[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 150 (Monday, September 22, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H8522-H8524]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AZOREAN REFUGEE ACT OF 1958

  Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1438) commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 
Azorean Refugee Act of 1958 and celebrating the extensive contributions 
of Portuguese-American communities to the United States.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1438

       Whereas from September 27, 1957, until October 24, 1958, a 
     series of violent eruptions and earthquakes that amounted to 
     a natural calamity destroyed the economic infrastructure in 
     Faial Island, Portugal, and impacted all of the 9 islands in 
     the Azores archipelago;
       Whereas most of Faial Island's 25,000 people lost their 
     livelihoods in the midst of fumes, smoke, lava, and constant 
     earthquakes, and had no choice but to escape to other islands 
     in the Azores;
       Whereas the United States offered a helping hand to the 
     distressed people of the Azores by introducing and passing 
     the Azorean Refugee Act, spearheaded by Senators John Pastore 
     of Rhode Island and John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts, which 
     became Public Law 85-892;
       Whereas the Azorean Refugee Act made 1,500 special nonquota 
     immigrant visas available to the destitute victims of the 
     Capelinhos Volcano in the Azores, and was extended until 1962 
     to allow the entry of an even greater number of refugees;
       Whereas the eruption of the Capelinhos Volcano led to a 
     wave of Portuguese immigration that brought more than 175,000 
     Azoreans to the United States between 1960 and 1980;
       Whereas according to the United States Census from the year 
     2000, there were 1,176,615 Portuguese-Americans in the United 
     States, and the vast majority of these were of Azorean 
     descent;
       Whereas major communities of Portuguese-Americans of 
     Azorean descent can be found in southeastern New England; the 
     areas around San Francisco, San Diego, and the San Joaquin 
     Valley, California; Hawaii; and the New Jersey/New York 
     metropolitan area;
       Whereas these recent immigrants have built on the work 
     initiated by earlier arrivals, and through their remarkable 
     work

[[Page H8523]]

     ethic have, among other activities, distinguished themselves 
     in farming and fishing;
       Whereas by the 1970s, roughly half of all dairy farms in 
     the San Joaquin Valley were owned and operated by Portuguese-
     Americans and contributed to making California the number one 
     dairy producing State in the Nation;
       Whereas the Portuguese of the American east coast have 
     dominated the fishing industry, and contributed to making New 
     Bedford, Massachusetts, one of our Nation's greatest 
     seaports;
       Whereas Portuguese immigrants and their descendants have 
     contributed substantially to American workforce, leadership, 
     and culture, and produced successful physicians, lawyers, and 
     university professors;
       Whereas in the public sector, Portuguese-Americans have 
     become legislators at the local, State, and Federal level, 
     State attorney generals, justices, judges, and successful 
     lawyers, and are members of school committees and boards, as 
     well as city councils;
       Whereas as the governor of California, Ronald Reagan 
     proclaimed the 2nd week of March as Portuguese Immigrant Week 
     in 1969; and
       Whereas President John F. Kennedy recognized that 
     immigrants coming from the Azores had made excellent 
     contributions to our Nation as citizens: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Azorean 
     Refugee Act of 1958;
       (2) celebrates the Azorean Refugee Act of 1958 as worthy 
     and admirable legislation that represented America at its 
     finest, reaching out to people in need; and
       (3) recognizes the momentous contributions of Portuguese 
     immigrants and their descendants to the United States, who 
     have so greatly enriched our Nation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Ms. Sutton) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Ohio.


                             General Leave

  Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which 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 
gentlewoman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. SUTTON. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 1438 is sponsored by our colleagues from 
California, Representatives Nunes and Costa.
  H. Res. 1438 commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Azorean Refugee 
Act of 1958, and celebrates the extensive contributions of Portuguese-
American communities to the United States.
  From September 27, 1957, until October 24, 1958, a series of violent 
disruptions and earthquakes destroyed the infrastructure of Faial 
Island, in Portgual's Azores archipelago, and impacted the other eight 
islands in the Azores as well.
  The majority of the Faial Island's 25,000 people lost their 
livelihoods in the midst of fumes, smoke, lava and constant 
earthquakes, and had no choice but to escape to other islands in the 
Azores.
  The United States, as we so often have in crises of these magnitudes, 
offered a helping hand to the distressed people of the region through 
the Azorean Refugee Act. This was spearheaded by Senators John Pastore 
of Rhode Island and John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts.
  The Azorean Refugee Act made 1,500 special non-quota immigrant visas 
available to the destitute victims of the Capelinhos Volcano in the 
Azores. It was later extended to allow entry of an even greater number 
of refugees.
  As a result, more than 175,000 Azoreans came to the United States 
between 1960 and 1980. The 2000 census placed the total number of 
Portuguese Americans at 1,176,615. The vast majority of these are of 
Azorean descent.
  The communities founded by those immigrants can be found in 
southeastern New England, the areas around San Francisco, San Diego, 
and San Joaquin Valley, California, Hawaii, and the New Jersey/New York 
metropolitan area.
  In a very short period of time, these immigrants have built on the 
accomplishments of earlier arrivals. Through their remarkable work 
ethic, they have distinguished themselves in innumerable fields of 
endeavor, especially in farming and fishing. By the 1970s, roughly half 
of all of the dairy farms in the San Joaquin Valley were owned and 
operated by Portuguese Americans, helping to make California the number 
one dairy-producing State in the Nation.

