[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 24, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1776-S1777]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SENATE RESOLUTION 135--RECOGNIZING THE HERITAGE, CULTURE, AND 
             CONTRIBUTIONS OF LATINAS IN THE UNITED STATES

  Ms. CORTEZ MASTO (for herself, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Bennet, Mr. 
Whitehouse, Ms. Smith, Mr. Booker, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. 
Rosen, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Reed, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Kaine, 
Ms. Warren, Mr. Coons, Ms. Hassan, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. 
Klobuchar, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Markey, Ms. 
Hirono, Mr. Brown, Mr. Cardin, Ms. Baldwin, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Padilla, 
Mr. Casey, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Kelly, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. 
Lujan) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 135

       Whereas the United States celebrates National Women's 
     History Month every March to recognize and honor the 
     achievements of women throughout the history of the United 
     States;
       Whereas there are nearly 29,000,000 Latinas living in the 
     United States;
       Whereas 1 in 6 women in the United States is a Latina;
       Whereas Latinas have helped shape the history of the United 
     States since its inception;
       Whereas Latinas contribute to the society of the United 
     States through working in many industries, including 
     business, education, science and technology, medicine, 
     engineering, mathematics, literature and the arts, the 
     military, agriculture, hospitality, and public service;
       Whereas Latinas serve as essential workers during the 
     COVID-19 pandemic, filling vital positions that keep the 
     economy going and the people of the United States safe;
       Whereas Latinas come from diverse cultures across North 
     America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, 
     and Afro-Latinas face disparities in recognition;
       Whereas Latinas are dedicated public servants, holding 
     posts at the highest levels of the Federal Government, 
     including the Supreme Court of the United States, Cabinet-
     level positions, the United States Senate, and the United 
     States House of Representatives;
       Whereas Latinas make up an estimated 19 percent of women 
     serving in the Armed Forces, and the first Latina to become a 
     general in the Marine Corps reached that rank in 2006;
       Whereas Latinas are breaking the glass ceiling in science, 
     technology, engineering, and mathematics, with the first 
     Latina to travel into space doing so during a 9-day Space 
     Shuttle Discovery mission in 1993;
       Whereas Latinas own more than 2,000,000 businesses, and 18 
     percent of all women-owned companies in the United States are 
     owned by a Latina;
       Whereas Latina activists have led the fight for civil 
     rights, including labor rights, LGBTQ rights, women's rights, 
     and racial equality;
       Whereas Latinas create award-winning art and are recipients 
     of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards;
       Whereas Latina singers and songwriters, like Selena, also 
     known as the Queen of

[[Page S1777]]

     Tejano music, and Celia Cruz, also known as the Queen of 
     Salsa, have made lasting and significant contributions to 
     music throughout the world;
       Whereas Latinas serve in the medical profession, and the 
     first female and first Hispanic Surgeon General of the United 
     States was appointed in 1990;
       Whereas Latinas serve as journalists, reporting vital news 
     and information to the public;
       Whereas Latinas are world-class athletes, representing the 
     United States in the Olympics and other international 
     competitions;
       Whereas Latinas are paid just 55 cents for every dollar 
     paid to White, non-Hispanic men;
       Whereas, in the face of societal obstacles, including 
     unequal pay, disparities in education, health care needs, and 
     civil rights struggles, Latinas continue to break through and 
     thrive;
       Whereas the United States should continue to invest in the 
     future of Latinas to address the barriers they face; and
       Whereas, by 2060, Latinas will represent \1/4\ of the 
     female population of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) celebrates and honors the successes of Latinas and the 
     contributions they have made and continue to make to the 
     United States; and
       (2) recognizes the changes that are still to be made to 
     ensure that Latinas can realize their full potential as equal 
     members of society.

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