IA

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 22

To commemorate the birthday of Cesar E. Chavez.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 3, 1999

Mr. FILNER (for himself, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. ROMEROBARCELO ́, Mr. OLVER, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Ms. DELAURO, Mrs. CAPPS,

Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. OWENS, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Mr.

CLYBURN, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. PASTOR, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. FROST, Mr.

BERMAN, Ms. NORTON, Ms. KILPATRICK, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mrs. MINK of

Hawaii, Mr. BROWN of California, Mr. REYES, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr.

GUTIERREZ, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr. BECERRA, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr.

STARK, Mr. UNDERWOOD, Ms. WOOLSEY, Ms. SANCHEZ, Mr. HINCHEY,

Mr. SERRANO, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. HILLIARD, Mr.

HINOJOSA, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. KENNEDY

of Rhode Island, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. GONZALEZ, Ms.

VELA ́ZQUEZ, and Mrs. NAPOLITANO) introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform

JOINT RESOLUTION

To commemorate the birthday of Cesar E. Chavez.

Whereas Cesar E. Chavez was born March 31, 1927, on a

small farm near Yuma, Arizona, and died on April 23,

1993;

Whereas numerous holidays, schools, parks, libraries, and

other structures and events have been named after Cesar

E. Chavez, internationally and in California, New York,

Michigan, Indiana, Oklahoma, Arizona, Illinois, Min-
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nesota, Colorado, New Mexico, Massachusetts, Texas,

and Hawaii, with many more planned;

Whereas Cesar E. Chavez was a recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Peace Prize during his lifetime and was

awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President

Clinton on August 8, 1994;

Whereas, the grandson of a Mexican immigrant and settler,

he grew up working with migrant farm workers, himself

picking grapes, melons, beans, and other staple crops at

low wages and for long hours, during which time he developed a strong work ethic and respect for the farm

workers his father called ‘‘the children of God’’;

Whereas at the age of 18 Cesar E. Chavez entered the

United States Navy and served his country with distinction for 2 years;

Whereas, as early as 1949, Cesar E. Chavez committed himself to organizing farm workers to campaign for safe and

fair working conditions, reasonable wages, decent housing, and the outlawing of child labor;

Whereas in 1962 Cesar E. Chavez founded the National

Farm Workers Association, predecessor of the United

Farm Workers of America, which brought hope to farm

workers that they might one day realize the basic protections and workers’ rights to which all Americans aspire;

Whereas, through his commitment to nonviolence, Cesar E.

Chavez brought dignity and respect to the farm workers

who organized themselves, and became an inspiration and

a resource to other Americans and people engaged in

human rights struggles throughout the world;

Whereas Cesar E. Chavez was an advocate for nonviolence at

a time when violence penetrated every level of our society;
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Whereas Cesar E. Chavez and his family also dedicated themselves to the education of farm workers’ children through

migrant schools, many of whom graduated and worked as

teachers, doctors, nurses, and in other professional occupations;

Whereas the legacy of Cesar E. Chavez includes healthy

working conditions that yield uncontaminated food for

America’s tables and the enforcement of employer sanctions for those who hire illegal immigrants;

Whereas Cesar E. Chavez’s influence extends far beyond agriculture and provides inspiration for those working to

better human rights through his example of organizing

voter registration drives in urban and farm areas, initiating complaints against mistreatment by police and welfare officials, and empowering everyday workers to seek

advancement in education and politics; and

Whereas Cesar E. Chavez lived alongside his campesino

brothers and sisters in humble surroundings and upon

his passing was laid to rest where he lived and worked

for 23 years on the grounds of the headquarters of the

United Farm Workers of America, known as Nuestra Senora de La Paz (Our Lady of Peace), located in the

Tehachapi Mountains at Keene, California: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 That Cesar E. Chavez be honored for his tireless commit4 ment to improve the plight of farm workers and the poor

5 throughout the United States and for the inspiration his

6 heroic efforts gave to so many Americans to work non-
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1 violently for justice in their communities and that a Fed2 eral holiday be recognized throughout the United States,

3 and that all Americans be encouraged to commit them4 selves to working for justice through nonviolence in their

5 communities and remind themselves of the work of the

6 people who put food on the tables of America.

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