Mr. President, I was honored to join Majority Leader Frist in cosponsoring S. Res. 238 recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the vast contributions of Hispanic Americans to the strength…
Mr. President, I was honored to join Majority Leader Frist in cosponsoring S. Res. 238 recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the vast contributions of Hispanic Americans to the strength and culture of our Nation. S. Res. 238 passed the Senate by unanimous consent today, September 15, the kickoff of a month-long celebration and observation of Hispanic-American strength and culture in this country.
Diversity truly represents the best of America, a nation where each of us can be proud of our ancestry, our heritage, and our native language, yet a nation
where we at the same time can stand together with our neighbor, regardless of our own background, and all call ourselves Americans.
Hispanic Americans have much to be proud of and much to celebrate. I have said this before, but I am so proud to have been elected the first Cuban American in the Senate. I feel a great weight of responsibility in representing not only the Cuban-American community and the great State of Florida but in a way the entire Hispanic-American community in our country. I know my colleague from Colorado, Senator Salazar, must feel the same weight of responsibility. I am very honored to serve in this Senate with him.
As I like to say, in America, when you work hard and play by the rules, anything is possible. This year, Judge Alberto Gonzales was sworn in as our Attorney General.
Alberto Gonzales is the first Hispanic American to ever serve in one of the four elite Cabinet posts in Government--Defense, Treasury, State and Attorney General, which he now proudly occupies. He is an inspiration for our next generation. The second Cuban American to serve in the President's Cabinet also took office this year--Secretary Carlos Gutierrez at the Department of Commerce. I was proud to support both their nominations.
We have made great strides in breaking into the highest echelons of Government. And although I do not want to employ any litmus test of ethnicity, there would indeed be much to celebrate if our next Supreme Court nominee became the first Hispanic-American Justice of the Supreme Court.
Hispanic pride in our heritage has helped many look to their past for strength and use this strength to forge a better future for ourselves and our families in all facets of American life. Our achievements have greatly influenced America's policymaking, its economy, and the medical and artistic fields.
In fact, we should also point out that many Hispanic Americans proudly serve in our Armed Forces during this time of need. In fact, many have given their last measure of sacrifice, while others have suffered serious injuries.
But moving to other fields, now-deceased Cuban-American business leader and former chief executive officer of Coca-Cola Roberto Goizueta climbed the corporate ranks and helped Coca-Cola remain one of the premier brands around the world. Nobel Prize winner Severo Ochoa discovered the process that allows humans to create RNA in a test tube.
My close and personal friend, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, became the first Hispanic-American woman and first Cuban-American to be elected to the U.S. Congress. And within the artistic field, Brazilian artist Romero Britto, whose concern for the youth of the world, combined with social and political sources, has had his work appear in over 60 national and international publications.
Just like throughout the Nation, the Hispanic community within Florida continues to grow rapidly, and our creativity and ingenuity keep contributing to American culture. Hispanic American and owner of NGI Solutions, Martha Korman, is making significant economic contributions to the greater Tampa area.
Puerto Ricans, like Orange County Commissioner Mildred Fernandez, climbed the ranks and is working to encourage homeownership and growth of small businesses in the Orlando region.
Like many other Hispanics, Cuban-American Gus Machado began with nothing but a dream and dedicated himself to his business and his community, making him today the owner of the number one Ford car dealerships in the Miami area. In Jacksonville, FL, Dr. Javier Garcia- Bengochea made his mark as the innovator of several instruments and systems used to improve spinal surgeries.
And in Florida, just this week, a young man named Marco Rubio was named the first Cuban-American Speaker in the Florida House of Representatives, and, I might add, the first Hispanic American. I know that he is going to be a great leader and voice for the State of Florida, and a great role model for our next generation of Hispanic Americans who want to make a difference.
We are proud to be Americans. We gladly stand together with all Americans of all races, creeds, and beliefs in this great country that we call home.
Our goal in observing Hispanic Heritage Month is not to set ourselves apart, but to ask our fellow citizens to join us in celebrating our culture, our heritage, and our achievements.
With great pride we celebrate the pioneers in our Nation and in Florida during this National Hispanic Heritage Month.
We pay tribute to America's diversity and honor the countless contributions Hispanics have made throughout the history of this great country.
And finally, we celebrate the values of the Hispanic-American community--family, faith, liberty, love of this country and love of our roots.
Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business for 5 minutes.
