Recognizing the historical significance of the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo.

Madam Speaker, I certainly would like to extend my appreciation and gratitude to our senior ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), for allowing me this opportunity to share some thoughts concerning this important resolution. I certainly also want to thank our chairman of the Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), for his support and leadership and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for her management of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 44, recognizing the historical significance of the Mexican holiday well known as Cinco de Mayo. I commend my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca), for introducing this legislation certainly as a tribute in his capacity as vice chairman of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus.

This resolution recognizes the significance of Cinco de Mayo, as it truly does serve as a reminder that the United States is a country built by people of many nations and diverse cultures who are willing to fight and die for freedom. To truly appreciate the importance of this holiday to the good people of Mexico, we can compare it to the level of importance we place when our own Nation was divided on the issue of slavery, hence the Civil War. In the same way, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, fought by the Mexican people against a transferred ruler by the name of Maximilian from Austria.

Madam Speaker, I want to especially share with my colleagues in the House of Representatives the life and history of a leader who, in my humble opinion, is the greatest hero in Mexico's history, a true statesman, whose name is inextricably linked with the name Cinco de Mayo.

His name is Don Benito Juarez, president of Mexico from 1861 to 1863 and 1867 to 1872. President Juarez led the Mexican people in their fight for independence during this crucial period of their history.

Unbeknownst to many of our fellow Americans, President Juarez was the first Mexican president of indigenous Indian descent. His parents were members of the Zapotec tribe prevalent in the province or state of Oaxaca in Mexico. When he went to Oaxaca City at the age of 13, he could not read, write or speak Spanish. He was adopted by lay members of the Franciscan Order, who taught the young Juarez reading, writing, arithmetic and Spanish grammar. He later entered the Franciscan seminary in Oaxaca and studied Aquinas and other great Catholic philosophers, eventually turning his attention instead to the study of law.

President Juarez was educated in the law in preparation for a political career. In his first political position as a city councilman, he was noted as a strong defender of Indian rights. He participated in the revolutionary overthrow of Santa Anna in 1855, becoming the minister of justice and instituting reforms that were embodied in the constitution of 1857. During the Reform War of 1858 to 1861, President Juarez led the liberals against the conservative faction of Mexico's government. The liberals succeeded only through popular support and the unwavering determination of President Juarez, and he was elected president in 1861.

Madam Speaker, to fully understand the quality of the leadership of Mexico at the time in the person of President Don Benito Juarez, one can compare him to, arguably perhaps, the greatest President in our own country's history, President Abraham Lincoln. Both leaders, in fact, presided over their countries in times of crisis, exhibiting great courage and perseverance in the fight for self-determination. Both grew up in poverty and studied law. Both fought against bigotry and racism.

In fact, President Lincoln and President Juarez were contemporaries who held each other in high regard. In fact, in 1858, upon hearing of Juarez's struggles in Mexico, President Lincoln sent him an encouraging message expressing hope, and I quote, for the liberty of your government and its people. Even in the midst of our own Civil War, President Lincoln provided arms and munitions to President Juarez to support the Mexican people in their fight against France. When the U.S. Confederacy sent an emissary to Mexico to enlist support for their cause, President Juarez jailed the man for 30 days before sending him away, a clear sign of support for President Lincoln's cause.

Madam Speaker, today, the United States and Mexico share close ties. We also share the ideals of freedom and independence. Because of our shared values and the tremendous contributions made by Mexican Americans, I think it is fitting and most proper for us here in Congress to recognize the

historical struggle of the Mexican people for independence and freedom as called for in this concurrent resolution. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution and first want to commend the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde), my good friend and colleague, and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros- Lehtinen) for expediting the consideration of this resolution both through the committee and onto the floor of the House. I also applaud the author of the resolution, my neighbor, the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) who is the first vice chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, for his leadership on issues which affect our friends and neighbors of Hispanic descent.

Madam Speaker, the Cinco de Mayo holiday commemorates the May 5, 1862, victory of an ill-equipped and vastly outnumbered Mexican army under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza over Napoleon III's regiments at the Battle of Puebla. Although Napoleon III eventually installed Archduke Maximilian of Austria as a puppet regent over Mexico, the triumph of the Mexican people over the French in this battle has come to symbolize the fight for freedom and justice, not only in Mexico, but throughout the entire western hemisphere.

To many of us, and particularly along the border with Mexico, this holiday is mostly expressed through the enjoyment of Mexican and Mexican-American culture, music, food, and customs.

Cinco de Mayo celebrations are also well-deserved tributes to the many contributions that Mexicans and Mexican-Americans have made and continue to make in the world and across our Nation.

It is a time to take pride in these significant achievements as well as the continuing dedication to the patria of thousands of Hispanic men and women in uniform.

