[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 101 (Tuesday, September 5, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S8000]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DOLORES HUERTA

 Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President. I come here to pay tribute to the 
remarkable career of one of our nation's most influential labor and 
civil rights leaders, Dolores Huerta, who has retired as Secretary-
Treasurer of the United Farm Workers of America.
  Dolores Huerta is a true national treasure. For half a century, the 
great victories for farm workers, the advances for these hardworking 
and proud families, would not have been possible without the able 
leadership and vision of Dolores Huerta. When farm workers marched, 
Dolores led the way. When farm workers struck for better wages and 
working conditions, Dolores was at the front of the line. In all of the 
great boycotts for better jobs for farm workers and their families, it 
was Dolores who pulled it all together.
  Farm workers are her family. And all of us in public life soon 
learned that if something was wrong with her brother and sisters in the 
field, Dolores would be knocking on doors to set things right. Her 
activism was ignited when as a teacher, many of her students came to 
school suffering from hunger and without adequate clothing. Frustrated 
by the plight of these children, Dolores decided that she could best 
serve her community by working as a grass roots advocate and refocused 
her life to the economic empowerment of the parents of her students--
the farm workers.
  In 1955, she founded the Stockton, California chapter of the 
Community Service Organization. There, she began to develop her 
leadership skills through the organization's advocacy work to end 
segregation and police brutality, promoting voter registration, and 
improving public services for the disenfranchised.
  The plight of migrant farm workers always remained a central part of 
her public service. She soon met her kindred spirit in the cause for 
farm worker rights, Cesar Chavez. Dolores and Cesar embarked on a new 
path to bring the plight of farm workers in our national consciousness. 
In 1962, they founded the National Farm Workers Association, the 
predecessor to the United Farm Workers. Never before did farm workers 
have a voice in the political process. Under her leadership as 
Political Director, farm workers began to understand that they could 
achieve social justice by organizing strikes, boycotts, and voter 
registration drives. Through Dolores' leadership, once invisible farm 
workers were now given a human face and became an integral part of the 
struggle to gain civil rights and equal justice for people of all 
colors and economic backgrounds.
  Dolores will always hold a special place in the hearts of the Kennedy 
family. Dolores and Cesar Chavez developed a special relationship with 
my brother Bobby for John F. Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign. 
Together, they established the ``Viva Kennedy'' voter registration 
drive for Hispanic voters in California. That effort was revived in 
1968 for Bobby's presidential campaign. l will always remember how her 
dedication and hard work were instrumental to my brother's California 
primary victory. Dolores made it possible for Bobby to reach out to 
Mexican-Americans and convey the message of a common vision for equal 
justice. She encouraged those who believed that they were 
disenfranchised to come to the polls for the first time to join in the 
fight for civil rights and human dignity. My family will always 
remember and respect Dolores for her strong and skillful efforts as 
well as her commitment to the great goals that we share.
  1973 was yet another turning point for the farm worker movement. When 
grape growers decided to discontinue the collective bargaining 
agreements with the United Farm Workers, Dolores organized a national 
boycott and public education campaign to inform consumers of the poor 
working conditions and unfair wages that farm workers endured from the 
agricultural industry. The striking farm workers were subjected to 
severe harassment and violence. Many of them lost their lives in the 
struggle. But they would not give up until justice was won. In the end, 
the California legislature enacted the Agricultural Labor Relations 
Act. For the first time, farm workers were granted the right to 
collectively organize and bargain for better wages and working 
conditions.
  Cesar Chavez passed on seven years ago, but the struggle of the farm 
workers continues. At a time in which most people settle into the 
slower pace of their golden years, Dolores keeps on fighting the 
battles that have not yet been won. I am delighted to hear that she 
will still be on the ramparts and in the trenches for workers in need 
of her help. Dolores continues to do all she can to empower future 
generations of Americans to carry the torch that she let so brightly 
shine over these challenging years. She will also continue her efforts 
to increase Latino voter participation and develop strong leadership 
opportunities for Hispanic women around the country, and advocate for 
the rights of immigrants and working people, speak on behalf of working 
people across America.
  Millions of Americans enjoy a higher quality of life because of her 
skillful efforts. No one has fought harder for civil rights of people 
of color, for worker's rights, for environmental rights, for women's 
and children's rights, for quality education and health care, and for 
economic empowerment for the poor. The Kennedy family is proud to 
consider Dolores a friend.
  Dolores Huerta is a living legend and a true American hero. Her 
vision, compassion, and tireless commitment to all Americans is never 
ending. Nothing we can say or do can truly repay her for all she has 
done to make our country the strong and more just nation that it is 
today. From all of us who love and respect her, we say, ``Job well 
done!''

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