[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 31, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E496]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE 77TH ANNIVERSARY OF CESAR CHAVEZ'S BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, March 31, 2004---

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as we honor Cesar Chavez on 
the anniversary of his 77th birthday, and ask the Members of the House 
to join us in paying respects to a man who brought awareness of labor 
injustices to national light. His efforts made a path for all those who 
came after him, so that they would be able to continue his fight for 
justice.
  Cesar Chavez grew up in the fruit and vegetable fields, working the 
land with his own hands from dawn to dusk. He knew the injustices that 
faced labor workers on a daily basis, and understood the need for 
change.
  From those fields, Chavez rose to be the head of the United Farm 
Workers of America (UFW) instilling in the UFW the principles of non-
violence practiced by Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  When the UFW began striking in the 1960's, to protest the treatment 
of farm workers, the strikers took a pledge of non-violence, determined 
not to detract from the message of improved labor conditions.
  For those of us who lived through this tumultuous time period, we 
heard of the great odds Chavez faced as he led a successful five-year 
strike-boycott. Through this boycott, Chavez was able to forge a 
national support coalition of unions, church groups, students, 
minorities, and consumers.
  By the end of the boycott everyone knew the famous inspirational 
chant ``Si se puede!'' -- `Yes we can'. The chant unified diverse 
groups by encouraging them to become active participants, by taking 
pride in with what is just and fair while all along preserving the 
dignity of their efforts.
  Chavez also spoke out in other areas and helped communities to 
mobilize by assisting them with voter registration drives and insisting 
that minority communities had just as much a right to have equitable 
access to educational opportunities.
  To this day Chavez's legacy lives on. His influence can be seen in 
the legislation that comes to this very floor. Legislation that aims to 
provide for our children's education, improve healthcare in our 
community, and ensure our civil rights and liberties are respected.
  We must also continue the fight to ensure that in today's world, the 
rights of workers are still protected. Whether it's working in the 
fields, in the kitchens, or in our factories, the blue-collar worker is 
an invaluable resource to America and to the American economy.
  It is important that these workers be treated with the respect and 
dignity that they deserve and that all the rights afforded to those 
working in air conditioned offices is also extended to those working in 
the sun heated fields and the like.
  America has seen few leaders like Chavez. He is in a rare group of 
people who made their life mission count. His life and his deeds have 
left a lasting imprint on American history.
  We can only hope to continue to fulfill his vision as we walk through 
the halls of Congress to create a better tomorrow for the Hispanic 
community and all Americans.

                          ____________________