[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 128 (Thursday, September 20, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6534-S6535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS WEEK

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, this week I submitted two resolutions: 
The first recognizes September 15 through October 15 as Hispanic 
Heritage Month; the second designates the week of September 16 as 
``National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week'' and honors the

[[Page S6535]]

critical work of Hispanic-serving Institutions across the United 
States.
  These resolutions celebrate the immense contributions of Hispanic 
Americans to our great Nation and pay tribute to over 300 nonprofit 
Hispanic-serving Institutions for their important role in educating and 
empowering Hispanic youth.
  Latinos have a long and decorated history in the United States, full 
of extraordinary contributions to America's past, present, and future. 
Latinos have proudly served, helped build, and defended our country and 
have done so for hundreds of years, honorably serving in every action 
since before the founding of the Nation.
  Hispanics fought alongside patriots in the American Revolution and 
rallied in the Civil War, serving bravely in both the Union and 
Confederate armies. Latinos rode in Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders 
during the Spanish-American War, received Congressional Medals of Honor 
in both world wars, and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country in 
Korea and Vietnam. As of July 2012, over 143,000 Hispanic Americans 
were actively serving with distinction in the U.S. Armed Forces, 
including 19,752 Hispanics serving in Afghanistan.
  Just as Hispanics have defended our Nation, we have also helped shape 
and build it. That is why I also want to honor the exemplary 
institutions that are making vital investments in the next generation 
of Latino leaders.
  Hispanic-serving Institutions are colleges or universities where 
total Hispanic enrollment constitutes a minimum of 25 percent of the 
student body, and they serve over half of all Hispanic students in the 
United States. As a product of a Hispanic-serving Institution in my 
home State of New Jersey, my experience is a living testimony of the 
important role that HSIs play in providing opportunities to Hispanic 
students in States such as Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, 
Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New 
York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico.
  With these resolutions, we celebrate the contributions of all Latinos 
and the institutions that serve the Hispanic community in the United 
States. This month, let us celebrate not only Hispanic Heritage, but 
Hispanic-serving Institutions as well.
  I am pleased with the overwhelming support these important 
resolutions have from my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, 
particularly Leader Reid and Senator Cornyn. This outpouring of 
bipartisan support is a strong indication of how far our community has 
come and how important our contributions are to this country. I look 
forward to celebrating the heritage and culture of Latinos and our 
valuable contributions to this Nation.

                          ____________________