[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 22114-22115]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                      HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH 2000

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise to offer some remarks on a timely 
and important topic--our national celebration of Hispanic Heritage 
Month.
  Hundreds of years after the decline of the Spanish Empire, a new 
Hispanic presence is making itself felt on the world stage. Democracy 
is taking deep root throughout much of Latin America. Mexico just 
celebrated the selection of a new President in an election that is 
widely viewed as the freest and fairest election in that country's 
history. Central America is largely at peace. Free trade has spread 
south of our border, and will continue to spread further south.
  And Hispanic Americans are taking their rightful place in this 
country as an important part of our thriving economy, as a wonderful 
contributor to the diversity of American culture, and as a powerful 
political force that deserves attention.
  It is fitting, then--as National Hispanic Heritage Month is upon us--
to recognize the Hispanic-American population for its many important 
contributions to the traditions and history of this nation. Started 32 
years ago, this festive month acknowledges the great history of the 
Hispanic people, celebrate their past achievements, and recognizes that 
the Hispanic-American community is an essential component in the future 
of the United States.
  Hispanics have immigrated to the United States for many different 
personal reasons. They have taken the journey to America in hope of a 
better life for themselves and their families. They have persevered 
throughout their struggle to maintain their own identity while learning 
to assimilate into American ways.
  Today, the Hispanic population in the United States has expanded and 
become more diverse. It is now our fastest growing ethnic group, its 
population increasing almost four times as fast as the rest of the 
population. The Hispanic population is projected to account for 44 
percent of the growth in the nation's population between 1995 and 2025. 
Hispanics are literally changing the face of this nation.
  The label ``Hispanic-American'' encompasses an enormous diversity of 
individuals. Hispanics are not a single ethnic group but are comprised 
of people from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, and the countries of Central 
and South America. This diversity has brought a tradition of resilience 
and excellence to the United States, a country that derives its 
strength from the diversity of its people.
  There is an emerging awareness of the contributions and achievements 
Hispanics have made. Hispanic individuals are prominent in every aspect 
of American life. In the business world, such names as Adolfo Marzol, 
executive vice-president of Fannie Mae and George Munoz, CEO of the 
Overseas Private Investment Corporation, are being recognized. Oscar 
Hijuelos, the first American-born Hispanic to win the Pulitzer Prize 
for fiction, is known as one of literature's award-winning authors. 
Maria Hinojosa, a CNN correspondent, was named one of the most 
influential Hispanic Americans by Hispanic Business magazine, and has 
received many awards for her reporting. These are just some of the 
extraordinary individuals who contribute to Hispanic-American culture 
in our country.
  A few of the names of Hispanic-Americans from my home state of 
Illinois will resonate in history, like Luis Alvarez, the Nobel Price-
winning physicist, who studied at the University of Chicago before 
going on to become a central figure in the Manhattan project during 
World War II. Others are heroes on a quieter scale, like Raymond Orozco 
who, until his retirement a few years back, headed the Chicago Fire 
Department with distinction, or Sandra Cisneros whose beautiful stories 
of women's courage in the midst of poverty have won her international 
acclaim. But most of all we benefit as a state and as a nation from the 
thousands of ordinary folks whose lives and dreams and everyday actions 
make this a richer, stronger, more interesting place to live.
  The emergence of a sizable Hispanic-American population has been 
particularly notable in Illinois, to the great benefit of the state. 
More than a million Illinoisans are of Hispanic heritage. They own 
20,000 businesses in the state and generate more than $2 billion in 
commerce. More than a quarter of a million Hispanic-Americans are 
registered to vote here, and the state can boast over 1,000 elected 
officials--from school board members to members of Congress--of 
Hispanic heritage.

[[Page 22115]]

  While celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, we shouldn't blind 
ourselves to the problems that still beset the Hispanic-American 
community. The poverty rate among Hispanics is still unacceptably high, 
and Hispanic youth are graduating from high school at rates 
significantly lower than the general population. Thankfully, many of 
these problems have abated in the last decade--unemployment among 
Hispanics is at historically low levels, for example--but there's still 
plenty of work to be done.
  That's why I support the ``2010 Alliance'' crafted by Hispanic-
American leaders and key policymakers, and announced by President 
Clinton this June. The Alliance sets educational goals for Hispanic-
Americans in five key areas, such as increasing the rate of high school 
completion and increasing English language proficiency for students. 
The President's budget for 2001 contains more than $800 million for 
programs to enhance educational opportunities for Hispanic-Americans.
  I am also hoping to see passage this session of the Latino and 
Immigrant Fairness Act. This important piece of legislation will insure 
that all immigrants from Latin America are treated equally in the eyes 
of the law. The current system that treats immigrants from one country 
differently from those from another country is cumbersome, confusing 
and inherently unfair. This Act will also restore some important rights 
that have historically been offered to the immigrant population, but 
that are now denied to them due to the highly restrictive policies 
adopted in the past few years. The Latino and Immigrant Fairness Act as 
the support of virtually every Democratic Senator as well as strong 
support from President Clinton and Vice President Gore. I am working 
hard to overcome Republican resistance to the bill so that it can 
become law.
  The Hispanic population has become an integral part of the American 
mosaic. We have become united by the aspiration to make a better life 
for ourselves and our children. We know that America and what it stands 
for--freedom, prosperity, and hope--should extend to everyone the 
opportunity to achieve their dreams.
  Through the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month we can deepen our 
understanding and appreciation for a culture that has been so 
influential in creating the America of today and that will help shape 
the America of tomorrow.

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