[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 18886-18887]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH 2002

 Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise in honor of Hispanic 
Heritage Month. For the past 34 years we have formally celebrated the 
numerous contributions the Hispanic community has made to our country. 
From September 15 to October 15, 2002, Hispanic Heritage Month will be 
commemorated by millions of people across the United States.
  Hispanic Americans make up 12.5 percent of the population and have 
had a profound effect on our Nation's economic strength and stability. 
They not only are the fastest growing population group in the Nation, 
they are the fastest growing group among small business owners. 
Hispanic Business Magazine estimates that by the year 2007, Hispanic 
buying power will rise to $926.1 billion--due to a growth rate almost 
three times that of non-Hispanics.
  There are more than 1.2 million Hispanic-owned businesses. These 
firms employed more than 1.4 million people and generated $183.3 
billion in revenues. These statistics are a testament to those Hispanic 
Americans who have overcome a myriad of obstacles to establish 
themselves as a prominent force in our Nation's economy.
  Hispanic Americans also have succeeded in the political arena. The 
number of Hispanic elected officials has increased, and many States 
across the Nation have fielded Hispanic candidates at local and 
national levels. For example, earlier this month Georgia voters elected 
their first Hispanic State senator, Sam Zamarripa, and New Mexico's 
next Governor will undoubtedly be Hispanic.
  In addition to recognizing the significant contributions Hispanics 
have

[[Page 18887]]

made in politics and to our economy, we honor those Hispanic Americans 
who sacrificed their lives on September 11, 2001. Hispanic Americans 
were among the very first to respond to the terror attacks against our 
Nation. Twelve Hispanic firefighters lost their lives trying to save 
others.
  As America continues to remember those Hispanic Americans who gave 
their lives on that tragic day, others in the Hispanic community have 
helped bring our Nation together. For example, Daniel Rodriguez, a 
Brooklyn-born Latino policeman, captured America's hearts with his 
rendition of ``God Bless America'' at numerous September 11 memorial 
services. Contributions like this from our fellow Americans have helped 
many of us heal and have instilled a deeper, greater pride in our 
Nation.
  Other Hispanic Americans may not have received as much media 
attention but have equally contributed to every aspect of our American 
life.
  In my home State of Illinois, where over 1 million Hispanic Americans 
reside, numerous individuals have had a significant impact on the 
Hispanic American community. Consider Theresa Gutierrez, a reporter for 
ABC News in Chicago. She was one of the first Hispanic women to break 
into television journalism, and since she began her media career in 
1971 she has been the recipient of numerous awards. In 1999, she was 
recognized by Chicago Woman Magazine as one of 100 ``Women Making a 
Difference.'' She was also selected as one of the six outstanding 
broadcasters in the country by Hispanic USA Magazine.
  Another similar example is Anna Zotigh, a 16-year-old girl working on 
a mural at the Instituto del Progresso Latino in Chicago. Anna, along 
with other teams of students across the country, works 8- to 9-hour 
days with local artists to help promote Latino culture, specifically 
the pivotal role played by women in Hispanic culture. These are just 
some of the extraordinary Hispanic American individuals who contribute 
to the vibrant life of our country.
  The Hispanic American population has made significant strides in the 
last decade to help strengthen America's ideals of democracy, freedom, 
and opportunity. We have seen their contributions time and time again, 
from their impact on our economy to their service in law enforcement.
  Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate, experience, and honor 
the Hispanic culture. I urge all Americans to actively participate in 
the many festivities across our Nation, as we deepen our appreciation 
for a community that has helped shape America today, and will continue 
to do so tomorrow.

                          ____________________