[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 9, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E471]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DOLORES HUERTA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 9, 2002

  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, today we rise to recognize the achievements 
of Dolores Huerta, co-founder and first Vice President Emeritus of the 
United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO (UFW). Dolores Huerta continues 
to be a leader in the labor movement and works tirelessly to achieve 
social change.
  In 1955, she was a founding member of the Stockton, CA chapter of the 
Community Service Organization (``CSO''), a grass roots civil rights 
organization. Recognizing the needs of farm workers at this time, Ms. 
Huerta organized and founded the Agricultural Workers Association in 
1960.
  It was through her work with the CSO that Ms. Huerta met Cesar 
Chavez. Recognizing the need to organize farm workers, they formed the 
National Farm Workers Association (``NFWA''), the predecessor to the 
UFW.
  Together, Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez founded the Robert F. 
Kennedy Medical Plan, the Juan De La Cruz Farm Worker Pension Fund, the 
Farm Workers Credit Union, the first medical and pension plan and 
credit union for farm workers. They also formed the National Farm 
Workers Service Center, Inc., a community based affordable housing and 
Spanish language radio communications organization with five Spanish 
radio stations.
  Dolores Huerta also continued to lobby, and in 1963 was instrumental 
in securing Aid for Dependent Families and disability insurance for 
farm workers in California.
  In 1966, over 5,000 grape workers walked off their jobs in what is 
now known as the famous ``Delano Grape Strike,'' and The United Farm 
Workers Organizing Committee (``UFWOC'') was formed. That same year, 
Ms. Huerta negotiated the first UFWOC contract, marking the first time 
in U.S. history that a negotiating committee comprised of farm workers 
negotiated a collective bargaining agreement with an agricultural 
corporation.
  In 1975 she lobbied against federal guest worker programs and 
spearheaded legislation granting amnesty for farm workers that had 
lived, worked, and paid taxes in the U.S. for many years, but were 
unable to enjoy the privileges of citizenship. These efforts eventually 
resulted in the Immigration Act of 1985.
  Dolores Huerta has worked to better the lives of migrant workers 
using non-violence. ``I think we showed the world that nonviolence can 
work to make social change,'' said Ms. Huerta.
  We wish to thank Dolores Huerta for her tireless efforts to achieve 
justice and dignity for migrant farm workers. ``Si se puede!''

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