                              {time}  1445

  On the East Coast, Portuguese-Americans have played a prominent role 
in the fishing industry, and contributed to making New Bedford, 
Massachusetts one of our Nation's greatest seaports.
  Portuguese immigrants and their descendants have contributed 
substantially to this Nation. They are leaders in business, culture and 
many other professions. They are found in every level of government and 
in our military, proudly serve the Nation that offered them a helping 
hand when they needed it most.
  This Nation has been repaid many times over during the last half 
century by these immigrants from the Azores and their descendents. 
Their success story is a demonstration of just what makes our country 
so great and so strong. By welcoming people with talent and initiative 
from around the world, we have become a better nation. The Azoreans are 
a prime example of just how important this has been to the United 
States over the generations.
  I am pleased to stand with my colleagues to mark the 50th anniversary 
of the Azorean Refugee Act of 1958. It is fitting that we honor this 
group of Americans and recall how well they have repaid our generosity 
and our openness. It is a lesson for our generation and for future 
generations.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time to myself as I may consume.
  I support this resolution. H. Res. 1438, Mr. Speaker, commemorates 
the 50th anniversary of the Azorean Refugee Act of 1958, and celebrates 
the contributions that Portuguese-Americans have made to the United 
States.
  In the late 1950s a series of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes 
devastated the Portuguese Azorean islands. In an important humanitarian 
gesture, the United States absorbed thousands of Azorean refugees 
following the enactment of the Azorean Refugee Act of 1958.
  Since that time, hundreds of thousands of Azoreans and other 
Portuguese have migrated to the United States. They have made important 
contributions to many aspects of American society and the American 
economy. They are most well-known for their contributions to America's 
fishing and dairy industries.
  President Jaime Gama of the Portuguese Parliament, the Assembly of 
the Republic, is currently heading a delegation visiting Washington. 
This is a perfect opportunity for us to pass H. Res. 1438 to 
commemorate the Azorean Refugee Act, and to acknowledge the continuing 
friendship between the American and the Portuguese people.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, at this time it is my honor to yield 5 
minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Costa).
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, today it is my honor to rise in strong 
support of House Resolution 1438, which commemorates, as noted by the 
two previous speakers, the 50th anniversary of the Azorean Refugee Act 
of 1958.
  This resolution is sponsored by the Portuguese Caucus, my colleagues 
and good friend Congressman Devin Nunes and Congressman Dennis Cardoza. 
We've worked on this together, not only to take note of this 
significant anniversary, but also to coordinate with our guests, the 
President of the Portuguese Parliament and three members of the House 
of Deputies.
  It was September 27, 1957, when the island of Faial experienced a 
series of volcanic eruptions that lasted for over a year and shattered 
the economic infrastructure of that island, and had impacts throughout 
the Archipelago.
  During that time, two great United States Senators, John Pastore of 
Rhode Island, who represented a large Portuguese constituency, and 
Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts, later to become the 35th 
President of the United States, offered to help those who were 
suffering as a result of this natural event that devastated the 
islands. They did so by drafting and passing the law of Azorean Refugee 
Act of 1958.

[[Page H8524]]

  It made available special non-quota immigrant visas available to the 
victims of the earthquakes and volcanoes, and it was extended until 
1963, that allowed even more refugees to come to the United States.
  Between 1960 and 1980, over 175,000 Azoreans have come to establish 
and develop their roots in the United States and, at the same time, 
maintain their family relationships to their friends and their members 
of their families in the Azores and in Portugal. In fact, the 2000 U.S. 
Census showed that there were almost 2 million Portuguese-Americans in 
the United States, many of them of Azorean descent.
  Mr. Speaker, these Portuguese immigrants have contributed greatly to 
the fabric of our Nation, not only in the Northeast and New England, 
but in California as well. As has been noted, they have participated in 
all walks of life. In my district and Mr. Cardoza and Mr. Nunes' the 
Portuguese-Americans have been dominant in the San Joaquin Valley, not 
just in the dairy industry, but yes, they've also become teachers and 
doctors and judges and yes, even Members of Congress.
  The Portuguese culture is thriving in the San Joaquin Valley, and 
there are many festas throughout the year, family reunions, the 
exchanges of those traditions and the ties that bind us quite well.
  It's important to note that we have, as I mentioned a moment ago, a 
visiting delegation. Up in the gallery we have the President of the 
Assembly of the Republic of Portugal, President Jaime Gama. With him 
are the former Speaker, Joao Moto Amaral, next to him is a member of 
the House of Deputies, Antonio Filipe, as well as Ricardo Rodrigues. 
And we're very appreciative that they be could be here to witness this 
50th anniversary and this acknowledgment, because we need to understand 
that it's more than just like immigrants before and immigrants since. 
We have had a solid relationship with Portugal with the largest Air 
Force base, military strategic diplomatic involvement as it relates to 
just not Europe but the Middle East and Africa, all very vital to 
America's interests.
  Again, we want to recognize all those Portuguese-Americans for their 
contributions to our Nation, the Azoreans who came to America under 
this Azorean Refugee Act. We want to thank our Portuguese Caucus, 
Congressman Nunes, Cardoza, Congressman Frank, Congressman Kennedy and 
McGovern, all who are cosponsors of this resolution who represent 
significant Portuguese communities.
  We also want to thank Chairman Conyers, Ranking Member Lamar Smith 
and the leadership on both sides for moving this resolution in an 
expedited fashion through the committee process and onto the floor. We 
urge an ``aye'' vote.


