[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 149 (Thursday, September 14, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5746-S5747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 256--RECOGNIZING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND 
 CELEBRATING THE HERITAGE AND CULTURE OF LATINOS IN THE UNITED STATES 
     AND THE IMMENSE CONTRIBUTIONS OF LATINOS TO THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. SCHUMER (for Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. 
Blumenthal, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Franken, Mr. Reed, Mr. 
Kaine, Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Heller, Mr. Nelson, Mrs. 
Shaheen, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Warner, Mr. Udall, and Mr. Rubio)) submitted 
the

[[Page S5747]]

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 256

       Whereas from September 15, 2017, through October 15, 2017, 
     the United States celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month;
       Whereas the Bureau of the Census estimates the Hispanic 
     population living in the continental United States at over 
     57,000,000, plus an additional 3,500,000 living in the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, making Hispanic Americans almost 
     18 percent of the total population of the United States and 
     the largest racial or ethnic minority group in the United 
     States;
       Whereas, in 2016, there were close to 1,000,000 or more 
     Latino residents in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and in 
     each of the States of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, 
     Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, 
     North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington;
       Whereas, between July 1, 2015, and July 1, 2016, Latinos 
     grew the United States population by approximately 1,131,766 
     individuals, accounting for \1/2\ of the total population 
     growth during that period;
       Whereas, by 2060, the Latino population in the United 
     States is projected to grow to 119,000,000, and the Latino 
     population will comprise more than 28.6 percent of the total 
     United States population;
       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 2016, there were more than 18,345,742 Latino 
     children under the age of 18 in the United States, which 
     represents 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 are Latino, and the ratio of Latino students is 
     expected to rise to nearly 30 percent by 2027;
       Whereas 19 percent of all college students between the ages 
     of 18 and 24 are Latino, making Latinos the largest racial or 
     ethnic minority group on college campuses in the United 
     States, including 2-year community colleges and 4-year 
     colleges and universities;
       Whereas a record 12,700,000 Latinos voted in the 2016 
     Presidential election, representing a record 9.2 percent of 
     the electorate in the United States;
       Whereas 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 by 
     2032;
       Whereas each year approximately 800,000 Latino citizens 
     turn 18 years old and become eligible to vote, a number that 
     could grow to 1,000,000 by 2030, adding a potential 18 
     million new Latino voters by 2032;
       Whereas, in 2016, the annual purchasing power of Hispanic 
     Americans was an estimated $1,400,000,000,000, which is an 
     amount greater than the economy of all except 17 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 2017, more than 27,000,000 Latino 
     workers represented 17 percent of the total civilian labor 
     force of the United States, and the rate of Latino labor 
     force participation is expected to grow to 28 percent by 
     2024, accounting for approximately 48 percent of the total 
     labor force increase in the United States by that year;
       Whereas, with 65.8 percent labor force participation, 
     Latinos have the highest labor force participation rate of 
     any racial or ethnic group, as compared to 62.9 percent labor 
     force participation overall;
       Whereas, as of 2016, there were 312,228 Latino elementary 
     and middle school teachers, 92,344 Latino chief executives of 
     businesses, 63,448 Latino lawyers, 62,599 Latino physicians 
     and surgeons, and 11,109 Latino psychologists, who contribute 
     to the United States through their professions;
       Whereas Hispanic Americans serve in all branches of the 
     Armed Forces and have fought bravely in every war in the 
     history of the United States;
       Whereas, as of July 31, 2016, more than 164,000 Hispanic 
     active duty service members served with distinction in the 
     Armed Forces;
       Whereas, as of August 31, 2016, more than 284,000 Latinos 
     have served in post-September 11, 2001, overseas contingency 
     operations, including more than 8,500 Latinos serving as of 
     September 2017 in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan;
       Whereas, as of September 2015, at least 675 United States 
     military fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan were Hispanic;
       Whereas an estimated 200,000 Hispanics were mobilized for 
     World War I, and approximately 500,000 Hispanics served in 
     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 during the Vietnam War;
       Whereas approximately 148,000 Hispanic soldiers served in 
     the Korean War, including the 65th Infantry Regiment of the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, known as the ``Borinqueneers'', 
     the only active duty, segregated Latino military unit in 
     United States history;
       Whereas, as of 2015, there were more than 1,200,200 living 
     Hispanic veterans of the Armed Forces, including 136,000 
     Latinas;
       Whereas 61 Hispanic Americans have received the 
     Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in 
     action against an enemy force bestowed on an individual 
     serving in the Armed Forces;
       Whereas Hispanic Americans are dedicated public servants, 
     holding posts at the highest levels of the Government of the 
     United States, including 1 seat on the Supreme Court of the 
     United States, 4 seats in the Senate, 34 seats in the House 
     of Representatives, and 1 seat 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, 2017, through October 15, 2017;
       (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 the 
     United States.

                          ____________________