[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 38 (Friday, March 21, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H1282-H1283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  A NATIONAL HOLIDAY FOR CESAR CHAVEZ

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hayworth). 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 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 join me in making March 31 a 
Federal holiday so that our entire Nation can honor Cesar Chavez for 
his many contributions.
  Cesar Chavez, the son of migrant farmworkers, dedicated his life to 
fighting for the human rights and dignity of those farmworkers. He was 
born on March 31, 1927, on a small farm near Yuma, AZ, and died nearly 
4 years ago, on April 23, 1993. Over the course of his 66 years, Cesar 
Chavez' work inspired millions and made him a major force in American 
history.
  In 1962, Cesar Chavez and his family founded the National Farm 
Workers Association, which organized thousands of farmworkers 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 farmworkers in the United States. These contracts 
provided farmworkers with the basic services that most workers take for 
granted, services such as clean drinking water and sanitary facilities. 
Because of Cesar Chavez' fight to enforce child labor laws, farmworkers 
could also be certain that their children would not be working side by 
side with them and would instead attend the migrant schools he helped 
establish. In addition, Cesar Chavez made the world aware of the 
exposure to dangerous chemicals that farmworkers and all consumers face 
every day.
  As a labor leader, he earned great support from unions and elected 
officials across the Nation. 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 Government agencies. He 
taught community members how to deal with Government, school, and 
financial institutions 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.
  During a time of great social upheaval, he was sought out by groups 
from all walks of life and religions to bring calm with his nonviolent 
practices. In his fight for peace, justice, respect, and self-
determination, he gained the admiration and respect of

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millions of Americans, including this Congressman.
  Cesar Chavez will be remembered for his tireless commitment to 
improve the plight of farmworkers, children, and the poor throughout 
the United States, and for the inspiration his heroic efforts gave to 
so many Americans. We in Congress must make certain that the movement 
Cesar Chavez began and the timeless lessons of justice and fairness he 
taught be preserved and honored in our national conscience. To make 
sure these fundamental principles are never forgotten, I urge my 
colleagues to support legislation to declare March 31 a Federal holiday 
in honor of Cesar Chavez. In his words and in the words of the United 
Farm Workers, ``Si, se puede,'' yes, it can be done.

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