[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 16, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1769]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

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                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 16, 1997

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, on September 15, 1997, our 
Nation will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month to commemorate 
the achievements of Hispanic-Americans. Since the foundation of this 
Nation was laid, Hispanics have played an active role in determining 
the direction of our country. From Joseph Marion Hernandez, the first 
Latino Member of Congress, sworn into office in 1822, to Bill 
Richardson, ambassador to the United Nations, Hispanics have made their 
voices heard.
  In politics, it was Senator Joseph Montoya of New Mexico and 
Congressman Edward R. Roybal of California who played an active role in 
getting the Voting Rights Act of 1965 signed into law. They pushed to 
get rid of a poll tax which kept many Hispanic and other minorities 
from voting. Because of their perseverance, today all individuals are 
able to vote.
  In recent years, Hispanics, in increasing numbers, have been 
appointed as state officials, cabinet secretaries, mayors, county and 
municipal officials, and school board members. In 1988 Lauro Cavazos 
became the first Hispanic Cabinet Member when former President Ronald 
Reagan appointed him Secretary of Education. Other political appointees 
include Katherine Ortega who was appointed U.S. Treasurer under Ronald 
Reagan; Henry Cisneros who became the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development under President Bill Clinton; and Antonio C. Novello who, 
in 1990, became the Nation's first Hispanic surgeon general. Today, 
there are 19 Hispanic Members represented in the 105th Congress, two of 
which represent New York.
  Hispanics are also making great strides in education. Since 1990, an 
ever-growing number of Hispanics have pursued higher education. 
Hispanic organizations such as the American GI Forum of the United 
States and the League of United Latin American Citizens have 
contributed to this influx. Thanks to these organizations and the 
dedicated individuals who run them, more Hispanics are becoming 
doctors, lawyers, scientists, teachers, and business owners throughout 
the Nation. Franklin Chan-Diaz spoke to TV viewers from the space 
shuttle Columbia in 1986, becoming the first Hispanic to enter space. 
In 1995, Mario Molino shared the Nobel Prize in chemistry for work that 
led to an international ban on chemicals contributing to the depletion 
of the ozone layer.
  The cultural contributions Hispanic-Americans have made in 
literature, music, art, television, and athletics are also 
overwhelming. Who can forget the harmonious sound of Gloria Estefan's 
voice at the 1996 summer Olympic games? Or Roberto Clemente, one of 
America's greatest baseball players, who in 1973 was the first Hispanic 
to ever be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame? These men 
and women are only a few examples of the thousands of Hispanic-
Americans who have dedicated their lives to making this country as 
wonderful as it is.
  I invite all people, Hispanics and non-Hispanics alike, to take part 
in the festivities of Hispanic Heritage Month beginning on September 
15, 1997 and ending on October 15, 1997. Through this celebration, 
individuals will have the opportunity to educate themselves about 
Hispanic culture and all that it has meant to America. Throughout our 
history, Hispanic-Americans have left an indelible mark. Hispanic-
Americans have helped make this country a true melting pot, one which 
combines different backgrounds for the enrichment of the American soul.

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