Hispanic Heritage Month (Cong. Rec., Sept. 24, 2020)
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated September 24, 2020, beginning at page S5848, under the heading Hispanic Heritage Month. A Senator representing nearly 29 million Texans, roughly 40 percent of them Hispanic, describes the Hispanic influence on Texas history and culture, mentions Buckner, led by Albert Reyes, and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber, led by Ramiro Cavazos, and says a resolution passed with unanimous support. The Senator hopes to pass legislation honoring Hispanic Americans and notes that Smithsonian museums welcomed more than 22 million visitors last year. The page ends with a tribute to a distant field representative and a vote announcement.
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“Hispanic Heritage Month (Cong. Rec., Sept. 24, 2020).”
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S5848 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 24, 2020
the threats and religious tests end Valley and led the creation of the res- colleagues and universities are helping
today. pite center in McAllen to help care for to prepare the next generation of lead-
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH migrants coming across our border. ers for our future. This month is the
Madam President, on another mat- They are seeing the incredible work perfect opportunity to celebrate their
ter, I have the great honor of rep- of organizations like Buckner Inter- incredible work and acknowledge the
resenting nearly 29 million Texans, national, led by Dr. Albert Reyes, important role these institutions play
roughly 40 percent of whom are His- which has set up hope centers around in my State and in our country, and I
panic. I consider myself fortunate to the world that help families become am glad this resolution passed with
have experienced the tremendous influ- self-sufficient. unanimous support.
ence of the Hispanic community on our Entrepreneurs are looking to busi- I hope we can also pass legislation I
country and on our culture. Much of ness leaders like my friend Ramiro introduced to honor the contributions
that culture, of course, dates back to a Cavazos, who is president and CEO of of Hispanic Americans for generations
time long before the Lone Star flag or the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Com- to come.
the American flag flew over Texas. merce. For more than 40 years, the When Americans of all ages visit
The first sovereign flag planted on U.S. Hispanic Chamber has been an in- Washington, they are able to learn the
Texas soil was Spanish, and that credible resource for Hispanic business stories of great Americans through the
sprawling Spanish colony extended all owners across the State, and their ad- Smithsonian museums, which wel-
the way to modern-day Chile. When vocacy has been invaluable, particu- comed more than 22 million visitors
Mexico won independence from Spain larly during the COVID–19 crisis. Ear- last year. These museums house price-
in 1821, it won all of Texas as well, and lier this summer, I was able to vir- less pieces of American history, from
when Texas fought for its independ- tually connect with U.S. Hispanic the Star-Spangled Banner, which in-
ence, soldiers of Mexican and European Chamber members across Texas to dis- spired the national anthem, to the hat
descent stood together on the Texas cuss the relief provided by Congress in that President Lincoln wore on the
side in support of an independent re- four major pieces of legislation, as well night he was assassinated.
public. as to learn more about the challenges Unfortunately, these museums don’t
It is unfair to say that Hispanic cul- that they were facing and what more represent the diversity of the American
ture has influenced Texas because, in we might be able to do. story, but that is slowly changing. In
reality, Hispanic culture is as much a I have also been able to speak with recent decades, the Smithsonian Insti-
part of our State’s foundation as the Hispanic healthcare leaders, who are tution family has grown to include the
ground that our cities are built on. instrumental in Texas’s fight against National Museum of the American In-
Today, Texas is home to more than this virus. dian and the National Museum of Afri-
11.5 million Hispanic Americans, some Over the summer, we saw a dramatic can American History and Culture.
who have lived there for generations increase in positive cases and fatalities But it is time for another addition.
and others who have contributed to the in the Rio Grande Valley, which is pre- More than a decade ago, in 2008, Presi-
recent rapid growth of the population dominantly Hispanic. Last month I vis- dent Bush signed into law the National
of the Lone Star State. Since 2010, the ited the valley for conversations with Museum of the American Latino Com-
Hispanic population has grown by more local officials and healthcare leaders mission Act to study how to establish a
than 2 million people in my State, and about the impact of the Federal new museum. The results of that study
the positive impact of Latinos across CARES Act funding that we passed in found that the Latino representation
our State continues to grow. four separate pieces of legislation, as within the Smithsonian Institution is
Every year, during this month in par- well as the hurdles they continue to far from what it should be and chal-
ticular, I am proud to join millions of have and are fighting to overcome. lenged us to provide their story and to
my fellow Texans in celebrating the During our discussion, I heard from make sure it is represented there.
