[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21404]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION HONORING CELIA CRUZ BY AWARDING HER THE 
                        CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 4, 2003

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer legislation to honor 
my great friend, the music icon, Celia Cruz, who lost her courageous 
battle with cancer on July 17, 2003.
  Last night, during the Latin Grammy's, Americans were mesmerized by 
an emotional and wonderful tribute to the great Celia Cruz. Today, in 
the People's House, I am joined by my colleague, Representative Ileana 
Ros-Lehtinen, to introduce legislation that will posthumously award 
Celia Cruz the Congressional Gold Medal.
  Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alonso was born on October 21, 1924, in 
Havana, Cuba. Her career blossomed when she left Cuba for the United 
States in 1960, where she eventually made Fort Lee, New Jersey her 
home.
  Over a five decade career as an entertainer, Celia Cruz became known 
as the ``Queen of Salsa,'' and claimed the calling card cry of 
``Azuuuucar!'' Celia's passion, boundless energy, and charisma 
transfixed generations of salsa fans and musicians. She recorded more 
than 70 albums and her collaborative efforts with other performers 
including the legendary salsa artist Tito Puente, pop star David Byrne, 
and hip-hop producer Wyclef Jean helped break down ethnic and cultural 
barriers. She was one of the few bridges that crossed cultural and 
racial divides.
  Celia's musical talent earned her hundreds of awards worldwide, 
including five Grammy's, two Latin Grammy's, and the National Medal of 
Arts, the highest honor bestowed on an artist in the United States. She 
was a Hispanic Heritage Awards Lifetime Achievement recipient, and has 
a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Her music was a unifying force, and 
her passion for a free Cuba was evidenced in both her music and her 
words.
  Celia touched the lives of millions. More than 100,000 individuals 
mourned her loss at her wake in Miami, Florida and 75,000 people lined 
the streets of Manhattan to pay their respects as her funeral 
procession made its way through the streets of New York City.
  Celia Cruz made countless contributions to American society and the 
world as an entertainer, and she was an ambassador of Latino culture 
and a voice of freedom. Her music, her words, and her love of freedom 
live on. This legislation would make Celia the first Latina to receive 
the Congressional Gold Medal.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I urge the leadership 
to bring it swiftly to the floor for a vote.

                          ____________________