[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24715]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 15, 2003

  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of National 
Hispanic Heritage Month and in commemoration of the over five hundred 
years that America has been enriched by Hispanic culture. This year, 
from September 15th to October 15th, we have the opportunity to honor 
the myriad contributions the 37 million people of Hispanic origin 
currently living in the United States have made to our great country, 
and we have the responsibility and pleasure of recognizing and 
remembering the many gifts of Hispanic Americans.
  An exemplar of the contributions to the culture of our society made 
by Hispanic Americans is Celia Cruz, the ``Queen of Salsa'' who passed 
away this July in her home in Fort Lee, New Jersey which is located in 
my Congressional District. Born in Havana, Cuba, Celia Cruz fled to the 
United States to free herself from the brutal dictatorship of Fidel 
Castro. With a genuine love of life and passion for family and friends, 
Celia Cruz represented the true spirit of Hispanic Americans through 
her music.
  Hispanic Americans comprise 14 percent of the total U.S. population 
and have contributed to American society in innumerable ways. From 
literature and art to business, science, academia and government, 
Hispanic Americans have significantly and so positively impacted 
American culture. Among other great examples are Carlos Gutierrez, 
Chairman and CEO of the Kellogg Company since 2000, NASA Astronaut 
Ellen Ochoa, and former Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson. Each of 
these men and women has touched the lives of countless people of all 
races, religions, and ethnicities across the United States. It is with 
honor and gratitude, Mr. Speaker, that I ask all my colleagues to join 
me in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month.

                          ____________________