[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 33 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S3055]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN (for himself and Mr. Salazar):
  S. 670. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
a special resource study of sites associated with the life of Cesar 
Estrada Chavez and the farm labor movement; to the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined today by Senator 
Salazar in introducing the Cesar Estrada Chavez Study Act. This 
legislation would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 
special resource study of sites associated with the life of Cesar 
Chavez. Mr. Chavez's legacy is an inspiration to us all and he will be 
remembered for helping Americans to transcend distinctions of 
experience and share equally in the rights and responsibilities of 
freedom. It is important that we honor his struggle and do what we can 
to preserve appropriate sites that are significant to his life.
  Cesar Chavez, an Arizonan born in Yuma, was the son of migrant farm 
workers. While his formal education ended in the eighth grade, his 
insatiable intellectual curiosity and determination helped make him 
known as one of the great American leaders for his successes in 
organizing migrant farm workers. His efforts on behalf of some of the 
most oppressed individuals in our society is an inspiration and through 
his work he made America a bigger and a better nation.
  While Chavez and his family migrated across the southwest looking for 
farm work, he evolved into a defender of worker's rights. He founded 
the National Farm Workers Association in 1962, which later became the 
United Farm Workers of America. He gave a voice to those who had no 
voice. In his words, ``We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and 
forget about progress and prosperity for our community . . . our 
ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of 
others, for their sakes and for our own.''
  This legislation, which passed the Senate unanimously during the last 
Congress, has received an overwhelming positive response, not only from 
my fellow Arizonans, but from Americans all across the Nation. The bill 
would direct the Secretary of the Interior to determine whether any of 
the sites significant to Chavez's life meet the criteria for being 
listed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks. The goal of this 
legislation is to establish a foundation for future legislation that 
would then designate land for the appropriate sites to become historic 
landmarks.
  Cesar Chavez was a humble man of deep conviction who understood what 
it meant to serve and sacrifice for others. His motto in life, ``si se 
puede'' or it can be done, epitomizes his life's work and continues to 
influence those wishing to improve our Nation. Honoring the places of 
his life will enable his legacy to inspire and serve as an example for 
our future leaders.
  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about an exemplary 
American and passionate champion of human and civil rights, Cesar 
Estrada Chavez, and to introduce legislation that takes an important 
first step in memorializing his tremendous contributions to our 
country.
  Together with Senator John McCain, I will introduce the Cesar Estrada 
Chavez Study Act. This bill will direct the Secretary of the Interior 
to conduct a study of sites associated with the life of Cesar Chavez 
and will lay the necessary groundwork for the preservation of these 
sites as national historic landmarks. In the 108th Congress, Senator 
McCain and Representative Hilda Solis sponsored similar legislation in 
the House of Representatives, and I am pleased to join their efforts.
  Like many great American heroes, Cesar Chavez came from humble roots, 
but his strength of character led him to achieve great things. Chavez 
was born on March 31, 1927 in Yuma, AZ, where he spent his early years 
on his family's farm. At age 10, his family lost their farm in a bank 
foreclosure, forcing them to join the thousands of farm workers that 
wandered the Southwest to find work. They worked in fields and 
vineyards, harvesting the fresh fruits and vegetables that people 
throughout the world enjoyed unaware of the daily hardships endured by 
farm workers.
  Cesar Chavez experienced these hardships and witnessed first hand the 
injustices in farm worker life. He became determined to bring dignity 
to farm workers and in 1962, he founded the National Farmworkers 
Association, which would later become the United Farmworkers of America 
(UFW). Through the UFW, Chavez called attention to the terrible working 
and living conditions of America's farm workers. Most importantly, he 
organized thousands of migrant farm workers to fight for fair wages, 
health care coverage, pension benefits, livable housing, and respect.
  Like Cesar Chavez, I am the son of farmers. Everyday, I am reminded 
of my family's tradition of working the land by the sign on my desk 
that reads ``No Farms, No Food.'' And without farm workers, who would 
harvest the fruits and vegetables we all enjoy? Cesar Chavez understood 
this--he championed the rights of these forgotten Americans and helped 
shine a light of their plight. He once remarked, ``It is my deepest 
belief that only by giving our lives do we find life.'' He gave his 
life to ensure farm workers, and all workers, were afforded the rights 
and dignity they deserved.
  For these reasons and many more, I proudly join my colleague from 
Arizona in introducing significant legislation that will honor Cesar 
Chavez. It is my hope that Congress can work together to quickly pass 
this important bill that honor the places of Chavez' life and allow his 
legacy to inspire and serve as an example for our future leaders.
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