[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 75 (Wednesday, June 8, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6240-S6241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL HISPANIC MEDIA WEEK

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 163, which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 163) designating June 5 through June 
     11, 2005, as ``National Hispanic Media Week,'' in honor of 
     the Hispanic Media of America.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I support this important resolution 
designating June 5 through June 11 as National Hispanic Media Week.
  For nearly four centuries, Hispanic publishers, writers, and editors 
have made immeasurable contributions towards our national commitment to 
promote free speech and the free exchange of ideas. This group of hard 
working Americans has dedicated themselves to better informing our 
communities on the great political, economic, and social issues of the 
day. Hispanic publications serve a population of over 20 million people 
meaning that one in every eight Americans receives at least part of 
their news from a Hispanic media outlet
  The designation of a week to honor the Hispanic media of America will 
help affirm the importance of freedom of speech, civic engagement, and 
further development of the Hispanic media. This recognition of the 
Hispanic media will serve as a reminder of the valuable contributions 
made by Hispanic publishers, journalists and editors.
  This resolution is important across the country, but I can personally 
speak to its importance in my home State of New Mexico. Forty-two 
percent of New Mexico's population is Hispanic. I know that many of 
those individuals rely on Hispanic media for news and entertainment. 
They tap into such New Mexico outlets as El Hispano newspaper, radio 
stations like KDCE in Espanola and KLVO in Albuquerque, Spanish-
language television stations

[[Page S6241]]

like KLUZ, and magazines like La Herencia. I am proud to be apart of 
honoring a group that is so important to so many people in my home 
State.
  This resolution calls on the American people to join with all 
children, families, organizations, communities, churches, cities, and 
States across the Nation to observe the week with appropriate 
ceremonies and activities.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to join us in promptly passing this 
resolution designating June 5 through June 11 as National Hispanic 
Media Week.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to add my name as a 
cosponsor of this resolution to recognize Hispanic Media Week. The 
resolution provides an opportunity to recognize the vital contribution 
the Hispanic media makes not only to the Hispanic community but to the 
Nation at large.
  As the Hispanic community grows in numbers, business influence, and 
political power an integral part of their success has been the Hispanic 
media. Currently there are almost 600 Hispanic publishers in the United 
States with a combined readership of over 30 million. These 
publications represent Spanish, bilingual, and English daily, weekly, 
and periodic newspapers and magazines. Many of these publishers have 
persevered through years and even decades of low circulation numbers 
and industrywide skepticism to emerge today as a dynamic and growing 
segment of the publishing industry.
  The number of Hispanic publishers continues to grow larger and play 
an important role in getting vital information to this important 
segment of the population. In disseminating vital information to the 
Hispanic community, Hispanic publishers have performed a service not 
only to their own communities but to each and every community that 
strives towards a free and open exchange of ideas in the embodiment of 
the American dream.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 163) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 163

       Whereas for almost 470 years the United States has 
     benefitted from the work of Hispanic writers and publishers;
       Whereas over 600 Hispanic publications circulate over 
     20,000,000 copies every week in the United States;
       Whereas 1 in 8 Americans is served by a Hispanic 
     publication;
       Whereas the Hispanic press informs many Americans about 
     great political, economic, and social issues of our day;
       Whereas the Hispanic press in the United States focuses in 
     particular on informing and promoting the well being of our 
     country's Hispanic community; and
       Whereas commemorating the achievements of the Hispanic 
     press acknowledges the important role the Hispanic press has 
     played in United States history: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 5 through June 11, 2005, as ``National 
     Hispanic Media Week'', in honor of the Hispanic Media of 
     America; and
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     the week with appropriate programs and activities.

                          ____________________