[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 18, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S6548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, each year Hispanic Heritage Month offers an 
opportunity to honor the contributions of a community that has 
contributed to our country's progress for centuries.
  In the State of Nevada the influence of Hispanic Americans is evident 
even in the name of the State, which means ``snowcapped.'' Of course, 
our most famous city--one of the most famous cities in the world--means 
``the meadows.'' It was a place that in pioneer days was an oasis in 
the desert, and that is an understatement. Water from artisan wells 
that bubbled out of the ground was the beginning of Las Vegas--the 
meadows.
  The first non-Native American who set eyes on Las Vegas Valley was a 
man named Rafael Rivera. We honor him in Nevada. In my office here and 
in my conference room I have a wonderful painting of Rafael looking 
down over Las Vegas. He looked so good, all dressed in his finery, but 
in reality he was lost. He had been with a Spanish expedition and was 
lost, but he was the first to see Las Vegas, and we recognize that. The 
picture is terrific. We see him looking down at a place where there was 
nothing other than the meadows, but now there are 2.5 million people 
there.
  In Nevada and across the Nation we see the contributions of Hispanic 
Americans in every facet of our society--on the battlefield, in the 
boardroom, in the courtroom and the classroom, at art galleries, and on 
the playing field. Hispanic Americans have also played an important 
role in this Nation's Armed Forces, serving in every conflict since the 
Revolutionary War. More than 2.3 million Hispanic-owned businesses 
employ millions of Americans, providing critical goods and services and 
helping to drive our economy.
  Nationwide, Latinos are expected to make up about 60 percent of the 
population growth in the decades to come. To ensure our country 
thrives, we must ensure this Hispanic population thrives as well. 
Hispanic Heritage Month should be one to celebrate but also one to 
reflect on what we can do to help Hispanic families thrive.
  This year affords a special moment for reflection as our Nation 
commemorates 50 years since the historic march on Washington for Jobs 
and Freedom. The struggle for equality, justice, and freedom is 
ongoing, but through engagement Hispanic Americans and all Americans 
can make heard in Washington their support for quality education, 
quality health care, a living wage, and the right to vote without 
intimidation or discrimination.
  Congress heard their calls for quality affordable health insurance. 
That is why we passed, among other reasons, the Affordable Care Act, 
known as ObamaCare, which was a huge step forward for Hispanic families 
and Nevadans across the country. In Nevada alone, more than 160,000 
Latinos and more than 10 million nationwide who currently lack health 
insurance will be eligible for coverage through the new marketplaces 
that are going to start October 1.
  Congress heard the calls for opportunity during tough economic times. 
Democrats made small business loans possible for 11,000 Hispanic-owned 
businesses. We have significantly cut predatory and discriminatory 
lending practices that disproportionately affected Hispanic 
communities. Last year Congress cut taxes for 98 percent of American 
families, including every middle-class family.
  Congress also heard the calls for fair, practical immigration reform, 
and this year the Senate passed a bipartisan immigration bill that will 
reform America's illegal immigration system and reduce the deficit by 
$1 trillion. This measure will also help 11 million people--people who 
are tired of looking over their shoulders and fearing deportation--to 
get right with the law and start down an earned pathway to citizenship. 
The Senate, though, is still waiting, as we have been waiting for lots 
of things, for the Republicans in the House to allow a vote on the 
Senate's bipartisan compromise. What better way to celebrate this 
important month than by passing a bill that will allow millions of 
families to stay together and reach their full potential?
  I look forward to Hispanic Heritage Month as an opportunity to 
reaffirm my commitment to supporting the 52 million Latinos in America 
through our work in the Senate. To me, Hispanic Heritage Month is about 
recognizing the incredible contributions of Hispanic Americans to our 
Nation, but it is also about building a brighter future for Hispanic 
Americans in our Nation.

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