[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 10, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H7438-H7440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CESAR ESTRADA CHAVEZ STUDY ACT

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 359) 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, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 359

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Cesar Estrada Chavez Study 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
     which funds are made available to carry out this Act, the 
     Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this Act as the 
     ``Secretary'') shall complete a special resource study of 
     sites in the State of Arizona, the State of California, and 
     other States that are significant to the life of Cesar E. 
     Chavez and the farm labor movement in the western United 
     States to determine--
       (1) appropriate methods for preserving and interpreting the 
     sites; and
       (2) whether any of the sites meets the criteria for listing 
     on the National Register of Historic Places or designation as 
     a national historic landmark under--
       (A) the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.); or
       (B) the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 
     et seq.).
       (b) Requirements.--In conducting the study under subsection 
     (a), the Secretary shall--
       (1) consider the criteria for the study of areas for 
     potential inclusion in the National Park System under section 
     8(b)(2) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5(b)(2)); and
       (2) consult with--
       (A) the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation;
       (B) the United Farm Workers Union; and
       (C) State and local historical associations and societies, 
     including any State historic preservation offices in the 
     State in which the site is located.
       (c) Report.--On completion of the study, the Secretary 
     shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes--
       (1) the findings of the study; and
       (2) any recommendations of the Secretary.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
     necessary to carry out this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes) and the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. 
Blackburn) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 359 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to 
conduct a special resource study of the sites associated with the life 
of Cesar Estrada Chavez and the farm labor movement.
  Representative Hilda Solis, my colleague on the Natural Resources 
Committee, has worked tirelessly for the last 6 years to move this 
important legislation forward. I am proud to join Representative Solis 
and 68 other Representatives as a cosponsor of this bill, and I want to 
thank Ms. Solis for her efforts and leadership in getting this 
important study authorized.
  In 1962, Cesar Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association, 
which later became the United Farm Workers of America, working to 
protect farm workers' rights. Chavez led the United Farm Workers for 31 
years and gained increases in wages and better working conditions for 
farm laborers. Through his work, Chavez became a national leader on 
civil rights and social justice and an inspiration to millions of 
Americans and people around the world.
  H.R. 359 directs the Secretary of the Interior to consider sites in 
Arizona, California, and other States that are significant to the life 
of Cesar Chavez and the farm labor movement in the western United 
States. The bill requires the Secretary to determine the appropriate 
methods for preserving and

[[Page H7439]]

interpreting the sites and to determine whether any of them meet the 
criteria for being listed on the National Register of Historic Places 
or possible designation as national historic landmarks. The Secretary 
has 3 years from the date on which funds are made available to submit a 
report describing the findings of the study as well as the Secretary's 
recommendations.
  The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands held a 
hearing on this bill in March of this year where we heard testimony 
from the administration in support of this bill. Later, at both a 
subcommittee markup and a full committee markup, this legislation 
advanced with bipartisan support.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 359 is a bill whose time has come. Similar 
legislation has passed the Senate once before in 2003, and I am pleased 
this bill is finally making it to the House floor. We need to move 
forward with this congressionally authorized study so that we can learn 
about and evaluate options to protect the resources associated with 
Cesar Chavez and the farm labor movement. The longer we wait, the more 
likely it is that these resources may be lost to development or the 
ravages of time. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  The majority has adequately explained the bill, Mr. Speaker, and I 
note that during the full committee consideration of this bill the 
minority was assured that this act was in no way to be construed as 
advancing any effort to establish a national holiday honoring Cesar 
Chavez. Further, the majority gave assurances that this bill was not 
going to be used to promote House Resolution 76, which urges the 
establishment of such a holiday. With this understanding, we will not 
object to the consideration of this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as she may 
consume to the sponsor of this legislation, my colleague from the 
National Resources Committee, Representative Hilda Solis.

