[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 22295-22296]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Renzi). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 7, 2003, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the majority in the Congress, I 
take the well this evening to, of course, celebrate Hispanic Heritage 
Month, to celebrate the independence day for our Central American 
allies. It is my privilege to be before the House of Representatives 
today to discuss these important events.
  Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 through October 15. It is a 
month-long national celebration in recognition of the countless 
contributions and sacrifices that our Nation's largest minority 
community has bestowed upon our country over the last 4 centuries. This 
week we not only recognize Central American independence from Spain, 
but we also celebrate the common bond of democracy our countries share 
that allows us all to be here today.
  Es gran mes de celebracion porque elogiamos la independencia de cinco 
paises centro: El Salvador; Costa Rica; Honduras; Guatemala; y 
Nicaragua. Nuestros amigos y companeros.
  As with every July 4th, when we celebrate our Nation's independence 
from Great Britain, it is fitting to note that while the five Central 
American nations declared their independence from the Spanish crown on 
September 15, 1821, the quest for independence actually began 11 years 
earlier on that exact date when the then Viceroyalty of New Spain, 
today Mexico, declared her independence from la Madre Patria, the 
Mother-Fatherland, as Latinos sometimes affectionately refer to Spain.
  When independence finally came to Spain's largest American colony in 
1821, its vast territory stretched all the way south to the present 
Costa Rican-Panamanian border and continued northward to the present 
day California-Oregon border and included the American Southwest.
  In addition, the future of the Philippines, Guam, as well as the 
other Spanish island possessions in the Pacific, which were 
administered directly from Mexico City before the end of Spanish 
sovereignty on the American mainland, would also be directly affected 
by the independence movement that began on this date, September 15 in 
1810.
  In the years that followed Mexico's independence, which was 
officially celebrated on the 16th of September, and not on Cinco de 
Mayo, like some believe, five of the six Central American provinces 
would also come together in 1823 to form the United Provinces of 
Central America. Subsequently, Mexico's northern provinces of Alta 
California, Nuevo Mexico, and Tejas y Coahuila would later come under 
the Stars and Stripes as a result of the Mexican-American War. Out of 
these three immense territories, the present-day borders of 10 American 
States would later be carved out. Hence, there are 10 stars out of the 
50 on our national flag, one out of five on our national flag that has 
a direct tie to this specific date, September 15, the independence day 
of the former provinces of New Spain. Somos todos hermanos y hermanas.
  It is clear that our Nations share many common bonds and values. It 
is also evident that we stand together, committed to freedom and 
democracy, proud that all five nations have freely elected governments 
committed to democracy and the rule of law. There is no better system 
than democracy, and we in the Republican Congress stand ready to work 
with the freely elected leaders of our Central American allies to 
strengthen democracy throughout the Western Hemisphere.
  All five nations in Central America are well led by able leaders who 
again are freely elected. The Republic of El Salvador is President 
Flores and is represented well here in Washington by His Excellency 
Ambassador Leon. Republic Costa Rica is well led by a freely elected 
President, His Excellency President Pacheco and is well served and well 
represented here in Washington by His Excellency Ambassador Daremblum. 
The Republic of Honduras is ably led by a freely elected President, His 
Excellency President Maduro and is well represented here in Washington 
by Ambassador Canahuat.
  The Republic of Guatemala is ably served and well led by a freely 
elected and democratically elected President, His Excellency President 
Partillo and well represented here in Washington, Guatemala is, by 
Ambassador Arenalas. And last, and of course equally important, is the 
Republic Nicaragua, a country that is well led by a freely elected and 
democratically elected President, His Excellency President Balanos and 
is well represented here in Washington by Ambassador Marias.
  Again, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, all 
led by freely elected, democratically elected presidents and well 
represented here in Washington by their diplomatic corps; but they 
share our values. They share our values and support for democracy.
  Last, recognizing that we have a great opportunity, an opportunity to 
integrate the economies of the five nations of Central America and the 
United States with the Central American Free Trade Agreement. It is a 
great opportunity for all of our nations.
  Central America represents the United States' largest export market. 
There are 34 million people who live in Central America, with a 
combined gross domestic product of almost 57 billion U.S. dollars. The 
United States exports to Central America total over $9 billion, which 
includes such product items as machinery, high-tech goods, motor 
vehicles, chemicals, energy, food, agricultural products, textiles, 
apparel, paper, and fertilizer. In fact, it is important to note that 
the five Central American nations today represent more trade for the 
United States' trading partners than the trade we currently have with 
the nations of India, Russia, and Australia combined. Clearly, our 
allies are a key part of our economy and important trading partners.
  U.S. services exports to Central America today total over $2 billion 
and include such top services such as aviation, telecom, tourism, 
banking and financial services. Such exports to the region have grown 
by 42 percent since 1996. Think about that. Service exports to Central 
America have grown by 42 percent in 7 years. Every dollar today that we 
as Americans spend on a good produced in Central America has yielded 
$1.36 in demand for American goods from and purchases by our Central 
American allies and friends.
  The Central American Free Trade Agreement offers tremendous 
opportunity for American workers and businesses, but it also stands to 
offer a model for a regional trade agreement and will be a key building 
block for the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas. We must align 
ourselves with our Latin American friends to compete in today's global 
economy.
  Es claro que tenemos gran oportunidad para todos los paises en Centro 
America y los Estados Unidos para integrar mas nuestras economias con 
el Acuerdo de Libre Cambio Americano Centro. Esta semana sus 
negociadores y nuestros negociadores tienen un reunion en Managua, 
Nicaragua, para clarificar este acuerdo y para terminarlo para la 
ratificacion temprano en dos mil cuatro por el Congreso de los Estados 
Unidos.
  Our nations have much to gain by reducing barriers between our 
economies. We agree that free trade will create jobs and new 
opportunities for the citizens of all our nations. We agree that CAFTA, 
the Central American Free Trade Agreement, must be mutually beneficial 
and fair to all six nations, ours as well as theirs. We in the Western 
Hemisphere can and must work together to compete in the global economy.

[[Page 22296]]

  Again, my colleagues and I extend our congratulations to our Central 
American neighbors on their independence day and recognize our Hispanic 
and Latino citizens during this month-long celebration of Hispanic 
Heritage Month. We stand with you in solidarity for freedom; we stand 
with you in solidarity for democracy; we stand with you in solidarity 
for trade.

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