                Announcement By the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is reminded that it is 
improper to refer to guests in the gallery.
  Ms. SUTTON. May I inquire how many more speakers the gentleman from 
North Carolina has?
  Mr. COBLE. I have no more speakers, and I yield back, Mr. Speaker.
  Ms. SUTTON. I thank my friend from North Carolina, not only for his 
work in support of this resolution, but for all the things that we're 
able to work together on in the Judiciary Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1438 is an important bill to 
commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Azorean Refugee Act and 
celebrate the extensive contributions of Portuguese-American 
communities to our Nation.
  I commend the distinguished gentleman, Mr. Costa, for his leadership 
on this issue. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by taking us back 50 
years ago, to the islands of the Azores, in the middle of the Atlantic 
Ocean. At that time, the peaceful communities of these islands relied 
on each other to maintain their livelihood, and the mainly agrarian 
lifestyles of its peoples were sustained by this interconnectedness. 
Then, in 1957, a tragic and unexpected turn of events, brought about by 
a natural disaster, severely destabilized the lives of these proud and 
hardworking people.
  It was September 27, 1957, when the island of Faial experienced a 
series of volcanic eruptions that lasted for over a year and 
immediately shattered its economic infrastructure. In its aftermath, 
the Capelinhos volcano left behind overwhelming material, physical and 
psychological damage.
  The cohesive Portuguese communities already present in the United 
States at the time rallied behind the victims of this volcano, and 
unified into a great movement that called for special quotas to allow 
these victims into the United States. In 1958, in great part resulting 
from these efforts, Senator John Pastore from Rhode Island introduced 
S. 3942, the Azorean Refugee Act. This bill proposed the issuance of 
1,500 non-quota visas to the Faial victims, providing relief in face of 
such devastating tragedy. Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy cosponsored 
this bill, and along with Senator Pastore, became one of the leading 
proponents of this legislation. Their efforts finally materialized on 
August 18, 1958, when the Azorean Refugee Act was finally signed into 
law, becoming Public Law 85-892.
  By November of 1959, the 1,500 special quota visas allowed by the 
Azorean Refugee Act had already been issued, with more than 3,000 
persons from Faial having already immigrated to United States. With the 
rippling effects of the Capelinhos volcano still being felt in the 
Azores, the number of visas was elevated to 2,000 in 1960, and then in 
1961, a new law permitted the entrance for 2,500 additional Azorean 
refugees. In total, more then 5,000 visas were issued, effectively 
shifting the formerly restrictive immigration laws of our country.
  The Portuguese community's push to liberalize our immigration 
policies transformed this Act into one of the most important special 
laws in our history. In this sense, it was the most important 
contribution of the Portuguese-American community to the eventual 
reform of American immigration policy in 1965. As a direct result of 
the Azorean Refugee Act, the United States Government began to 
liberalize its immigration laws, and around 25,000 Portuguese citizens 
eventually immigrated to this country. This law revitalized the long 
history of Portuguese immigration to the United States, and once again, 
allowed our great Nation to benefit from the many qualities these 
people had to offer.
  The immigrants arriving from the Azores reached the shores of the 
United States as manual laborers, and without much proper education 
they relied solely on the fruits of their hard work to earn their 
living. Portuguese immigrants distinguished themselves in farming, 
fishing, and other trades, and built for this Nation a solid foundation 
of honesty and pride in their work. Subsequent generations have rested 
upon this heritage to succeed in our society, with a great many 
Portuguese-American communities producing professors, lawyers, 
physicians, judges, politicians and other leading figures of our 
society.
  Fifty years later, the admirable successes of Portuguese-American 
communities throughout California, New England, and elsewhere are a 
testament to their remarkable work ethic and integrity, which truly 
inspire us all. Their story is one of sweat, toils, and struggles 
before a new land, and in itself reflects the very spirit o$ this 
nation.
  For all of that, this resolution recognizes the great importance, of 
the Azorean Refugee Act, and the vast contributions made by these 
Azorean communities, who truly turned tragedy into triumph. Let us 
never forget that America's strength rests on the inclusion of people 
from all parts of the world and in the generosity that flows from our 
ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
  Ms. SUTTON. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Sutton) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1438.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________