[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 25, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN SUPPORT OF H. CON. RES. 177--HONORING DOLORES HUERTA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 24, 2002

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic 
Caucus, I would like to commend my colleague, Representative Hilda 
Solis of California, for introducing H. Con. Res. 177, honoring civil 
rights leader Dolores Huerta. And I share my colleague's frustration 
with the undue delay in bringing this resolution before the House.
  With National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrated between September 15 
and October 15, there isn't a better time to bring this resolution to 
the floor. This year's celebration would be incomplete if we do not 
recognize a historic Latina who has led the fight for equality and 
justice in the United States--Dolores Huerta.
  Dolores Huerta's contributions are no less than those that our nation 
has proudly recognized over the years. Nearly 100 other Members of 
Congress acknowledge the need to give Dolores Huerta the recognition 
she deserves and have co-sponsored H. Con. Res. 177.
  The contributions of Dolores Huerta are well known and have already 
been recognized by numerous organizations. Dolores Huerta was inducted 
into the Women's Hall of Fame in 1993 for her relentless dedication to 
farm worker issues. She has also received the American Civil Liberties 
Union Roger Baldwin Medal of Liberty Award and the Ellis Island Medal 
of Freedom Award. And in March, she was named one of six Women 
Sustaining the American Spirit honorees by the National Women's History 
Project.
  Dolores Huerta has fought for the rights of underserved laborers for 
more than 40 years. She has advocated against the use of harmful 
pesticides such as DDT and Parathyon, led a national campaign for 
environmental justice, and protected our First Amendment rights through 
peaceful protests and demonstrations.
  Dolores Huerta began as a teacher, but left the teaching profession 
because she couldn't stand to see her students--children of 
farmworkers--arrive at school hungry and without shoes. She founded the 
Stockton chapter of the Community Service Organization in 1955 to 
educate and assist farmworkers. In 1962, she joined with Cesar Chavez 
to found the National Farm Workers Association, a precursor to the 
United Farm Workers Organizing Committee. The organization has 
repeatedly fought for the rights of farmworkers, advocated against the 
use of harmful pesticides and led a national campaign for environmental 
justice.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and the rest of the leadership to bring H. 
Con. Res. 177 to the floor, so we may give Dolores Huerta the 
recognition she so richly deserves during Hispanic Heritage Month.




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