heritage that is uniquely woven into Hispanic leaders in the healthcare in- I am thinking of the U.S. Latino
the fabric of our State and our Nation. dustry, like Manny Vela, who is the community as a whole, which numbers
During Hispanic Heritage Month, CEO of Valley Baptist Health System, some 60 million people, but I am also
which officially commenced last week, and Cris Rivera, who is CEO of the Rio thinking of individual men and
we honor and celebrate Hispanic and Grande Regional Hospital. women—people like Juan Seguin, who,
Latino Americans and the traditions Strong leadership at the local level in some ways, was a predecessor of
and contributions these men and has never been more important, and I mine. He came from Mexican descent
women and those who came before am grateful for those who are con- and helped lead the Texas Revolution.
them have made to our country. tinuing to help our communities Then he was a Texas senator before
For the past 12 years, I have joined through this crisis. Texas even joined the Union. So in
our colleague Senator MENENDEZ from For nearly a century, our State has many ways, he was one of the fore-
New Jersey and a number of other bi- also benefited from the work of the fathers of my State, and his contribu-
partisan cosponsors in introducing a League of United Latin American Citi- tions, like so many others, are an im-
resolution to formally recognize Sep- zens, otherwise known as LULAC, portant part of our multifaceted Amer-
tember 15 through October 15 as His- which is led by Domingo Garcia, and ican story.
panic Heritage Month. It is a time we for years has benefited from the leader- We need to ensure that every Amer-
take to honor Latinos who, for genera- ship of Laredo native Roger Rocha. ican has the opportunity to learn about
tions, have served in our military, held LULAC fights to improve opportunities people like Juan Seguin and the count-
elected office, grown small businesses, for Hispanic Americans, particularly less other Latinos who have played piv-
and fought in big and small ways to when it comes to education, and it is otal roles in our history. Last year,
make our country better. an avid supporter of Hispanic-serving Senator MENENDEZ and I reintroduced
Today, Texas is proud to have incred- institutions. a bill with a bipartisan group of Sen-
ible Hispanic-American leaders who are Last week the Senate passed a reso- ators which would authorize the
shaping our States’ and our Nation’s lution Senator MENENDEZ and I intro- Smithsonian Institution to create a
futures and inspiring the next genera- duced to honor these institutions, museum honoring American Latinos
tion. At the highest levels of public which are helping Hispanic students here in Washington. This has been a
service in my State, we have incredible achieve their dreams through a quality work in progress since 2003, and this
leaders like Ruth Hughs, our secretary education. Despite the fact that these legislation will finally put that into
of State, and Justice Eva Guzman, the colleges and universities only rep- motion.
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first Hispanic woman to serve on the resent 17 percent of nonprofits colleges The bill passed the House unani-
Texas Supreme Court. and universities, they enroll two-thirds mously this summer, and between the
Our communities are learning from of all Latino students, totaling more House and Senate, we have more than
inspiring women like Sister Norma than 2.5 million students nationwide. 340 bipartisan cosponsors.
Pimentel, who is executive director of Texas is home to 100 Hispanic-serving The time has come to turn the dream
Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande institutions, more or less, and these of this museum into reality. There is
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September 24, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5849
no better time than Hispanic Heritage It is no exaggeration to say that ways, walking into rooms full of strangers,
Month for that to happen. there are few people in the world with never knowing what is going to be thrown at
Texas and our entire Nation are a better grasp of the complicated water you. They want a Senator, and instead they
stronger, smarter, and more inclusive get you. Amy was open about her questions
issues in the Klamath Basin. We have a
and concerns, but once she was out there and
because of the contributions of His- saying in the West that ‘‘whiskey, on her own, we always had confidence she
panics over the generations. that’s for drinking; water, that’s for would do and say the right thing.
I am glad to spend this month re- fighting’’ because it is so essential to A third team member said this:
flecting on our complex and ever-evolv- so many aspects of our economy and
No surprise that she is leaving behind big
ing American story, and celebrating our natural system. shoes. She makes covering some of the larg-
the contributions of Hispanic Ameri- For 12 years, Amy engaged in shuttle est counties and most difficult issues in the
cans who have helped shape our Na- diplomacy over long-term solutions to state look easy. Her knowledge of the issues
tion’s history. water shortages. She found ways to run deep and her contacts in counties is im-
I hope the Senate will honor Hispanic help farmers and ranchers save their pressive. When you ask about a county,
Heritage Month by passing this impor- livelihoods through shattering she’ll give you the breakdown of all her con-
tant legislation to finally give Latino droughts, truly making herself an in- tacts: who would give me straight answers
history a brick-and-mortar home here dispensable facilitator to stakeholders and who has the juicy county political/social
in Washington, DC. gossip. She has also been a great mentor to
across the board and an indispensable those in the field. I am pretty sure she has
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- facilitator as I tried to work out agree- walked every one of us through our first
ator from Oregon. ments. That really came in handy with town halls, roundtables and site visits. She
Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, I the Klamath Basin Restoration Agree- was someone you could rely on to give you
ask unanimous consent to complete my ment, developing that effort to have feedback and let you know if you were on the
remarks prior to the vote. the stakeholders share a common vi- right path.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without sion for the future. It really came in The final comment from a team
objection, it is so ordered. handy when we worked to get funds to member:
TRIBUTE TO AMY AMRHEIN address the devastating droughts in I would just say that every time I have
Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, 2010 and 2013—funds that would help ever come into contact with a community
Senators come to this floor with great- the farmers who depended on irrigation leader or elected official that has worked
ly diverse life experiences and political but had no water to be able to tempo- with Amy, no matter the political party,
theories and representing enormously rarily, for a season, retire their water they absolutely love her. She has done so
different States. But we all share this much for the Southern Oregon communities.
