[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 130 (Friday, September 25, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1813-E1814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 TRIBUTE TO THE INDIANA STATE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 25, 1998

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to pay tribute to 
the Indiana State League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), as 
it hosts the 1998 LULAC Midwest Conference. This year's conference, 
titled `Money Management and the Tools to Make It Work,' is being held 
on Saturday, September 26, 1998, in Hammond, Indiana. Giving the 
conference's keynote address is Rick Dovalina, LULAC's National 
President. He was elected this Fourth of July at the conclusion of the 
LULAC National Convention. I would also like to take this opportunity 
to commend Augustine Sanchez, Midwest LULAC Vice President, and the 
Indiana LULAC state officers, Maria D. Pizana, Terry Serna, Vickie 
Lipniskis, Belinda Medellin, Dave Jones, Amelia Velez, Louise Marinez, 
Alicia Rios, and Greg Chavez, for the leadership they have displayed in 
organizing this important event. Hosting the LULAC Midwest Conference 
is an honor and a challenge which the Indiana State LULAC has met with 
vigor and excitement.
  Founded in 1929 in Corpus Christi, Texas, LULAC was established to 
protect the Constitutional rights and freedoms of Hispanic-

[[Page E1814]]

Americans. Over the years, LULAC has improved the social and economic 
status of Hispanics through its activism in the areas of equal justice, 
housing, employment, and education. By 1954, LULAC had earned 
recognition for winning two landmark civil rights cases. The first 
integrated the Orange County, California school system, and the second 
secured jury duty rights for Mexican-Americans in Texas. Since that 
time, LULAC has worked hard to achieve full access to the political 
process for all Hispanics, as well as equal educational opportunity for 
Hispanic children. LULAC councils across the nation work toward this 
goal by holding voter registration drives and citizen awareness 
sessions, sponsoring health fairs and tutorial programs, and raising 
scholarship money for the LULAC national scholarship fund. In addition, 
LULAC's activism has expanded to include the areas of language and 
cultural rights. In response to a recent increase in anti-Hispanic 
sentiment, LULAC councils have fought back by holding seminars and 
public symposiums on language and immigration issues. The nation's 
oldest and largest national Hispanic civil rights organization, LULAC 
continues to be a strong voice in the struggle for equal opportunity 
for Hispanic-Americans.
  The Indiana State LULAC has faithfully worked to fulfill the National 
LULAC mission through a strong commitment to community and education. 
The Indiana LULAC emphasizes the protection of civil and human rights 
for Hispanic citizens and immigrants, and it strives to achieve this 
goal by educating the Hispanic community. Extremely youth-oriented, 
Indiana LULAC hosts annual career days and college fairs, provides 
numerous educational workshops and seminars for students, and offers 
several leadership training opportunities to students. In addition, 
Indiana LULAC continues to award scholarships to academic achievers 
throughout the state and, to date, has awarded over $200,000 in college 
scholarships. In the future, the Indiana State LULAC aspires to open a 
LULAC National Education Center, which would provide counseling and 
tutorial services, scholarships, and low-interest loans to help 
Hispanic students attend college.
  One of LULAC's primary goals is to advance the economic condition of 
Latinos in the United States and Puerto Rico. The leaders of LULAC are 
striving to empower members of the Latino community to take control of 
their financial futures and obtain financial security for their 
retirement years. With a significant economic disparity between Latinos 
and the general population, LULAC is taking this opportunity to address 
this immediate, important issue. The League of United Latin American 
Citizens 1998 Midwest Conference offers workshops and information 
sessions to give participants the opportunities and techniques to learn 
about becoming financially secure, independent, and taking the 
initiative to become one's own boss. Proceeds for this conference will 
be used to fund scholarships, as well as youth and young adult 
educational projects for the Midwest. These programs include the Young 
Reader Programs, the Hispanic Leadership Opportunities Programs, and 
the Washington, D.C. Youth Seminars.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me in commending the Midwest and State of Indiana LULAC organizations 
for their extraordinary efforts to unite Hispanics. All involved in the 
success of these organizations, as well as their endeavors, should be 
proud of their efforts in working toward equality, independence, and 
success for Hispanic-Americans.

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