[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 20533]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the work and 
achievements of Hispanic Americans. Every year since 1968 Americans 
have formally recognized the importance of Hispanic heritage and the 
contributions of Latino members of society. Hispanic Heritage Month 
allows the Nation's 41 million Latinos, along with all Americans, to 
celebrate Latino community and culture.
  As the fastest growing population in America, Hispanics have the 
potential to significantly impact society through their hard work, 
commitment to faith and closely-knit families. Aida Gianchello is one 
of the Latina Americans who are changing the world. Aida founded the 
Midwest Latino Health Research, Training and Policy Center at the 
University of Chicago at Illinois. From this Center, Aida works within 
the Latino community and with the public health network to address 
health problems that disproportionately affect Latinos, including life-
threatening diabetes, asthma and hypertension.
  This morning, I had the pleasure of meeting three women from Illinois 
about to graduate from the National Hispana Leadership Institute. 
Juanita Irizarry is the executive director of Latinos United, a housing 
policy and advocacy organization in the Chicago area. Eva Serrano is 
director of community and school partnerships at Aurora University. 
Elena Tijerina is a partner at Lucent Technologies. These are powerful 
women, already participating in civic, business and community affairs, 
moving forward in leadership. We are lucky to have them in Illinois.
  I also must mention my friend Al Galvan. Al is a veteran of World War 
II and the founder of the first Hispanic organization for Hispanic 
American veterans. The Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recently 
bestowed its life-time achievement award on Al Galvan.
  Despite the remarkable accomplishments of many Hispanic leaders, 
Hispanic Americans still face daunting challenges, including the 14 
million who do not have health coverage, as well as dangerously low 
levels of income. But they are rising to face these challenges--the 
rate of minority enrollment in post-secondary institutions continues to 
grow, as does the number of small businesses owned by Latinos. Leaders 
are recognizing the problems faced particularly by Latinos and are 
offering specific solutions. Aida Gianchello led the charge to serve 
struggling neighborhoods in Chicago by setting up three diabetes-
focused self-care centers which each reach about a thousand residents a 
month, many undocumented and uninsured.
  Individual efforts, like those of the Illinois leaders I have 
mentioned here today, make me proud to acknowledge the work and 
achievements of Latinos throughout Illinois and the country. It is only 
with the continued dedication and appropriate appreciation of Hispanic 
Heritage that the Latino culture will grow and thrive in America.

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