[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 39 (Thursday, April 11, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E499-E500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING ACHIEVEMENTS AND BIRTHDAY OF CESAR CHAVEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 11, 2002

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements and 
birthday this March 31st of the late Cesar Chavez, a true pioneer for 
workers and communities who rose to become one of our nation's--and 
world's--greatest advocates of nonviolent social change.
  Cesar Chavez is best remembered for founding and leading the first 
successful farm

[[Page E500]]

workers' union and becoming the president of the United Farm Workers of 
America. His tremendous efforts--and those who worked with him--
improved the lives of tens of thousands of workers and families, and 
inspired millions of people from all walks of life around our nation 
and world.
  Born on a small Arizona farm on March 31, 1927, Cesar Chavez began 
his life as a farm worker in the field at age 10. He served in the 
United States Navy during World War II.
  With the strength of family and the unity of fellow farm workers, 
Cesar Chavez became an organizer with the Community Service 
Organization, a civic group of Mexican-Americans, in the early 1950s. 
Soon thereafter, he moved with his wife, Helen, and eight children to 
California's Central Valley where he founded the National Farm Workers 
Association. With his young children by his side, Cesar would visit 
California farm communities to bring public light to the substandard 
working conditions and lack of sufficient pay and benefits of thousands 
of Latino migrant workers who worked long hours on farms. Chavez led 
peaceful boycotts to bring national attention to the fight for equality 
and justice for migrant farm workers. His passionate leadership brought 
together a remarkable alliance of students, unions, minorities, 
churches and others to fight for their fellow men, women, and children 
working in the agricultural sector.
  I was proud to be a member of the California State Senate in 2000 and 
vote to have the State of California recognize Cesar Chavez's birthday 
as a day to remember his good work and to re-ignite our personal and 
social passion for continually improving the conditions of workers and 
communities across our nation and world.
  So, Mr. Speaker, today I ask all Members of the United States House 
of Representatives to pause and honor a great man, Cesar Chavez, and 
the great cause he helped lead of advancing fairness, justice, and the 
improvement of the living and working conditions of our fellow human 
beings.

                          ____________________