Title: A 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.
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

Summary:
This resolution recognizes (1) the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15-October 15, 2019; and (2) the integral role of Latinos and their manifold heritage in the economy, culture, and identity of the United States.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 352 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 352

 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 26, 2019

  Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Bennet, Mr. 
Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mr. Braun, Mr. Brown, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cardin, 
Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Mr. Coons, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. 
 Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Gardner, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Harris, Ms. 
Hassan, Mr. Heinrich, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Markey, 
Mr. Murphy, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Reed, Ms. Rosen, Mr. 
 Rubio, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schumer, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Sinema, Ms. Smith, 
 Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Udall, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Warner, Ms. Warren, Mr. 
 Whitehouse, and Mr. Wyden) 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, 2019, through October 15, 2019, the United States 
        celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month;
Whereas the Bureau of the Census estimates the Hispanic population living in the 
        50 States at more than 59,000,000 people, plus an additional 3,300,000 
        living in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, making Hispanic Americans 18 
        percent of the total population of the United States and the largest 
        racial or ethnic minority group in the United States;
Whereas, in 2017, there were close to 1,000,000 or more Latino residents in the 
        Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and in each of the States of Arizona, 
        California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, 
        New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, 
        and Washington;
Whereas, between July 1, 2008, and July 1, 2018, Latinos grew the population of 
        the United States by approximately 1,200,000 individuals, accounting for 
        more than \1/2\ of the total population growth during that period;
Whereas the Latino population in the United States is projected to grow to 
        107,000,000 people by 2065, at which point the Latino population will 
        comprise more than 24 percent of the total population of the United 
        States;
Whereas the Latino population in the United States is currently the third 
        largest population of Latinos worldwide, exceeding the size of the 
        population in every Latin American and Caribbean country except Mexico 
        and Brazil;
Whereas, in 2018, there were more than 18,701,184 Latino children under 18 years 
        of age in the United States, which represents approximately \1/3\ of the 
        total Latino population in the United States;
Whereas, from 1996 to 2016, the number of Hispanic students enrolled in schools, 
        colleges, and universities in the United States doubled from 8,800,000 
        to 17,900,000, and Hispanics now make up 22.7 percent of all people 
        enrolled in school in the United States;
Whereas more than 1 in 4 public school students in the United States are Latino, 
        and the share of Latino students is expected to rise to nearly 30 
        percent by 2027;
Whereas 19 percent of all college students are Latino, making Latinos the second 
        largest racial or ethnic minority group enrolled in higher education in 
        the United States, including 2-year community colleges and 4-year 
        colleges and universities;
Whereas a record 12,700,000 Latinos voted in the 2016 Presidential election, 
        representing a record 9.2 percent of the electorate in the United 
        States;
Whereas the number of eligible Latino voters is expected to rise to 40,000,000 
        by 2030, accounting for 40 percent of the growth in the eligible 
        electorate in the United States by 2032;
Whereas each year approximately 800,000 Latino citizens reach 18 years of age 
        and become eligible to vote, a number that could grow to 1,000,000 per 
        year, potentially adding 18,000,000 new Latino voters by 2032;
Whereas, in 2018, the annual purchasing power of Hispanic Americans was an 
        estimated $1,700,000,000,000, which is an amount greater than the 
        economy of all except 17 countries in the world;
Whereas there are more than 4,370,000 Hispanic-owned firms in the United States, 
        supporting millions of employees nationwide and contributing more than 
        $1,700,000,000 in revenue to the economy of the United States;
Whereas Hispanic-owned businesses represent the fastest growing segment of small 
        businesses in the United States, with Latino-owned businesses growing at 
        more than 15 times the national rate;
Whereas, as of August 2018, more than 28,000,000 Latino workers represented 17 
        percent of the total civilian labor force of the United States, and, as 
        a result of Latinos experiencing the fastest population growth of all 
        race and ethnicity groups in the United States, the rate of Latino 
        participation in the labor force is expected to grow to 20 percent by 
        2024, accounting for \1/5\ of the total labor force;
Whereas, with 66.1 percent of Latinos participating in the labor force, Latinos 
        have the highest rate of participation in the labor force of any racial 
        or ethnic group, resulting in an expansion of the Latino labor force at 
        a rate that is 3 times as fast as the rest of the population;
Whereas, as of 2017, there were approximately 326,800 Latino elementary and 
        middle school teachers, 77,033 Latino chief executives of businesses, 
        54,576 Latino lawyers, 73,372 Latino physicians and surgeons, and 15,895 
        Latino psychologists, who contribute to the United States through their 
        professions;
Whereas Hispanic Americans serve in all branches of the Armed Forces and have 
        fought bravely in every war in the history of the United States;
Whereas, as of 2019, there are more than 200,000 Hispanic members of the Armed 
        Forces serving on active duty and approximately 1,200,000 Hispanic 
        veterans of the Armed Forces, including 136,000 Latinas;
Whereas, as of 2018, more than 399,000 Hispanics have served in post-September 
        11, 2001, overseas contingency operations, and Hispanics represent 12.1 
        percent of the total number of veterans who have served in operations in 
        Iraq and Afghanistan since September 11, 2001;
Whereas, as of August 2019, at least 688 fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan were 
        members of the Armed Forces who were Hispanic;
Whereas an estimated 200,000 Hispanics were mobilized for World War I, and 
        approximately 500,000 Hispanics served in World War II;
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 during the Vietnam war;
Whereas approximately 148,000 Hispanic soldiers served in the Korean war, 
        including the 65th Infantry Regiment of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
        known as the ``Borinqueneers'', the only active duty, segregated Latino 
        military unit in the history of the United States;
Whereas 60 Hispanic Americans have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, 
        the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force bestowed on 
        an individual serving in the Armed Forces;
Whereas Hispanic Americans are dedicated public servants, holding posts at the 
        highest levels of the Government of the United States, including 1 seat 
        on the Supreme Court of the United States, 4 seats in the Senate, and 36 
        seats in the House of Representatives; 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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month 
        from September 15, 2019, through October 15, 2019;
            (2) esteems the integral role of Latinos and the manifold 
        heritages of Latinos in the economy, culture, and identity of 
        the United States; and
            (3) urges the people of the United States to observe 
        Hispanic Heritage Month with appropriate programs and 
        activities that celebrate the contributions of Latinos to the 
        United States.
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