[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 92 (Wednesday, June 10, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF DIA DE PORTUGAL

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                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 10, 2015

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues Mr. Valadao 
of California, Mr. Cicilline of Rhode Island, Mr. Nunes of California, 
Mr. Langevin of Rhode Island, Mr. McGovern of Massachusetts, Mr. 
Keating of Massachusetts, and Mr. Honda of California to recognize Dia 
de Portugal and to champion the strong bond between the United States 
and Portugal. Celebrated on June 10 each year, Dia de Portugal 
recognizes Portugal's beautiful heritage and culture.
  Dia de Portugal honors the death of the revered Portuguese poet Luis 
Vaz de Camoes in 1580. Camoes is famously known for Os Lusiadas, one of 
Portugal's most treasured literary works. The poem pays tribute to 
Portugal's golden age of exploration and celebrates the many monumental 
discoveries made by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century.
  Vibrant Portuguese American communities can be seen across our nation 
from Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island, to California and 
Hawaii. These communities are filled with over 1.3 million Americans of 
Portuguese descent who have been making positive contributions to our 
society for generations. We are a nation of immigrants, and 
celebrations like Dia de Portugal remind us all that it is important to 
remain connected to our own individual heritage.
  The United States and Portugal maintain a robust relationship, and 
have been connected ever since the Portuguese were among the first to 
recognize the U.S. as an independent nation at the conclusion of the 
Revolutionary War. President George Washington formalized diplomatic 
relations on February 21, 1791, and our oldest continuously-operated 
U.S. Consulate in the world is located in Ponta Delgada on the island 
of Sao Miguel in the Azores.
  Mr. Speaker, on this Dia de Portugal, we are reminded that our 
special relationship with Portugal must be continuously strengthened. 
As U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said, ``The strong 
partnership between our two countries is more vital than ever.'' This 
day celebrates the accomplishments of Portuguese and Portuguese 
Americans, and we congratulate these communities on their global impact 
and achievement.

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