[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 17, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H8378-H8379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Renzi). Under the Speaker's announced
policy of January 7, 2003, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller) is
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the majority in the Congress, I
take the well this evening to, of course, celebrate Hispanic Heritage
Month, to celebrate the independence day for our Central American
allies. It is my privilege to be before the House of Representatives
today to discuss these important events.
Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 through October 15. It is a
month-long national celebration in recognition of the countless
contributions and sacrifices that our Nation's largest minority
community has bestowed upon our country over the last 4 centuries. This
week we not only recognize Central American independence from Spain,
but we also celebrate the common bond of democracy our countries share
that allows us all to be here today.
Es gran mes de celebracion porque elogiamos la independencia de cinco
paises centro: El Salvador; Costa Rica; Honduras; Guatemala; y
Nicaragua. Nuestros amigos y companeros.
As with every July 4th, when we celebrate our Nation's independence
from Great Britain, it is fitting to note that while the five Central
American nations declared their independence from the Spanish crown on
September 15, 1821, the quest for independence actually began 11 years
earlier on that exact date when the then Viceroyalty of New Spain,
today Mexico, declared her independence from la Madre Patria, the
Mother-Fatherland, as Latinos sometimes affectionately refer to Spain.
When independence finally came to Spain's largest American colony in
1821, its vast territory stretched all the way south to the present
Costa Rican-Panamanian border and continued northward to the present
day California-Oregon border and included the American Southwest.
In addition, the future of the Philippines, Guam, as well as the
other Spanish island possessions in the Pacific, which were
administered directly from Mexico City before the end of Spanish
sovereignty on the American mainland, would also be directly affected
by the independence movement that began on this date, September 15 in
1810.
In the years that followed Mexico's independence, which was
officially celebrated on the 16th of September, and not on Cinco de
Mayo, like some believe, five of the six Central American provinces
would also come together in 1823 to form the United Provinces of
Central America. Subsequently, Mexico's northern provinces of Alta
California, Nuevo Mexico, and Tejas y Coahuila would later come under
the Stars and Stripes as a result of the Mexican-American War. Out of
these three immense territories, the present-day borders of 10 American
States would later be carved out. Hence, there are 10 stars out of the
50 on our national flag, one out of five on our national flag that has
a direct tie to this specific date, September 15, the independence day
of the former provinces of New Spain. Somos todos hermanos y hermanas.
It is clear that our Nations share many common bonds and values. It
is also evident that we stand together, committed to freedom and
democracy, proud that all five nations have freely elected governments
committed to democracy and the rule of law. There is no better system
than democracy, and we in the Republican Congress stand ready to work
with the freely elected leaders of our Central American allies to
strengthen democracy throughout the Western Hemisphere.
All five nations in Central America are well led by able leaders who
again are freely elected. The Republic of El Salvador is President
Flores and is represented well here in Washington by His Excellency
Ambassador Leon. Republic Costa Rica is well led by a freely elected
President, His Excellency President Pacheco and is well served and well
represented here in Washington by His Excellency Ambassador Daremblum.
The Republic of Honduras is ably led by a freely elected President, His
Excellency President Maduro
[[Page H8379]]
and is well represented here in Washington by Ambassador Canahuat.
The Republic of Guatemala is ably served and well led by a freely
elected and democratically elected President, His Excellency President
Partillo and well represented here in Washington, Guatemala is, by
Ambassador Arenalas. And last, and of course equally important, is the
Republic Nicaragua, a country that is well led by a freely elected and
democratically elected President, His Excellency President Balanos and
is well represented here in Washington by Ambassador Marias.
Again, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, all
led by freely elected, democratically elected presidents and well
represented here in Washington by their diplomatic corps; but they
share our values. They share our values and support for democracy.
Last, recognizing that we have a great opportunity, an opportunity to
integrate the economies of the five nations of Central America and the
United States with the Central American Free Trade Agreement. It is a
great opportunity for all of our nations.
Central America represents the United States' largest export market.
There are 34 million people who live in Central America, with a
combined gross domestic product of almost 57 billion U.S. dollars. The
United States exports to Central America total over $9 billion, which
includes such product items as machinery, high-tech goods, motor
vehicles, chemicals, energy, food, agricultural products, textiles,
apparel, paper, and fertilizer. In fact, it is important to note that
the five Central American nations today represent more trade for the
United States' trading partners than the trade we currently have with
the nations of India, Russia, and Australia combined. Clearly, our
allies are a key part of our economy and important trading partners.
U.S. services exports to Central America today total over $2 billion
and include such top services such as aviation, telecom, tourism,
banking and financial services. Such exports to the region have grown
by 42 percent since 1996. Think about that. Service exports to Central
America have grown by 42 percent in 7 years. Every dollar today that we
as Americans spend on a good produced in Central America has yielded
$1.36 in demand for American goods from and purchases by our Central
American allies and friends.
The Central American Free Trade Agreement offers tremendous
opportunity for American workers and businesses, but it also stands to
offer a model for a regional trade agreement and will be a key building
block for the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas. We must align
ourselves with our Latin American friends to compete in today's global
economy.
Es claro que tenemos gran oportunidad para todos los paises en Centro
America y los Estados Unidos para integrar mas nuestras economias con
el Acuerdo de Libre Cambio Americano Centro. Esta semana sus
negociadores y nuestros negociadores tienen un reunion en Managua,
Nicaragua, para clarificar este acuerdo y para terminarlo para la
ratificacion temprano en dos mil cuatro por el Congreso de los Estados
Unidos.
Our nations have much to gain by reducing barriers between our
economies. We agree that free trade will create jobs and new
opportunities for the citizens of all our nations. We agree that CAFTA,
the Central American Free Trade Agreement, must be mutually beneficial
and fair to all six nations, ours as well as theirs. We in the Western
Hemisphere can and must work together to compete in the global economy.
Again, my colleagues and I extend our congratulations to our Central
American neighbors on their independence day and recognize our Hispanic
and Latino citizens during this month-long celebration of Hispanic
Heritage Month. We stand with you in solidarity for freedom; we stand
with you in solidarity for democracy; we stand with you in solidarity
for trade.
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