[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 126 (Friday, September 24, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S11449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

 Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of 
National Hispanic Heritage Month. In my own state of New Jersey, we 
celebrate and recognize the proud history of a people who have a deep 
affinity to faith, a strong work ethic, and commitment to family 
values. Hispanic Americans share a diverse ancestry with countries 
spanning Europe, Africa, and South and Central America, and close 
cultural ties to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, 
and Spain. This diversity has brought variety and richness to the 
American mosaic and has strengthened our national character with 
invaluable perspective, experiences, and values.
  For countless years, Hispanic Americans have played an integral role 
in all walks of life and made our country stronger. Whether it is in 
the entertainment industry, business, medicine or public service, the 
contributions of Hispanic Americans cannot be understated. I am proud 
to represent a state with a large concentration of Puerto Ricans, 
Cubans, Dominicans and immigrants from countless countries in South and 
Central America.
  In counties such as Hudson, Essex, Passaic, Union, Camden, Atlantic 
and Cumberland, Hispanic Americans have been contributing to my state's 
diversity for years. In our state legislature, we are proud to have 
four members of the General Assembly of Hispanic Heritage with Wilfredo 
Caraballo, Raul ``Rudy'' Garcia, Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Nellie Pou. At 
the county level, we have three distinguished members of the Board of 
Chosen Freeholders with Nidia Davila-Colon, Silverio Vega, and Neftali 
Cruz in Hudson County. And at the local level, countless Cuban 
Americans, Puerto Ricans and Central and Southern Americans have 
achieved the office of council person and mayor. New Jersey was 
especially proud to elect its first Hispanic member of the House of 
Representatives with the election of Representative Robert E. Menendez, 
who also serves in the House leadership.
  Through my own Italian heritage, I share a special bond with people 
of Hispanic descent. When Christopher Columbus set sail to discover 
this continent, it was done so with the financial support of Spain. 
Hundreds of years later, the Hispanic heritage continues to be an 
important and critical aspect of our national accomplishments. Hispanic 
Americans comprise eleven percent of the nation's population. In just a 
few years, Hispanic Americans will be the largest ethnic group in the 
United States. Their commitment to this country has not gone unnoticed. 
Whether it is serving in our Armed forces or through their growing 
economic consumer strength, Hispanic Americans are indeed thriving and 
intertwined in the fabric that is this great country.
  Activism is important to creating a sense of personal responsibility 
for one's community. The Hispanic American community embodies this 
concept, and should be commended for successfully instilling it in 
others. The contributions of Hispanic Americans has spread to other 
communities in a manner that transcends racial and ethnic differences, 
and I am confident they will continue to grow as a vital component of 
life in New Jersey and indeed the United States.

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