Supporting the goals and ideals of a Salvadoran-American Day (El Dia del Salvadoreno) in recognition of all Salvadoran-Americans for their hard work, dedication, and contribution to the stability and well-being of the United States.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Eleonor Velasquez, an intelligent and hard-working woman who has been on my staff from June 2003 until August 2007. During her tenure in my office, Eleonor was an asset to me and the constituents of the 32nd District of California. Eleonor's hard work, dedication, and skills are the reasons why I promoted her twice during her time in the office: from staff assistant to legislative correspondent in 2004 and from legislative correspondent to legislative assistant in March 2005.

Eleonor immigrated to the United States from Peru when she was just 13 years old. Her experience as a young woman assimilating to the United States provided her an invaluable perspective on issues such as immigration, education, trade, and Latino issues. Eleonor's fluency in Spanish has been of great service to my office since over half of my constituents do not speak English as their first language at home.

Eleonor has demonstrated a keen grasp of the complex issues involved in the ongoing immigration debate in the House of Representatives. Eleonor coordinated a number of sign-on letters and drafted Dear Colleague letters about immigration, trade, and education. Recently, Eleonor drafted a letter to President Bush expressing deep disappointment regarding the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) increased fee structure for naturalization and asking him to work with Congress to create a fairer system.

During her time in my office, Eleonor spearheaded two pieces of legislation: H. Res. 721 (109th Congress), a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of a Salvadoran-American Day (El Dia del Salvadoreno); and H.R. 5161 (109th Congress), a bill to establish a commission to study the removal of Mexican-Americans to Mexico during 1929-1941. H. Res. 721 recognized all Salvadoran-Americans for their hard work, dedication, and contribution to the stability and well-being of the United States, and was co-sponsored by 55 Members of Congress. The resolution was passed by the House of Representatives on July 18, 2006. H.R. 5161 was not considered in the 109th Congress, but its introduction was very important to the families of the 2 million individuals of Mexican ancestry who were forcibly removed to Mexico during the Depression, as many as 1.2 million of whom were United States citizens.

As the liaison in my office to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), Eleonor has gained a wealth of institutional knowledge about issues important to the Caucus over the past 4 years. Eleonor began her tenure on Capitol Hill as a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) fellow in the office of Congressman Jose Serrano. She has been an active member of the CHCI alumni association and mentored other Latino young men and women who came through the program to work on Capitol Hill and in the private sector on public policy issues.

While I am sad to see Eleonor leave, I am confident that the future will bring her much success. I wish Eleonor and her family good health and best wishes. I join my staff in my Washington, DC, El Monte, and East Los Angeles offices in wishing Eleonor the best of luck in all of her future endeavors. Buena suerte, Eleonor!

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Missouri and obviously the Members of this very important committee that helped to pass this resolution.

Madam Speaker, today, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 721, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of the Salvadoran American Day, el dia del Salvadoreno. I would like to thank Chairman Davis and Ranking Member Waxman for their support in bringing the resolution to the floor today.

This resolution recognizes the Salvadoran Americans for their hard work, dedication and contributions to our stability and well-being of the United States.

Forty years of internal political turmoil forced thousands and thousands of individuals from the Republic of El Salvadore to flee and come to this country. They sought peace and security and a better life in the United States.

Madam Speaker, my mother was born in Central America, in Nicaragua, and immigrated to the United States to seek a better life. As the only Member of Congress of Central American descent, I am honored to recognize Salvadoran Americans and Salvadoran American Day.

Currently, there are over 900,000 Salvadorans living in the U.S. The majority live in Washington, D.C., New York, California and Miami. In the Los Angeles metropolitan area alone, parts of the district that I represent, there are nearly 300,000 Salvadoran Americans.

This celebration of Salvadoran tradition dates back to August 6, 1525, almost five centuries ago, when the city of Villa De San Salvador was founded. El Dia del Salvadoreno marks the culmination of a week- long celebration ``Fiestas Agostinas'' and is arguably the most important civic-religious celebration in El Salvador. The celebration pays homage to the cultural festivities of El Salvador, while recognizing that Salvadorans have adapted themselves to life in the United States.

Celebrated by Salvadoran Americans in California and throughout the country, this day has grown in significance over the years. Back in 2001, the city of Los Angeles honored Salvadoran American Day, and in 2002 Salvadoran American Day was declared as a statewide event in California. More than 100,000 Salvadorans participated in these celebrations in 2005, and we know and expect we will see more this coming August.

