[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 145 (Monday, September 26, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6082-S6083]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 574--RECOGNIZING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND 
 CELEBRATING THE HERITAGE AND CULTURE OF LATINOS IN THE UNITED STATES 
  AND THE IMMENSE CONTRIBUTIONS OF LATINOS AND LATINAS TO THE UNITED 
                                 STATES

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Reid, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Bennet, Mr. 
Booker, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Carper, Mr. Coons, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Heller, Ms. 
Hirono, Mr. Merkley, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Peters, Ms. Stabenow, 
Mr. Warner, Mr. Udall, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Brown, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Heinrich, 
Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr. Franken) submitted the following resolution; 
which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 574

       Whereas the United States will celebrate Hispanic Heritage 
     Month from September 15, 2016, through October 15, 2016;
       Whereas the United States Census Bureau estimates the 
     Hispanic population in the United States at more than 
     56,500,000 people, making Hispanic Americans 17.6 percent of 
     the population of the United States and the largest racial or 
     ethnic minority group in the United States;
       Whereas, in 2015, there were 1,000,000 or more Latino 
     residents in Puerto Rico and each of the following 9 States: 
     Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, 
     New York, New Mexico, and Texas;
       Whereas Latinos grew the United States population by more 
     than 1,215,000 people between July 1, 2014, and July 1, 2015, 
     accounting for nearly \1/2\ of all population growth during 
     that period;
       Whereas the Latino population in the United States is 
     projected to grow to 119,000,000 people by 2060, at which 
     point the Latino population will comprise more than 28.6 
     percent of the total population of the United States;
       Whereas the Latino population in the United States is 
     currently the third largest worldwide, exceeding the size of 
     the population in every Latin American and Caribbean country 
     except Mexico and Brazil;
       Whereas, in 2015, there were 15,062,452 Latino households 
     in the United States and more than 18,000,000 Latino children 
     younger than 18 years of age, representing approximately \1/
     3\ of the total Latino population in the United States;
       Whereas more than 1 in 4 public school students in the 
     United States is Latino and the share of Latino students is 
     expected to rise to nearly 30 percent in the next decade;
       Whereas 19 percent of all college students between 18 and 
     24 years of age are Latino, making Latinos the largest racial 
     or ethnic minority group on college campuses in the United 
     States, including both 2-year community colleges and 4-year 
     colleges and universities;
       Whereas a record 11,200,000 Latinos voted in the 2012 
     Presidential election, representing a record 8.4 percent of 
     the electorate in the United States;
       Whereas an estimated 27,300,000 Latinos will be eligible to 
     vote in the 2016 Presidential election and the number of 
     eligible Latino voters is expected to rise to 40,000,000 by 
     2030, accounting for 40 percent of the growth in the eligible 
     electorate in the United States over the next 15 years;
       Whereas more than 2,000 Latino citizens in the United 
     States reach 18 years of age and become eligible to vote 
     every day and an estimated 1,000,000 Latino citizens in the

[[Page S6083]]

     United States will turn 18 and become eligible to vote every 
     year by 2024;
       Whereas, in 2015, the annual purchasing power of Hispanic 
     Americans was an estimated $1,500,000,000,000, which is 
     larger than the economy of all but 15 countries in the world;
       Whereas there are more than 4,700,000 Hispanic-owned firms 
     in the United States, supporting millions of employees 
     nationwide and contributing more than $600,000,000,000 in 
     revenue to the economy of the United States;
       Whereas Hispanic-owned businesses represent the fastest-
     growing segment of small businesses in the United States, 
     with Latino owned businesses growing at more than 15 times 
     the national rate;
       Whereas, as of August 2016, almost 27,000,000 Latino 
     workers represented 16.9 percent of the total civilian labor 
     force in the United States;
       Whereas the share of the Latino labor force participation 
     is expected to grow to 28 percent by 2024, with the Latino 
     population accounting for more than 40 percent of the 
     increase in employment in the United States over the next 5 
     years;
       Whereas Latinos have the highest labor force participation 
     rate of any racial or ethnic group at 66.1 percent, compared 
     to 62.7 percent overall;
       Whereas, in 2015, there were 267,920 Latino elementary and 
     middle school teachers, 83,435 Latino chief executives of 
     businesses, 63,800 Latino lawyers, 64,448 Latino physicians 
     and surgeons, and 11,194 Latino psychologists contributing to 
     the United States through their professions;
       Whereas Hispanic Americans serve in all branches of the 
     Armed Forces and have bravely fought in every war in the 
     history of the United States;
       Whereas, as of July 31, 2015, more than 164,000 Hispanic 
     active duty service members had served with distinction in 
     the Armed Forces;
       Whereas, as of July 31, 2016, approximately 284,000 Latinos 
     have served in post-September 11, 2001, overseas contingency 
     operations, including more than 9,870 Latinos currently 
     serving in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan;
       Whereas, as of September 2016, not fewer than 680 
     fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan were members of the Armed 
     Forces who were Hispanic;
       Whereas an estimated 200,000 Hispanics were mobilized for 
     World War I and about 500,000 Hispanics served during World 
     War II;
       Whereas more than 80,000 Hispanics served in the Vietnam 
     War, representing 5.5 percent of individuals who made the 
     ultimate sacrifice for the United States in the conflict, 
     even though Hispanics comprised only 4.5 percent of the 
     population of the United States at the time;
       Whereas approximately 148,000 Hispanic members of the Armed 
     Forces served in the Korean War, including Puerto Rico's 65th 
     Infantry Regiment known as the ``Borinqueneers'', the only 
     active duty segregated Latino military unit in the history of 
     the United States;
       Whereas, as of September 2015, there are an estimated 
     1,500,000 living Hispanic veterans of the Armed Forces;
       Whereas 61 Hispanic Americans have received the 
     Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in 
     action against an enemy force that can be bestowed on an 
     individual serving in the Armed Forces;
       Whereas Hispanic Americans are dedicated public servants, 
     holding posts at the highest levels of the Federal 
     Government, including 1 seat on the Supreme Court of the 
     United States, 3 seats in the Senate, 34 seats in the House 
     of Representatives, and 4 seats in the Cabinet; and
       Whereas Hispanic Americans harbor a deep commitment to 
     family and community, an enduring work ethic, and a 
     perseverance to succeed and contribute to society: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month 
     from September 15, 2016, through October 15, 2016;
       (2) esteems the integral role of Latinos and the manifold 
     heritage of Latinos in the economy, culture, and identity of 
     the United States; and
       (3) urges the people of the United States to observe 
     Hispanic Heritage Month with appropriate programs and 
     activities that celebrate the contributions of Latinos to 
     life in the United States.

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