[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 22781-22782]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        NATIONAL HISPANIC MONTH

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I join many 
of my colleagues in commemorating National Hispanic Heritage Month. The 
nationwide celebration of Hispanic heritage was initiated by the 90th 
Congress in 1968, which designated National Hispanic Heritage Week. 
Twenty years later, the 100th Congress transformed this week into a 
month, designating the period of September 15 to October 15 as a time 
to recognize the Hispanic influence in and contributions to our culture 
and society.
  For over 400 years, Hispanic Americans have played a fundamental role 
in the history of the United States. The first European expedition in 
recorded history to land in what is today the continental United States 
was led by the former Spanish Governor of the Island of Puerto Rico, 
Juan Ponce de Leon.
  America's diverse and vibrant Hispanic population has made an 
enormous contributions to the building and strengthening of our nation, 
its culture, and its economic prowess. As we cross the threshold of a 
new century, we look to the outstanding contributions of Hispanic 
Americans for inspiration and leadership. My hometown, Detroit, was 
made great in the twentieth century in part by immigrants who went 
there to find work and provide for their families. This great dream 
lives on today as thousands of immigrants come to Detroit every year

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from countries like Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Cuba. In fact, 
Southwest Detroit, known as Mexicantown by its residents, is the 
fastest growing part of Detroit. Hispanics who have come to Detroit 
have opened businesses, bought homes and turned a once neglected urban 
neighborhood into a thriving community that has become one of the 
centers of the city.
  One woman, Maria Elena Rodriguez, has had a lot to do with this 
turnaround. Her hard work as president of the Mexicantown Community 
Development Corporation has helped to provide the spark needed to 
reinvigorate a community. Ms. Rodriguez is currently in the process of 
helping to build a welcome center for people coming into Detroit across 
the Ambassador Bridge, an effort she hopes will fulfil her mission to 
bring more business and visitors to her neighborhood.
  Hispanic contributions to Michigan businesses abound. The Kellogg 
Company, founded and headquartered in Battle Creek, Michigan, has 
millions of customers in over 160 countries, and is the world's leading 
producer of cereal. Its CEO is Carlos Gutierrez, who started with 
Kellogg's as a sales representative in Mexico City, and after 25 years 
with the company is now in charge of this global giant.
  Education has long played a prominent role in Hispanic culture. The 
first free integrated public school was established in St. Augustine, 
Florida in September of 1787. On March 31, 2000 Rebecca Arenas was 
awarded the ``Caesar Chavez Civil Rights Achievement Award'' for her 
work to better the lives of Hispanics in general, and migrant workers 
in particular. Rebecca's parents brought her to Michigan at the age of 
5 from Crystal City, Texas. Her parents were migrant workers who chose 
to stay in Michigan because they believed it would allow Rebecca to 
have a better education. Because of the actions of her parents, Rebecca 
developed a commitment to education that would last a lifetime. Rebecca 
passed this commitment to education onto her children, all seven of 
whom have received a post-secondary education. In addition to the 
``Caesar Chavez'' award, Rebecca has received recognition on numerous 
other occasions because of her work in education, health care, and 
voter registration.
  For these and countless others reasons, it is a pleasure for me to 
stand today with my Senate colleagues in commemorating National 
Hispanic Heritage Month.

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