[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 10241-10242]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          EL DIA DE LOS NINOS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RUBEN HINOJOSA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2003

  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is a very important day. It is 
``El Dia De Los Ninos (The Day of the Children)--Celebrating Young 
Americans. This traditional Latin American holiday has been observed 
nationally since April 30, 1998.
  In preparation for that first El Dia De Los Ninos, young Americans in 
dozens of cities across the nation signed petitions and testified 
before city councils to ask for local recognition of the celebration. 
It is a day for parents, families and communities to value and uplift 
Latino children and all other children in the United States.
  Across the Nation, communities are organizing their own activities to 
celebrate their children on April 30th. I am proud that my 15th 
Congressional district of Texas celebrates El Dia De Los Ninos with 
great enthusiasm and fanfare. This week 600 hundred elementary school 
children will enjoy a day of festivities at Edinburg Municipal Park. 
Another 600 children will be celebrating in McAllen at Seguin 
Elementary School.
  These celebrations are possible because the entire community--
schools, community-based organizations, colleges, and local businesses 
come together to uplift the children of the Lower Rio Grande Valley to 
show them how much we care about them, and how important they are to 
our future.
  El Dia De Los Ninos has a powerful message for us all. El Dia De Los 
Ninos provides a bridge for children to learn more about being an 
American.

[[Page 10242]]

  Their first hands-on civics lesson is to ask their city council to 
declare and celebrate the Day of the Children. Young Americans have 
told the Nation what it should be doing. They have accepted the gift of 
a special day from the Latino community and are building a national 
celebration of hope and diversity for all children in the United 
States--a gift we can all cherish.
  I encourage my colleagues to help celebrate this important day in 
their own communities and with their own children.

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