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. ROMERO-
BARCELO´, 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 reso-
lution; 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 Lu-
ther 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 de-
veloped 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 distinc-
tion for 2 years;
Whereas, as early as 1949, Cesar E. Chavez committed him-
self to organizing farm workers to campaign for safe and
fair working conditions, reasonable wages, decent hous-
ing, 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 protec-
tions 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;
HJ 22 IH
Whereas Cesar E. Chavez and his family also dedicated them-
selves to the education of farm workers’ children through
migrant schools, many of whom graduated and worked as
teachers, doctors, nurses, and in other professional occu-
pations;
Whereas the legacy of Cesar E. Chavez includes healthy
working conditions that yield uncontaminated food for
America’s tables and the enforcement of employer sanc-
tions for those who hire illegal immigrants;
Whereas Cesar E. Chavez’s influence extends far beyond ag-
riculture and provides inspiration for those working to
better human rights through his example of organizing
voter registration drives in urban and farm areas, initiat-
ing complaints against mistreatment by police and wel-
fare 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 Se-
nora de La Paz (Our Lady of Peace), located in the
Tehachapi Mountains at Keene, California: Now, there-
fore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That Cesar E. Chavez be honored for his tireless commit-
ment to improve the plight of farm workers and the poor
throughout the United States and for the inspiration his
heroic efforts gave to so many Americans to work non-
HJ 22 IH
violently for justice in their communities and that a Fed-
eral holiday be recognized throughout the United States,
and that all Americans be encouraged to commit them-
selves to working for justice through nonviolence in their
communities and remind themselves of the work of the
people who put food on the tables of America.
Æ