Recognizing March 31, 2023, as Csar Chvez Day in honor of the accomplishments and legacy of Csar Estrada Chvez.

Recognizing March 31, 2023, as Csar Chvez Day Whereas Csar Estrada Chvez spent his early years on a family farm; Whereas, at the age of 10, Csar Estrada Chvez joined the thousands of migrant farmworkers laboring in fields and vineyards throughout the Southwest after a bank foreclosure resulted in the loss of the family farm; Whereas Csar Estrada Chvez, after attending more than 30 elementary and middle schools and achieving an eighth grade education, left school to work full-time as a farmworker to help support his family; Whereas, at the age of 17, Csar Estrada Chvez entered the United States Navy and served the United States with distinction for 2 years; Whereas, in 1948, Csar Estrada Chvez returned from military service to marry Helen Fabela, whom he had met while working in the vineyards of central California; Whereas Csar Estrada Chvez and Helen Fabela had 8 children; Whereas, as early as 1949, Csar Estrada Chvez was committed to organizing farmworkers to campaign for safe and fair working conditions, reasonable wages, livable housing, and the outlawing of child labor; Whereas, in 1952, Csar Estrada Chvez joined the Community Service Organization, a prominent Latino civil rights group, and worked with the organization to coordinate voter registration drives and conduct campaigns against discrimination in East Los Angeles; Whereas Csar Estrada Chvez served as the national director of the Community Service Organization; Whereas, in 1962, Csar Estrada Chvez left the Community Service Organization to establish the National Farm Workers Association, which eventually became the United Farm Workers of America; Whereas Csar Estrada Chvez was a strong believer in the principles of nonviolence practiced by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Whereas Csar Estrada Chvez effectively used peaceful tactics that included fasting for 25 days in 1968, 25 days in 1972, and 36 days in 1988 to call attention to the terrible working and living conditions of farmworkers in the United States; Whereas, under the leadership of Csar Estrada Chvez, the United Farm Workers of America organized thousands of migrant farmworkers to fight for fair wages, health care coverage, pension benefits, livable housing, and respect; Whereas the efforts of the United Farm Workers of America brought about the enactment of the landmark California Agricultural Labor Relations Act in 1975, which sought justice and guaranteed certain protections for farmworkers; Whereas, through his commitment to nonviolence, Csar Estrada Chvez brought dignity and respect to the organized farmworkers and became an inspiration to, and a resource for, individuals engaged in human rights struggles throughout the world; Whereas the influence of Csar Estrada Chvez extends far beyond agriculture and provides inspiration for individuals working to better human rights, empower workers, and advance the American Dream, which includes all inhabitants of the United States; Whereas Csar Estrada Chvez died on April 23, 1993, at the age of 66 in San Luis, Arizona, only miles from his birthplace; Whereas more than 50,000 individuals attended the funeral services of Csar Estrada Chvez in Delano, California; Whereas Csar Estrada Chvez was laid to rest at the headquarters of the United Farm Workers of America, known as Nuestra Seora de La Paz, located in the Tehachapi Mountains in Keene, California; Whereas, since the death of Csar Estrada Chvez, schools, parks, streets, libraries, and other public facilities, as well as awards and scholarships, have been named in his honor; Whereas more than 10 States and dozens of communities across the United States honor the life and legacy of Csar Estrada Chvez on March 31st of each year; Whereas March 31 is recognized as an official State holiday in California, Colorado, and Texas, and there is growing support to designate the birthday of Csar Estrada Chvez as a national day of service to memorialize his heroism; Whereas, during his lifetime, Csar Estrada Chvez was a recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize; Whereas, on August 8, 1994, Csar Estrada Chvez was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom; Whereas President Barack Obama first proclaimed March 31, 2010, to be Csar Chvez Day Whereas, on May 5, 2012, the Navy christened and launched the dry cargo ship the USNS Cesar Chavez, in honor of Csar Estrada Chvez, who served in the Navy during World War II, and his role as a prominent civil rights activist; Whereas, on October 8, 2012, President Barack Obama authorized the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Csar Estrada Chvez National Monument in Keene, California; Whereas President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., most recently honored the life and service of Csar Estrada Chvez by proclaiming March 31, 2022, to be Csar Chvez Day Whereas the United States should continue the efforts of Csar Estrada Chvez to ensure equality, justice, and dignity for all people of the United States: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate (1) recognizes the accomplishments and example of Csar Estrada Chvez, a great hero of the United States; (2) pledges to promote the legacy of Csar Estrada Chvez; and (3) encourages the people of the United States to commemorate the legacy of Csar Estrada Chvez and to always remember his great rallying cry: S, se puede! Yes, we can!

Summary: This resolution recognizes the accomplishments and example of Cesar Estrada Chavez. The resolution also encourages the people of the United States to commemorate his legacy and to always remember his rallying cry, "Si, se puede!" (which means "Yes, we can!").