[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 13776-13777]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. President, September 15 through October 
15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month. This is a time to remember and 
to celebrate the integral role of Hispanic Americans in the economy, 
culture and identity of our Nation.

[[Page 13777]]

  In New Mexico, we enjoy a rich Hispanic heritage that goes back over 
400 years. Santa Fe, the oldest capital city in the United States, was 
founded a decade before the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock. New 
Mexico has the highest percentage of Hispanics of any State. From the 
Spanish colonists to immigrants from Latin America, the Hispanic 
community has informed our history, our art, and our sense of who we 
are as a people.
  New Mexico is blessed with a blend of cultures and backgrounds like 
nowhere else. Our State is called the ``Land of Enchantment,'' not just 
for the beauty of our landscapes but also for the vibrant diversity of 
our culture.
  The annual Spanish Market in Santa Fe is the largest exhibition of 
traditional Spanish Colonial and Hispanic art in the United States.
  New Mexico is home to the National Hispanic Cultural Center, which is 
the fastest growing cultural institution in our State. The center, 
located in Albuquerque, is a guardian of Hispanic arts, culture and 
humanities, reaching people throughout the world.
  Like America as a whole, the Hispanic community is itself diverse, 
representing a rich mosaic of nationalities and backgrounds. Its values 
of family, faith and hard work are the values that unite all of us as 
Americans and New Mexicans, and make us both more compassionate and 
stronger. Indeed, the story of Hispanics is a vital part of the 
American narrative--of overcoming hardship, of sacrifice, persevering, 
and helping one another.
  During times of war and peace, at home and abroad, the Hispanic 
community has been a rich part of the fabric of the American story. 
From the time of the Revolutionary War, Hispanics have fought and died 
for our freedoms. Forty-one have received the Congressional Medal of 
Honor, the highest military honor our Nation can bestow. Hispanics 
continue to contribute in communities throughout the Nation--in 
business, in education and the arts, and at every level of government 
service. Their talents and sacrifices are integral to our past, and 
crucial to our future.
  The late Dennis Chavez from New Mexico was the first American-born 
Hispanic to be elected to the Senate. He was a trailblazer for the 
people of New Mexico and for the Hispanic community. I am honored to 
follow in his footsteps and to represent such a diverse State.
  This month, as we celebrate the historic achievements and 
contributions of Hispanic Americans, we should also remember the 
challenges we face and dedicate ourselves to meeting those challenges. 
With comprehensive immigration reform, and working together for vital 
education, health care, and economic development initiatives, let us 
commit ourselves to ensure that Hispanic families in New Mexico and 
across the Nation have an equal opportunity to achieve the American 
dream.

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