[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 4640-4641]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              CESAR CHAVEZ

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Salazar) for 2 minutes.
  Mr. SALAZAR. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
  Today, Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support legislation honoring a 
great American on his 81st birthday, Cesar Chavez. Cesar Estrada Chavez 
is best known as a farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist.
  Born in Yuma, Arizona, of Mexican descent, Chavez became a champion 
for his fellow farm workers. Among his many achievements, Cesar Chavez 
was cofounder of the United Farm Workers Association with fellow 
activist Dolores Huerta. This association provided farm workers with a 
voice that they so desperately needed. Mr. Speaker, as a lifetime 
farmer, I can appreciate the sacrifices made by Chavez and his 
supporters. My oldest brother, Leandro Salazar, the oldest of our 
family, marched with Cesar Chavez in California for nearly 2 years.
  We believe that forcing workers to endure this labor under dangerous

[[Page 4641]]

working conditions and without fair pay is absurd. The most horrific 
sight that you can ever see is farm workers working out in the field 
and an aerial applicator coming down upon them and spraying pesticides 
on them. He worked to make sure that those things did not happen again.
  We cannot stand by when a laborer is forced to work even as 
pesticides are being sprayed on the field he or she is working in. His 
dedication to the cause of worker rights and equality addressed the 
needs of blue collar men and women across this Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, his example inspires us to work together to improve the 
quality of life for all Americans.

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