III 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 545 

Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the heritage and culture of Latinos in the United States and the immense contributions 

of Latinos to the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. REID, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. 

BEGICH, Mr. BENNET, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. CASEY, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. 

GILLIBRAND, Mrs. HAGAN, Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. MARKEY, Mrs. MURRAY, 

Mr. NELSON, Mr. REED, Mr. SCHUMER, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. UDALL of 

Colorado, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Mr. WARNER, and Ms. WARREN) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the 

heritage and culture of Latinos in the United States 

and the immense contributions of Latinos to the United 

States. 

Whereas from September 15, 2014, through October 15, 

2014, the United States celebrates Hispanic Heritage 

Month; 

Whereas the Census Bureau estimates the Hispanic population in the United States at over 54,000,000 people, 

making Hispanic Americans 17 percent of the population 


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•SRES 545 IS 

of the United States and the largest racial or ethnic minority group in the United States; 

Whereas Hispanic Americans are also the largest racial or 

ethnic minority group in the Commonwealth of Puerto 

Rico and 22 individual States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, 

Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New 

Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, 

Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming; 

Whereas in 2013, there were 1,000,000 or more Latino residents in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and each of 

the following 8 States: Arizona, California, Colorado, 

Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Texas; 

Whereas Latinos grew the United States population by 

1,100,000 between July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2013, accounting for nearly half of all population growth during 

this period; 

Whereas the Latino population in the United States is projected to grow to 128,800,000 by 2060, at which point 

the Latino population will comprise 31 percent of the 

total United States population; 

Whereas the Latino population in the United States is currently the second largest worldwide, exceeding the size of 

the Latino population in every country except Mexico; 

Whereas there were 11,900,000 Latino family households in 

the United States in 2013, and Latino children under the 

age of 18 represent approximately 1⁄3 of the total Latino 

population in the United States; 

Whereas 1 in 4 public school students in the United States 

is Latino, and the total number of school-age Latino chilVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:01 Sep 15, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR545.IS SR545

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dren in the United States is expected to reach 

28,000,000 by 2050; 

Whereas 18 percent of all college students between the ages 

of 18 and 24 years old are Latino, making Latinos the 

largest racial or ethnic minority group on college campuses in the United States, including both 2-year community colleges and 4-year colleges and universities; 

Whereas a record 11,200,000 Latinos voted in the 2012 

Presidential election, representing a record 8.4 percent of 

the electorate in the United States; 

Whereas an estimated 23,500,000 Latinos are eligible to vote 

in the 2014 midterm elections, and the number of eligible 

Latino voters is expected to rise to 40,000,000 by 2030; 

Whereas more than 2,000 Latino citizens turn 18 and become eligible to vote every day, and an average of 

900,000 Latino citizens will turn 18 and become eligible 

to vote every year between 2014 and 2028; 

Whereas the annual purchasing power of Hispanic Americans 

is an estimated $1,200,000,000,000 and is expected to 

grow to $1,500,000,000,000 by 2015; 

Whereas there are more than 3,200,000 Hispanic-owned 

firms in the United States, supporting millions of employees nationwide and contributing more than 

$468,000,000,000 in revenue to the economy of the 

United States; 

Whereas Hispanic-owned businesses represent the fastestgrowing segment of small businesses in the United 

States, with Latino entrepreneurs starting businesses at 

more than twice the national rate; 

Whereas, as of August 2014, more than 25,000,0000 Latino 

workers represented 16.3 percent of the total civilian 


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labor force in the United States, and the share of Latino 

labor force participation is expected to grow to 19.1 percent by 2022; 

Whereas Latinos have the highest labor force participation 

rate of any racial or ethnic group at 66 percent, compared to 62.8 percent overall; 

Whereas in 2013, there were 298,000 Latino elementary and 

middle school teachers, 65,000 Latino chief executives of 

businesses, 55,000 Latino lawyers, and 35,000 Latino 

physicians and surgeons contributing to the United 

States through their professions; 

Whereas Hispanic Americans serve in all branches of the 

Armed Forces and have bravely fought in every war in 

the history of the United States; 

Whereas, as of July 31, 2014, 163,636 Hispanic active duty 

servicemembers served with distinction in the Armed 

Forces of the United States; 

Whereas, as of July 31, 2014, a total of 88,709 Hispanics 

had served in Afghanistan; 

Whereas, as of September 2014, 675 United States military 

fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan were Hispanic; 

Whereas more than 80,000 Hispanics served in the Vietnam 

War, representing 5.5 percent of individuals who made 

the ultimate sacrifice for the United States in the conflict, even though Hispanics comprised only 4.5 percent 

of the population of the United States at the time; 

Whereas 140,000 Hispanic soldiers served in the Korean 

War; 


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Whereas, as of September 2014, there are an estimated 

1,386,000 Hispanic veterans of the Armed Forces of the 

United States; 

Whereas 61 Hispanic Americans have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed on an 

individual serving in the Armed Forces of the United 

States; 

Whereas Hispanic Americans are dedicated public servants, 

holding posts at the highest levels of government, including 1 seat on the Supreme Court, 3 seats in the Senate, 

33 seats in the House of Representatives, and 3 seats in 

the Cabinet; and 

Whereas Hispanic Americans harbor a deep commitment to 

family and community, an enduring work ethic, and a 

perseverance to succeed and contribute to society: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the celebration of Hispanic Her3 itage Month from September 15, 2014, through Oc4 tober 15, 2014; 

5 (2) esteems the integral role of Latinos and the 

6 manifold heritage of Latinos in the economy, cul7 ture, and identity of the United States; and 

8 (3) urges the people of the United States to ob9 serve Hispanic Heritage Month with appropriate 


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1 programs and activities that celebrate the contribu2 tions of Latinos to American life. 

Æ 


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