[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 4639-4640]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              CESAR CHAVEZ

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Baca) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of honoring Cesar 
Chavez, an American hero, a role model, and an inspiration to many 
Americans. In this Congress I have reintroduced H. Res. 76, a 
resolution urging the establishment of a national holiday for Cesar 
Chavez. This resolution was introduced and supported by the United Farm 
Workers of America, Cesar E. Chavez Foundation, the Congressional 
Hispanic Caucus, and many other of my fellow colleagues. We are urging 
for a holiday to honor Cesar's memory and educate our youth and 
community about this remarkable yet humble leader who paved the way for 
many of us.
  Cesar Chavez is a true American hero. He carried the torch for 
justice and freedom. He was a beacon of light for many of us Latinos in 
the community. His legacy will live on in our hearts and hopes and in 
our dreams. To quote him, si se puede, yes, it can be done.
  This is the same cry we hear today, a cry of justice and equality and 
opportunity for all to have the American Dream here in the United 
States. Cesar represents the true essence of hope for many of us. From 
humble beginnings, Cesar was born near Yuma, Arizona, grew up in a 
migrant labor camp, and fought against the exploitation of workers at 
an early age.
  In 1944, Cesar joined the United States Navy and honorably served his 
country as a veteran. With great courage and passion, he fought to 
preserve

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the principles of freedom and equality. He used this same courage and 
passion to stop the exploitation of workers.
  Cesar was a trailblazer. In the early 1960s, he founded the United 
Farm Workers to gain nationwide attention of the exploitation of grape 
farmers, a too often forgotten labor force. He led his organization to 
increase protection for workers; to increase health and safety 
standards; to ban child labor from the field; to win fair wage 
guarantees; to fight against employment discrimination and the sexual 
harassment of female workers.
  Cesar's dedication to social justice meant great sacrifices. This 
year marks the 40th anniversary of his famous public 25-day hunger 
strike calling for nonviolence. Cesar organized the farm workers to 
stand together and in one loud voice say, ``From this day, we demand to 
be treated like men and we should be respected as human beings. We are 
not slaves. We are not animals. We are not alone.''
  I was lucky enough to be part of his funeral, attended by over 50,000 
people. I also had the pleasure of meeting with Cesar Chavez on many 
occasions in the Inland Empire.
  In his memory, the State of California in September of 1994 enacted a 
law designating March 31, Cesar's birthday, as a State holiday. 
However, Cesar's light reaches beyond California and across ethnic 
barriers and across income levels across our Nation. Ten States 
officially celebrate Cesar's birthday as a holiday. This month his 
legacy will be remembered publicly all across the Nation in over 25 
States and over 35 cities. These nationwide actions are about respect, 
respeto.
  For this reason, I continue to call for the respect of a great man, a 
trailblazer who changed the world by using nonviolence. Cesar taught us 
that all workers deserve respect and dignity. Cesar, a common man with 
uncommon vision; a humble leader that forged together national 
coalitions of students, middle-class consumers, religious groups, 
minorities and others.
  The significance and impact of Cesar's life transcends any one cause 
or struggle. In 1994 he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal 
of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in America. And yet we should 
have a holiday for him.
  His slogan, si se puede, yes, it can be done, still rings in the 
hearts of many Latinos and non-Latinos that it can be done and never 
give up because you can achieve whatever you want.
  Yes, I say si se puede, one day Cesar Chavez will be honored, 
respected and remembered throughout this Nation with a holiday. This is 
only the beginning. Nationwide we are raising awareness of a great man 
who has honored our Nation, who has served our country and sacrificed 
himself for the betterment of others. We will keep his legacy alive.

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