Finally, Madam Speaker, Cinco de Mayo reminds us that our Mexican- American neighbors strive, as we all do, to live a life filled with faith, family, and the hope of sharing in a stronger America and a freer world.

Madam Speaker, as we commemorate the defeat of French colonial oppression by an unrelenting, passionate, and brave band of brothers some 150 years ago, our resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with the fighters for democracy today around the globe must never waiver.

In our own hemisphere, our dedication to democratic institutions and processes as well as the rule of law is being challenged from the streets of Ecuador to the hills of Bolivia to the presidential palace of Venezuela. We must not, we cannot, fail to take up the banner of freedom against the increasingly authoritarian regimes.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 44.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), a distinguished member of the Committee on International Relations.

(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Madam Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 44) recognizing the historical significance of the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca), and I commend the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) for helping to bring this measure to the floor of the House today.

The Cinco de Mayo holiday commemorates May 5, 1862, the date on which the battle of Puebla was fought by the Mexicans against an invasion of their country by France. Led by Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin, a lightly armed group of Mexican patriots, estimated at 4,500 men, was able to stop and defeat a well-outfitted French army of 6,500 soldiers. Although President Abraham Lincoln was sympathetic to Mexico's cause, the U.S. was fighting our Civil War and was unable to provide any direct assistance. After the Civil War ended, however, the U.S. began to provide more political and military assistance to Mexico, which finally succeeded in expelling the French in 1867.

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo has become increasingly popular along the Mexico-U.S. border and in parts of the U.S. where Americans of Mexican heritage live. This holiday is a celebration

of Mexican culture, food, music, and customs unique to Mexico.

Increasingly, people across our country are joining our countrymen of Mexican descent in celebrating Cinco de Mayo. Not unlike St. Patrick's Day, which has become a popular celebration of Irish heritage, Cinco de Mayo is a day in which we can all join in celebrating Mexican heritage.

It is very fitting that Congress here in the United States should approve this measure. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution which recognizes the historical significance of the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 44, which recognizes the historical significance of the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo.

Every year thousands of Americans mistakenly refer to Cinco de Mayo as Mexico's Independence Day. That is why I introduced this resolution, to draw attention to the historical context of Cinco de Mayo.

On May 5th, 1862, the Mexican army defeated the French at the battle of Puebla, fighting that day for the values of freedom and liberty, the same values that we celebrate today in the United States.

Cinco de Mayo has come to represent a celebration of the contributions that Mexican Americans and all Hispanics have made to America. Many Mexicans and Mexican Americans have made the United States their homes, especially in the Southwestern United States. Their rich culture is one of the threads woven into the blanket of American society and their contributions to our Nation have shaped what we consider to be American culture today.

Today there are nearly 40 million Latinos living in the United States. Latinos are the fastest growing minority population in the United States. Latinos have made great contributions in all aspects of American life--the arts, sports, the corporate world, science, and much more. Latinos have fought in all of America's wars, beginning with the Revolutionary War. Many Latinos are fighting and dying for our country today in Iraq, just as several of their ancestors fought for freedom in Mexico over a century ago.

Though the battle was a Mexican event, the commemoration of this date has become an American Tradition. It serves as a reminder that the foundation of our Nation was built by people from many nations and diverse cultures that were willing to fight and die for freedom.

I urge my colleagues to vote yes on H. Con. Res. 44.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Resolution supporting the ideals of Cinco De May, a day that holds much meaning for many people in the South Texas Congressional district I represent. For many Hispanic Americans, we celebrate Independence Day on July 4, and Cinco de Mayo on May 5. Independence Day celebrates our Nation; and Cinco de Mayo celebrates our spirit.

On the eve of May 5, 1862, the commander of the French forces in Mexico sent this message to Napoleon: ``We have such superiority over the Mexicans that tomorrow, at the helm of my troops, I will attack, and I will consider that Mexico is mine.'' He was wrong. When he attacked the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe on May 5, his 8,000 troops were beaten back by 2,000 Mexicans.

It is important to note why we celebrate this day--we celebrate the courage and the strength of a people who will fight against all odds for the things they cherish--freedom, independence and democracy. The lessons of the French commander should not be lost on us today.

I often tell schoolchildren in South Texas to adopt a new take on the French commander's arrogance by saying: ``I will go to school, I will study hard, and I will consider that the marketplace is mine, and we will not be beaten.''

We must continue to fight in that same spirit that the Mexicans fought the French. Our young people today must fight to learn--fight for the ability to get good jobs--and fight to go further than the previous generation.

I am pleased the House is moving this resolution, albeit just over a month late for Cinco de Mayo celebrations this year. Nevertheless, this is a good opportunity for many of us in the House of Representatives to explain to our colleagues and our countrymen why this celebration means so much to so many of us.