[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16903]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       IN RECOGNITION OF EL DIARIO LA PRENSA'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 12, 2013

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, on this day I rise to recognize the 100th 
Anniversary of the Nation's oldest Spanish-language newspaper, El 
Diario La Prensa. This important periodical is the result of a historic 
merger between competing press companies, El Diario de Nueva York and 
La Prensa in 1963. La Prensa was founded in Brooklyn on October 12, 
1913, and has since grown to serve approximately 300,000 daily readers 
across the country, many of them in my beloved District that includes 
the Washington Heights, El Barrio and The Bronx. The Spanish press is 
important, especially today when our U.S. Latino population has grown 
to nearly 53 million individuals. I congratulate El Diario for its 
dedication to providing indispensable information to the Latino 
community, as well as coverage on important issues that affect my dear 
constituents, such as immigration and health reform.
  During its 100 years, El Diario La Prensa has served the several 
waves of Spanish-speaking immigrants who boldly ventured to the United 
States in search of a better life. New York City has traditionally 
served as the ``Gateway to Freedom'' for many Dominicans, Puerto 
Ricans, Mexicans and South Americans and this extraordinary company has 
provided an outlet for these distinct communities. Although this new 
era of digital communication and the recent economic crisis have 
brought unprecedented challenges for our local newspapers, El Diario La 
Prensa will continue to play a dominant role in news media. Its 
popularity and reputation for providing quality news coverage has 
allowed the publication to withstand these blows and strengthen its 
circulation during the past few years.
  El Diario La Prensa also serves to help assimilate Latinos into the 
greater realm of American culture. Important American milestones and 
tragedies were covered and printed in Spanish by El Diario, such as the 
tragic assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the moon landing, 
and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Moreover, it has documented Hispanic 
American breakthroughs, including the election of Herman Badillo as the 
first Puerto Rican to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and 
the appointment of Sonia Sotomayor as the first Latina Supreme Court 
justice. El Diario has also displayed great initiative in preserving 
Hispanic heritage by installing photo exhibitions at Hostos College and 
the King Juan Carlos Center at New York University, as well as creating 
guides for New York City educators who wish to teach their students 
about Hispanic American culture.
  Today, El Diario continues its vigilant watch by focusing on stories 
related to immigration politics and other issues that greatly influence 
the lives of Latino and non-Latino citizens. Despite having a limited 
number of staff and resources, El Diario La Prensa manages to 
distribute more than 42,000 copies daily in New York City; this allows 
many undocumented immigrants who rely on El Diario to stay abreast of 
developments that affect their struggle towards citizenship.
  As we celebrate El Diario's 100th year Anniversary, we are emboldened 
by its mission to serve as a voice for America's underrepresented 
Latino community. We can further advance this goal by passing 
legislation on comprehensive immigration reform in the House of 
Representatives. The Spanish press serves a particularly important role 
in dispelling the rumors and misunderstandings often attached to 
progressive immigration reform legislation. That it is why I invite all 
members of our wonderful Congress to form strong partnerships with 
Spanish-language media in their respective communities.
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise, and hope that my colleagues will join me 
in celebrating El Diario La Prensa's century of outstanding service to 
our nation's Latino Community. In the meantime, I will continue to 
fight for all my constituents who strive to build a better life and 
fulfill of the American Dream. America's immigrants, for generations, 
have bolstered our economy, enriched our culture, and patriotically 
defended the United States. We are, by large, a nation of immigrants, 
and now is the time to pass comprehensive immigration reform 
legislation that helps grow our economy, prevents families from being 
separated, and creates a pathway to citizenship.

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