[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 109 (Thursday, July 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DOLORES HUERTA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 19, 2012

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to my dear 
friend Dolores Huerta, who recently received the Presidential Medal of 
Freedom. This coveted honor is the highest civilian award for service 
to the nation. It recognizes individuals who have made an especially 
meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the 
United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or 
private endeavors.
  Dolores is a world renowned activist and is regarded as the most 
prominent Chicana labor leader in the United States. She is currently 
the President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, whose mission is to 
build active communities in disadvantaged areas and to work towards 
fair and equal access to healthcare, housing, education, jobs, civic 
participation and economic resources with an emphasis on women and 
youth. Dolores gives a voice to the voiceless and countless Americans 
owe a debt of immense gratitude to her for making their causes her own.
  I met Dolores in 1972 when I was a member of the California State 
Legislature and she was the vice president and co-founder of the United 
Farm Workers of America. Over the last forty years, I have had the 
pleasure of working with her on many issues.
  In 1955, when she was only twenty-five years old, she found her 
calling as an organizer while serving in the leadership of the Stockton 
Community Service Organization (CSO), a grass roots organization that 
battled segregation and police brutality, led voter registration 
drives, pushed for improved public services, and fought to enact new 
legislation. Through her tireless lobbying efforts, she succeeded in 
getting the citizenship requirements removed from pension and public 
assistance programs. She was the leading force in the passage of 
legislation allowing voters to vote in Spanish, and the right to take 
the driver's license examination in their native language.
  She has been arrested twenty-two times for participating in non-
violent civil disobedience activities and strikes to protect farmers 
and women, which has resulted in great benefit to both groups. Due to 
her solid support for the grape strikes, farm workers won health and 
benefit plans for the first time, and those who had lived, worked, and 
paid taxes in the United States for many years were granted amnesty. 
Dolores fought tirelessly to provide a better working environment and 
stop the abuse of female immigrants across the U.S.-Mexican border, and 
she lobbied law enforcement agencies in both countries to stop the 
brutal rape and the murder of these immigrants.
  Dolores was given the Outstanding Labor Leader Award in 1984 by the 
California State Senate. In 1993, she was inducted into the National 
Women's Hall of Fame. That same year she received the American Civil 
Liberties Union (ACLU) Roger Baldwin Medal of Liberty Award; and the 
Eugene V. Debs Foundation Outstanding American Award, and the Ellis 
Island Medal of Freedom Award. She is also the recipient of the 
Consumers' Union Trumpeter's Award. In 1998, she was one of three Ms. 
Magazine, ``Women of the Year'', and the Ladies Home Journal's, ``100 
Most Important Women of the 20th Century.'' She received three honorary 
doctorate degrees for her extraordinary life work.
  Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, I ask you to join me in 
honoring Dolores Huerta for her outstanding contribution to our 
community. Few Americans in our history have done more to protect 
workers and safeguard women's rights than Dolores Huerta. We are a 
better country because Dolores continues to play a vital role in 
shaping our laws and values.

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