                              {time}  1415

  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 359, the 
Cesar Chavez Study Act, and urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, you know that the National Park System units are 
important components of our Nation's historic, cultural and economic 
and recreation and social identity.
  H.R. 359 authorizes a study to determine whether sufficient historic 
resources still exist, so that the story of Cesar Chavez could be added 
to the National Park System.
  I first introduced this legislation more than 6 years ago to honor 
the important contributions he made to the environment and to help the 
National Park Service finally recognize a significant Hispanic leader. 
Since then, I have worked hard with my colleagues to bring this bill to 
the floor.
  I would like to personally thank Chairman Rahall and Chairman 
Grijalva for their support, and the staff of the committee.
  Cesar Estrada Chavez was a second-generation American. He was born in 
the United States March 31, 1927 in Yuma, Arizona, and raised during 
the Great Depression.
  The lessons he learned during his time inspired him to dedicate his 
life to improving the lives of others less fortunate even than himself.
  Chavez led by action. He was a student of Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolent 
philosophy, and believed that non-violence was one of the most powerful 
tools to achieve change, including social and economic justice and 
equality.
  In 1968 he fasted for 25 days, Mr. Speaker, one of many fasts he held 
to demonstrate a commitment to non-violence through sacrifice and 
penance. He was a deeply religious man.
  Through his work, Cesar Chavez changed the course of history for 
thousands of Latinos and Hispanics and farm workers in this country. 
Farm workers have been empowered now to fight for fair wages, health 
care coverage, pension benefits, housing improvements, pesticide and 
health regulations and countless other protections for their health and 
well-being.
  These changes have meant considerably improvements for the life of 
farm workers and their families, in fact, three fourths of which are 
Hispanic or Latino.
  During his 66 years with us, Chavez made a significant difference in 
the lives of those he touched, well beyond improvements for farm 
workers. And at an early age, I too was inspired by Cesar Chavez's work 
on behalf of farm workers and the environmental justice movement. This 
includes protecting green space in both urban and rural areas so that 
all communities can enjoy the benefits of recreation.
  Chavez strongly understood the importance of land and the value of 
the environment in connection to one's health and economic stability. 
For many Hispanics, this appreciation of the environment is cultural; 
96 percent of Hispanics believe that the environment should be an 
important priority for this country, yet there is not one single unit 
of the National Park System dedicated to Hispanics.
  And as a result of Chavez's belief exhibited through his actions, I 
was moved to introduce this legislation and believe it important that 
we preserve the history through our National Park System. It is my hope 
that one day Hispanic families all have a place in the National Park 
Service where they can appreciate, honor and learn about Cesar Chavez's 
work, his beliefs, just as we do now in celebration with African 
American families who can now visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. 
historical site and Selma-Montgomery trail.
  The significance of Chavez's life and work is widely recognized. The 
Department of Labor has honored Chavez in the Labor Hall of Fame, and 
the Bush administration, as you heard, supports this legislation. I 
won't list all the supporters, but there are more than 20 organizations 
nationally recognized who support this legislation.
  In fact, at his funeral, Cardinal Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles called 
Chavez, and I quote, ``a special prophet for the world's farm 
workers.''
  In 1994, Chavez's widow, Helen, accepted the Medal of Freedom from 
President Clinton, who lauded Chavez for facing a ``formidable, often 
violent opposition with dignity and non-violence.''
  It is my hope that through this legislation, future generations can 
understand who Cesar Chavez was, and why the work that he did was so 
important, know that they too can be courageous and work toward the 
betterment of all mankind.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Ms. Solis again on her 
persistence, and congratulate her on having this brought to the floor 
today.
  I do want to say that while Cesar Chavez certainly cast a long shadow 
in the western United States, I worked with an organization in Maryland 
that did work on the Eastern Shore of Maryland on behalf of farm 
workers, and he was a national hero to them. So congratulations again.
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for 
H.R. 359. This important legislation would require the Secretary of the 
Interior to study the potential creation of a historic landmark in 
honor of Cesar Estrada Chavez.
  I want to thank my friend, Congresswoman Hilda Solis, for sponsoring 
this bill and championing this cause which is of great significance to 
so many Americans, myself included.
  Cesar Chavez provided hope for thousands of people. Perhaps best 
known for founding and leading the United Farm Workers of America, 
Chavez used non-violent tactics that included boycotts, fasts, and 
strikes to bring attention to the dangerous working conditions in the 
field. His efforts helped to produce the first industry-wide labor 
contracts in the history of American agriculture.
  Cesar Chavez' legacy has empowered, encouraged and motivated 
countless individuals. He is a continuing example that with hard work, 
dedication and love, change can happen and oppression can be conquered. 
His famous words, ``Si se puede'' (Yes you can), still inspire us 
today.
  I cannot think of anything more American than standing up for one's 
right to justice, fairness, and equality.
  I urge my colleagues to cast a vote in recognition of Cesar Estrada 
Chavez, and to support H.R. 359.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
yield back.

[[Page H7440]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 359, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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