[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5159]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 URGING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OBSERVATION OF A LEGAL PUBLIC HOLIDAY IN 
                        HONOR OF CESAR E. CHAVEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 3, 2008

  Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I fully support Representative Baca's 
legislation to encourage the establishment of a national holiday in 
honor of Cesar Chavez and wish to thank him for introducing this 
important bill.
  During the Great Depression, Cesar's family lost their own farm. As 
such, Cesar and his family joined the migrant farming community. Cesar 
was only 10 years old when he began to work in the fields and vineyards 
of the southwest. He learned first hand about the injustices and 
indignities experienced by migrant farm workers.
  Founder of the National Farm Workers Association and its successor 
the United Farm Workers of America, Cesar led the Nation's first 
triumphant farm workers union.
  Cesar E. Chavez was a champion of workers' rights. He showed 
incredible dedication to social justice through his efforts on behalf 
of farm workers to garner improved wages, medical coverage, pension 
benefits, safer working conditions, humane living conditions and an end 
to child labor in the fields.
  His remarkable achievements were realized through non-violent 
protest, through fasts, strikes and boycotts. This makes his 
accomplishments all the more meaningful and sets an example that is to 
be held in the highest regard.
  Cesar was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times by the 
American Friends Service Committee. He received the distinguished 
Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Prize and was posthumously awarded the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  Because Cesar Chavez embodies so completely both the spirit and 
values of our Nation I believe it is only right to establish a national 
holiday in his honor. ``Si se puede.''
  Again. I wish to thank Congressman Baca for introducing this 
important legislation and calling attention to one of our Nation's 
greatest heroes.

                          ____________________