[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24417]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE OF DOLORES HUERTA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 20, 2008

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
distinguished public service of community organizer Dolores Huerta. She 
has been selected as this year's honoree from the Center for Kern 
Political Education. For more than half a century, Dolores has devoted 
her life's work to ensuring economic justice for farm workers and their 
families as well as securing rights for women.
  Dolores was born on April 10, 1930, in the small mining town of 
Dawson situated in northern New Mexico. She spent much of her childhood 
and young adult years in Stockton, graduating from Stockton High 
School. Dolores continued her studies at University of Pacific's Delta 
College where she received a provisional teaching credential. Soon 
after, she began a career in teaching where Dolores became acutely 
aware of the pressing need to address economic injustice.
  During her post in leadership with the Stockton Community Service 
Organization (CSO), Dolores became christened as an organizer. In 1955, 
she encountered CSO Executive Director Cesar E. Chavez who shared in 
her vision of organizing farm workers, distinctively separate from the 
CSO mission. Thereafter, in 1962, Dolores and Cesar launched the 
National Farm Workers Association. In 1963, Dolores' lobbying and 
negotiating skills prevailed in securing Aid to Families with Dependent 
Children (AFDC) and disability insurance for California farm workers. 
The Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975 was also enacted with her 
efforts.
  Dolores wielded her powerful voice as the United Farm Worker's 
spokesperson to gain political power for farm workers. She helped in 
the election of many candidates: Robert F. Kennedy, President Clinton, 
Congressman Ron Dellums, Governor Jerry Brown, Congresswoman Hilda 
Solis, and, most recently, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Currently, 
Dolores acts as President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation which 
principally serves to protect, organize and educate working poor 
immigrants.
  In her honor, 5 elementary schools and a high school are named in 
recognition of Dolores Huerta. Among the countless prestigious awards 
received include the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award from 
President Clinton in 1998, Creative Citizenship Labor Leader Award from 
Puffin Foundation in 1984, Kern County's Woman of the Year by 
California State legislature, and the 100 Most Important Women of the 
20th Century by Ladies Home Journal. Nine honorary doctorates from 
universities throughout the U.S. have also been granted.
  Throughout her life, Dolores Huerta has proven to be a highly 
effective community leader whose commitment to justice and public 
service has proven beneficial for farm workers, working families and 
women throughout the nation. At the age of 78, Dolores' relentless work 
continues. We thank her for her noble service and wish her continued 
success for the future.

                          ____________________