinking water and sanitary 
facilities. In addition, Cesar Chavez made the world aware of the 
exposure to dangerous chemicals that farm workers--and consumers--face 
every day.
  As a labor leader, he received great support from unions across the 
country, and the movement he began continues today as the United Farm 
Workers of America.
  Cesar Chavez' influence extended far beyond agriculture. He was 
instrumental in forming the Community Service Organization--one of the 
first civic action groups in the Mexican-American communities of 
California and Arizona.
  He worked in urban areas, organized voter registration drives, 
brought complaints against mistreatment by police and welfare 
officials, and empowered many to seek further advancement in education 
and politics. There are countless stories of judges, engineers, 
lawyers, teachers, church leaders, organizers, and other hard-working 
professionals who credit Cesar Chavez as the inspiring force in their 
lives.
  In his fight for peace, justice, and respect, he gained the 
admiration and respect of millions of Americans, including this 
Congressman.
  Cesar Chavez will be remembered for his tireless commitment to 
improve the plight of farm workers and the poor throughout the United 
States and for the inspiration his heroic efforts gave so many 
Americans to work nonviolently for justice in their communities.
  We, in Congress, must make certain that the movement Cesar Chavez 
began, and the lessons he taught, will continue. In his honor, I urge 
my colleagues to support legislation to declare March 31 a Federal 
holiday in honor of Cesar Chavez. In the words of Cesar Chavez and the 
United Farm Workers, ``si se puede--yes we can.''


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