[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 144 (Tuesday, September 17, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S6101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 823--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

  Ms. CORTEZ MASTO (for herself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Baldwin, 
Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Booker, Ms. Butler, Mr. Cardin, Ms. 
Collins, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. 
Kaine, Mr. King, Mr. Kelly, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. 
Hickenlooper, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Markey, Mr. Ossoff, Mr. 
Padilla, Mr. Reed, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schatz, Ms. Sinema, Mrs. 
Shaheen, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Warner, Ms. Warren, Mr. 
Warnock, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Helmy, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Schumer, 
Mr. Coons, Ms. Smith, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Casey, and Mr. Scott of Florida) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 823

       Whereas, from September 15, 2024, through October 15, 2024, 
     the United States celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month;
       Whereas the Bureau of the Census estimates the Hispanic 
     population living in the 50 States at more than 65,000,000 
     people, plus more than 3,200,000 people living in the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, making Hispanic Americans 
     approximately 19.5 percent or \1/5\ of the total population 
     of the United States and the largest racial or ethnic 
     minority group in the United States;
       Whereas, in 2023, there were 1,000,000 or more Hispanic 
     residents in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and in each of 
     the States of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, 
     Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North 
     Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington;
       Whereas, from 2022 to 2024, the Latino population in the 
     United States grew by 1.8 percent or 1,200,000 residents;
       Whereas, from 2010 to 2022, Latinos grew the population of 
     the United States by 13,080,000 individuals, accounting for 
     more than \1/2\ of the total population growth of the United 
     States during that period;
       Whereas the Latino population in the United States is 
     projected to increase by nearly 8 percent by 2060;
       Whereas, in 2020, approximately 18,800,000 children, or 25 
     percent of all children, in the United States were Hispanic;
       Whereas 28 percent of public school students in the United 
     States are Latino, and 9 percent of kindergarten through 12th 
     grade teachers are Latino;
       Whereas, since 2010, the share of Hispanic adults with at 
     least some college education has increased by 9 percent;
       Whereas approximately 3,800,000 Hispanic students are 
     enrolled in higher education, and enrollment of Hispanic 
     students is expected to exceed 4,300,000 by 2026;
       Whereas an estimated 36,200,000 Latinos are eligible to 
     vote in the 2024 Presidential election, increasing the 
     eligible Hispanic voters from the 2020 Presidential election 
     by 12 percent and representing 14.7 percent of the electorate 
     in the United States;
       Whereas approximately 1 in every 5 Hispanic voters are 
     expected to vote in their first presidential election in 
     November 2024;
       Whereas, as of 2024, each year approximately 1,400,000 
     Latino citizens of the United States become eligible to vote;
       Whereas it is estimated that 77,247,271 Hispanics will be 
     18 years of age or older, thus eligible to vote, by 2060;
       Whereas it is estimated that, as of 2023, the purchasing 
     power of Hispanic Americans is $3,400,000,000,000;
       Whereas, measured by gross domestic product, the economy of 
     Latinos in the United States ranks as the fifth largest in 
     the world;
       Whereas, as of 2023, Latino-owned businesses have created 
     nearly \2/3\ of all new jobs in the United States and 
     contribute more than $100,000,000,000 in annual payroll;
       Whereas, in 2021, Latinas in the United States contributed 
     approximately $1,300,000,000,000 to the gross domestic 
     product;
       Whereas there are approximately 5,000,000 Hispanic-owned 
     businesses in the United States, supporting millions of 
     employees nationwide and contributing more than 
     $800,000,000,000 in revenue to the economy of the United 
     States;
       Whereas, between 2007 and 2020, the number of Hispanic-
     owned businesses grew by 34 percent, representing the fastest 
     growing segment of small businesses in the United States;
       Whereas, as of 2023, Latino workers represented 
     approximately 19.1 percent of the total civilian labor force 
     of the United States, and, as a result of Latinos 
     experiencing the fastest population growth of all race and 
     ethnicity groups in the United States, the rate of Latino 
     participation in the labor force is expected to grow;
       Whereas, as of 2024, 67.5 percent of all Latinos in the 
     United States participate in the labor force;
       Whereas, as of 2024, 6.3 percent of chief executives in the 
     United States are Latino, 9.7 percent of lawyers are Latino, 
     2.5 percent of postsecondary teachers are Latino, and 11.4 
     percent of civil engineers are Latino, all 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 since the American Revolution;
       Whereas, as of 2024--
       (1) more than 257,842 Hispanic members of the Armed Forces 
     serve on active duty; and
       (2) there are approximately 1,336,206 Hispanic veterans of 
     the Armed Forces, including approximately 163,264 Latinas;

       Whereas, in the Korean war, the 65th Infantry Regiment of 
     the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, known as the 
     ``Borinqueneers'', was the only active duty, segregated 
     Latino military unit in the history of the United States and 
     earned more than 2,700 Purple Hearts, 9 Distinguished Service 
     Crosses, and a Congressional Gold Medal for their service;
       Whereas 59 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, in 2020, Congress established the National Museum 
     of the American Latino, which, when complete, will display 
     the achievements, diversity, and legacy of the Hispanic 
     community in the United States;
       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, 5 seats 
     in the Senate, and 56 seats in the House of Representatives; 
     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, 2024, through October 15, 2024;
       (2) esteems the integral role of Latinos and the manifold 
     heritages 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.

                          ____________________