rights and therefore have some income
in common: a vast appreciation of our Just a beautiful human who has worked in-
for their ranch or their farm or be able credibly hard over the last decade-plus to
team members, our staff, who enable us to have money to pump groundwater to help rural Oregonians. She is funny, kind,
to do our work as U.S. Senators on be- compensate for the lack of irrigation and blunt—always tells you like it is. I can-
half of our own States, but also on be- water during those drought years. not reiterate enough how imperative her
half of the Nation. One of the issues has been the water mentorship has been. She is a wealth of
These team members are not just quality in the Klamath Basin and the knowledge and experience that can’t be re-
staff. They are family. We share in mo- competing environmental rules regard- placed.
ments of joy—marriage, the birth of a ing the river and the lake, and a piece I certainly could not have said it bet-
child. We grieve with them in those life of that is the survival of two endan- ter, so I appreciate the team members
moments that are so difficult. And gered species. So she helped to put all who contributed those thoughts.
when the team members choose to the details together to hold the Sucker On behalf of myself and the entire
move on, it is a bittersweet moment. Science Summit, which brought to- team, thank you, Amy Amrhein, for all
I come to the floor today to recognize gether again the farmers, ranchers, you have done for our team, for all you
and pay tribute to a beloved member of Tribes, scientists, local government of- have done for the State, and for all you
my team, Amy Amrhein, who in just a ficials, and Federal officials to devise a have done for so many constituents,
few short days will be leaving us to a plan for the long-term survival of the working on so many complex and dif-
well-deserved retirement. Even after C’waam and Koptu suckerfish in the ficult issues. You are going to be deep-
knowing for months that this day was Klamath Basin. ly missed by the entire team but by me
coming, it is still hard for me not to be There is no doubt that Southern Or- most of all. It is the wish of the entire
saddened by her departure. She has egon could not have asked for a better team that you will have a joyous,
been on my team from the very begin- advocate over these past 12 years. I healthy retirement.
ning of my time as a Senator, serving have appreciated her diligence, her The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
as my field representative in Southern humor, her positive attitude, and her question is, Will the Senate advise and
Oregon and staffing our Medford office. candor about our smart political tac- consent to the Young nomination?
That is now a dozen years. tics or policy tactics and our mistakes. Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, I
She took on the task of learning I could share some of those stories, but ask for the yeas and nays.
complicated natural resource issues perhaps they are better shared through The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a
and learning them with determination the eyes of our fellow team members, sufficient second?
and insight, working to internalize the so I will read some of their comments. There appears to be a sufficient sec-
issues and challenges of every commu- The first goes as follows: ond.
nity in the region, from the smallest Amy is the definition of dedication. No one The clerk will call the roll.
port to the biggest county. can out work her. She is committed and she The legislative clerk called the roll.
She mastered the art of putting on a will keep asking questions and pushing but- Mr. THUNE. The following Senators
townhall, as I do one in every county tons until she makes progress on an issue. are necessarily absent: the Senator
every year, and I think at last count She is fearless. She has been such a great from West Virginia (Mrs. CAPITO), the
that is about 80 townhalls she has con- leader and mentor for not only the field Senator from Wisconsin (Mr. JOHNSON),
ducted over the years. team, but the entire state staff. I’m so grate- and the Senator from Kansas (Mr.
She has worked to bring the commu- ful for the opportunity to learn from her. Or-
egon is a better place to live because of her
MORAN).
nity together to discuss visions for the service and she will be dearly missed. Further, if present and voting, the
future. One of those was the potential Senator from Wisconsin (Mr. JOHNSON)
expansion of the Cascade-Siskiyou A second team member expressed
would have voted yea.
Monument. She organized a gathering this: Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the
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that gave public testimony, which When I think of Amy I think about her Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS)
fearlessness. A distant field rep’s job is real-
helped share insights from all the and the Senator from Vermont (Mr.
ly challenging—[the rep] is the face and the
stakeholders. Local leaders and re- voice of the Senator and you are all alone, SANDERS) are necessarily absent.
gional Tribes and all members of the far from DC, even far from Portland. Despite The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there
public shared their insights and per- all our communications breakthroughs you any other Senators in the Chamber de-
spectives. are still all by yourself, driving remote high- siring to vote?
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