Washington, D.C. - Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month and pay tribute to the extraordinary contributions that Hispanics make to America year-round. This month-long celebration begins on September 15, the anniversary of the independence of five Latin American countries – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. This anniversary commemorates the day these countries declared their independence from colonial rule, and continues to represent unity for all Latinos in the U.S. and in Latin America.
Throughout the month we celebrate the Hispanic community and pause to reflect on Hispanic values – faith, family, and patriotism. These values are American values. The Hispanic dream – the hope of a better future – is the American dream. There are more than 41 million Hispanic-Americans, and their hard work, deep faith and closely-knit families have made America a better and stronger country. As a nation, we must advance initiatives that support empowerment and opportunity for all.
During this month, I am pleased to recognize the efforts of groups in Maryland’s Eighth Congressional District that work to enrich the lives of Hispanic-Americans. An example of one such group is CASA de Maryland. The Ford Foundation and the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) named CASA de Maryland “Affiliate of the Year” in recognition of its hard work and dedication to providing services that improve the lives of Latinos and others in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.
As we honor the achievements of Hispanics, we know that celebrating the Hispanic community for one month a year is not enough. All Latinos deserve a real opportunity to achieve the American dream, whether they have been here for generations or have just arrived on our shores.