I am proud that Congress is helping to recognize and honor this day. Salvadoran American Day contributes to a positive image for Salvadorans, as well as improving a better understanding between our diverse communities and this part of America.

I would like to recognize and thank the Salvadoran American National Association, known as SANA, the SHARE Foundation, and all of the Salvadoran American and Central American organizations for their support and their work to provide for this resolution.

Let us not forget that our Nation was built by the people from many nations and different backgrounds and cultures. In fact, many of the workers who helped rebuild the Pentagon were of Salvadoran background. They love this country. I urge my colleagues to recognize the Salvadoran Americans and pass this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I certainly would like to thank the gentleman from Missouri for offering me this opportunity to say a few words in support of this resolution.

I certainly want to extend my commendation to the gentlewoman from California for being the chief sponsor of this bill, and I regret to say I should have been an original cosponsor, and I want to be on record that I want to be on as an original cosponsor of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, August 6, 1525 means a lot to the Salvadoran Americans in our country. As the gentlewoman from California said earlier, we almost have a million fellow Americans whose ancestry is from El Salvador.

On August 6, 1525, the official founding of Villa De San Salvador was declared in the Valle de las Hamacas, or the Valley of the Hammocks, where the indigenous ancestors of El Salvador fought historic battles against the submission and abuse of Spanish colonialism in order to preserve the life and liberty of the Cuscatleco population.

This is very significant and important, Madam Speaker, and I certainly want to say that we truly are a Nation of immigrants. Whether you be from South America, and even if you are from Ireland, we can never forget the problems there, the people starving to death, and there was the Irish potato.

Madam Speaker, I don't know why you call it the Irish potato; potato came from America, and that is what saved millions of our fellow Irish people coming over here to this country.

The interesting thing about it, too, is I have been to Central America and I have been to El Salvador, and I say that for good reason, millions of these people coming from Latin America come to this country why? Because they love freedom, they seek opportunity for jobs, and want the best America has to offer. What's wrong with that?

I think this resolution signifies the importance that we should recognize not only the presence of our fellow Salvadoran Americans, but also the contributions that they made to this great country.

Again, I commend the gentlewoman from California for proposing this resolution and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 721) supporting the goals and ideals of a Salvadoran-American Day (El Dia del Salvadoreno) in recognition of all Salvadoran-Americans for their hard work, dedication, and contribution to the stability and well-being of the United States.

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 resolution under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 721 offered by the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis). This resolution would support the goals and ideals of a Salvadoran American Day.

Currently, thousands of Salvadoran Americans reside in the United States, mostly within California, the Washington, D.C. area, and New York. August 6 marks the date of the celebration of Fiestas Agostinas, an observance that dates back to 1525, paying homage to the cultural festivities of El Salvador, and is widely observed by the Latino community in the United States.

This day has grown in significance over the years as the Salvadoran- American community has matured and adapted the holiday to fit the lives of Salvadorans living in the United States. Living in a country built by offerings from many cultures and nationalities, Salvadorans have brought forth many economic and cultural contributions to weave into the American fabric.

I urge all Members to come together to pay homage to many Salvadoran Americans that are thriving in our society today by adopting H. Res. 721.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no other speakers at this moment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge Members to support H. Res. 721, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 721, legislation introduced by Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis that I am proud to have cosponsored. H. Res. 721 supports the goals and ideals of a Salvadoran-American Day (El Dia del Salvadoreno).

Currently, there are more than 900,000 Salvadoran Americans living in the United States, with the majority of them living in California, the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and New York. In the Los Angeles metropolitan area alone there are nearly 400,000 Salvadoran-Americans.

Today, El Dia del Salvadoreno is celebrated among the Latino community in California. This celebration of Salvadoran traditions dates back to 1525 when the city of Villa De San Salvador was founded.

The history of the United States is a rich and enduring tapestry woven with the threads of many remarkable cultures and events, and the lives, work, and artistry of Salvadoran-Americans have added strength, vitality, and purpose to that tapestry.

As a former Peace Corp volunteer in El Salvador, I experienced first hand the culture, hard work and dedication of the people. I commend Salvadoran-Americans for their resilience and contribution to the stability and well-being of the United States. I also thank the estimated 800 Salvadoran nationals who are currently serving in the U.S. military for their efforts on behalf of the security of our country.

The Salvadoran-American community continues to make great economic and cultural contributions to daily life in the United States, and I am proud to support H. Res. 721 and the goals and ideals of Salvadoran- American Day.