[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16730]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         BIRTHDAY OF CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 3, 2011

  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, one hundred and 
sixty-two years ago, over thirteen thousand citizens of the United 
States of America met at the California Constitutional Convention on 
November 13, 1849. At this convention, Californians ratified their 
constitution in a proportion of twelve to one. The first order of 
business was to elect the State executives, and to set the borders of 
twenty-seven counties.
  For the past twelve years, the Society of Hispanic Heritage and 
Ancestral Research (SHHAR), Los Amigos of Orange County, among other 
organizations, have been seeking to raise public awareness of the 
state's ratification day.
  In the past, the University of California Irvine, the State 
University of Fullerton, and the Orange County Heritage Museum in Santa 
Ana, have all organized events to commemorate this historic occasion. 
These events have been encouraged, organized and run by volunteers on 
the local, state, and national levels, including public officials, 
friends, and neighbors.
  This year, the birthday of California's original constitution, 
November 13, falls on a Sunday, a date which is most appropriate to 
reflect on the roles that community and sacrifice played in the 
establishment of the state of California.
  I am proud to recognize the statehood of California, and proudly 
celebrate our state's admittance as the 31st State of the Union. At 
this moment, it is only appropriate to celebrate the accomplishments 
and historical contributions of the great state of California.
  Happy Birthday California!

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