[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 132 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S10180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNITION OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

 Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I am proud to be able to speak 
today, as many of my colleagues have done recently, on the significance 
of Hispanic Heritage Month, being commemorated from September 15 
through October 15. For almost 30 years, we as a nation have, in this 
way, formally acknowledged and celebrated the contributions Hispanic 
Americans have made and are making to our country.
  Mr. President, in my home State of Texas, Hispanics are an intrinsic 
and dynamic part of our history, culture, economy, and civic life. From 
El Paso to Texarkana, and from Amarillo to Brownsville, over 6 million 
Latinos in Texas contribute immeasurably to making the Lone Star State 
the unique and wonderful place it is. Whether they trace their ancestry 
to the earliest Spanish settlers in Texas or have recently immigrated 
to this country, individually and collectively Hispanics have made our 
State and our Nation a richer place in which to live.
  For at least 250 of the last 400 years, Hispanic heritage was 
synonymous with Texas heritage. Since the first Spanish landing at the 
mouth of the Rio Grande by Alonso Alvarez de Pineda in 1519, the 
Spanish, and later the Mexicans bravely began to colonize the vast and 
rugged land known as Tejas. To this day, Hispanics continue to 
contribute their boundless determination and unique perspective to 
every facet of life in Texas and the Nation. Hispanic Americans enrich 
our lives in virtually every field of endeavor: politics, business, 
science, education, art, music, film, cuisine, and countless other 
fields.
  In my home State, we recently lost two of our greatest native Texas 
Hispanics, Congressman Frank Tejeda and musical artist Selena Perez. In 
their own way, both of these individuals demonstrated astonishing 
determination, which in turn reflected the vibrancy and strength of the 
Hispanic community: Frank Tejeda, who dropped out of high school from 
the south side of San Antonio and went on to distinguish himself in 
military service in Vietnam, in higher education, in the business 
world, and as a dedicated public servant; and Selena who, at the young 
age of 23 became a pop icon, entertaining audiences in her hometown of 
Corpus Christi and throughout the world with her unique brand of 
``Tejano'' music. Although the lives of these two great Texans ended 
far too soon, they will forever inspire the tens of thousands of young 
Hispanics who will look to them and to the many other Hispanic leaders 
in our country as symbols of what can be achieved through hard work, 
ambition, and the support of the community.
  As a Texas and as a member of the Senate Republican Conference Task 
Force on Hispanic Affairs, I remain committed to ensuring that the 
American dream continues to exist and to come true for all Americans. 
Through my activities on this task force and in the Senate, as well as 
through daily contact with my constituents, I have worked hard to 
ensure that the needs and concerns of the Hispanic community are heard 
and responded to. While we all share the goal of improving our country 
and the opportunities for our children, there are economic and other 
concerns that disproportionately impact the Hispanic community. I 
believe we in Congress must continue to address those concerns by 
pursuing policies that promote education, health care, urban renewal, 
and a business environment that encourages entrepreneurial activity and 
risk taking.
  There are certainly challenges ahead. With so many Hispanic-owned 
businesses starting up around the country, access to capital is a 
critical need. I have supported and continue to support lending and 
contracting programs that offer fledgling businesses the opportunity to 
launch themselves--and to continue to soar. I am also working to give 
small business people and other Americans relief from excessive levels 
of taxation and Federal regulation.
  On the eve of a new millennium, it is vital that we remain a people 
united, respectful of the individual, the family, and our country as a 
whole. In this same spirit, it is also important to inform ourselves 
and our children of the sacrifices and contributions that have been 
made by our ancestors on our behalf. Hispanics have extremely good 
reason to be proud of that heritage and to rejoice in it.
  Mr. President, I am pleased to be able to highlight today the 
contribution of Hispanics to the exquisite mosaic that is America the 
Beautiful, America la linda.

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