III 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 246 

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 19, 2013 

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. REID, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. BEGICH, Mr. BENNET, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. COONS, Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. 

HAGAN, Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. KAINE, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. NELSON, Mr. 

REED, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. SCHUMER, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Mr. WARNER, Mr. BROWN, Mr. 

MERKLEY, Mr. HELLER, Mr. CASEY, Ms. WARREN, Mr. ENZI, Mrs. 

MURRAY, and Mr. CARDIN) submitted the following resolution; which was 

considered and agreed to 

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, 2013 through October 15, 

2013, the United States celebrates Hispanic Heritage 

Month; 

Whereas the Census Bureau estimates the Hispanic population in the United States at over 53,000,000 people, 

making Hispanic Americans the largest racial or ethnic 


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•SRES 246 ATS 

minority group in the United States overall and in 21 individual States; 

Whereas the United States Hispanic population is ranked 

2nd worldwide, exceeding the size of every country except 

Mexico; 

Whereas 8 States in the United States had 1,000,000 or 

more Latino residents in 2012, inlcuding 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, 2011 and July 1, 2012, accounting for nearly half of all population growth during 

this period; 

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

the Hispanic population will comprise 31 percent of the 

total United States population, which is nearly double the 

2012 percentage; 

Whereas 1 in 4 public school students in the United States 

is Hispanic, and the total number of school-age Hispanic 

children in the United States is expected to reach 

28,000,000 by 2050; 

Whereas 19 percent of all college students between the ages 

of 18 and 24 years old are Hispanic, making Hispanics 

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; 


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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 approximately 3,000,000 Hispanic-owned 

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

$500,000,000,000 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 Hispanic entrepreneurs starting businesses 

at more than double the national rate; 

Whereas as of August 2013, nearly 25,000,0000 Hispanic 

workers represented 16 percent of the total civilian labor 

force in the United States and the share of Latino labor 

force participation is expected to grow to 18.5 percent by 

2020; 

Whereas Latinos have the highest labor force participation 

rate of any racial or ethnic group (66.3 percent compared 

to 63.2 percent overall); 

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, 2013, 162,717 Hispanic active duty 

service members served with distinction in the Armed 

Forces of the United States; 

Whereas as of June 30, 2013, a total of 82,343 Hispanics 

had served in Afghanistan; 

Whereas as of September 2013, 668 United States military 

fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan have been Hispanic; 


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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; 

Whereas as of September 2013, there are an estimated 

1,377,000 Hispanic veterans of the Armed Forces of the 

United States; 

Whereas 44 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, 

35 seats in the House of Representatives, and 1 seat 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, 2013 through Oc4 tober 15, 2013; 


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

2 manifold heritage of Latinos in the economy, cul3 ture, and identity of the United States; and 

4 (3) urges the people of the United States to ob5 serve Hispanic Heritage Month with appropriate 

6 programs and activities that celebrate the cultural 

7 contributions of Latinos to American life. 

Æ 


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