CHC CHAIR GONZALEZ STATEMENT ON HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

September 15, 2011
Press Release
Image removed.Washington D.C.: Chairman Charles A. Gonzalez (TX 20) released this statement to kick –off Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15- Oct. 15, 2011:
“During Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor the Hispanic community and pay tribute to the extraordinary contributions that Hispanics have made throughout our history in business, education, government, and the arts.
“All Americans do not share a common heritage, but we share a common dream and therefore we are bound by a common destiny. Whether you are a first-generation American like Secretary Hilda Solis or a sixth-generation American like Secretary Salazar, as Latinos we have been, we are, and we will continue to be an essential part of this great country.
“The Hispanic community, now 50 million-strong, makes America a better and stronger nation, but the statistics are daunting. The number of Hispanics in poverty increased from 25.3 percent to 26.6 percent last year and Hispanic households lost 66% of their wealth in the Bush recession.
“President Theodore Roosevelt said, ‘The welfare of each of us is dependent fundamentally upon the welfare of all of us.’ Now more than ever, we must make investments in education, small businesses, healthcare and the well-being of our veterans and seniors, not just for Latinos, but for all Americans. For the sake of the 12% of unemployed Latinos and 9.1% of jobless Americans, I urge my colleagues in Congress to pass legislation that will help Americans get back to work.
“We must do all we can to better ensure that all Latinos, like all Americans, have a meaningful opportunity to improve their lives and succeed in pursuing the American Dream.
“As communities commemorate this month across the nation, we recognize our shared history, challenges, and triumphs. Together, we recognize Hispanics who serve our military, and remember those who made the greatest sacrifice. Together, we recognize the contributions of immigrants past and present to our country. Together, we look forward to a future that builds on our proud, rich heritage.”