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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 347. I rise to recognize the historical importance of the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo. The fifth day of May, or Cinco de Mayo, is a special day because it represents the importance of freedom, liberty and determination for the people of Mexico and for Mexican-Americans. It was on that day, May 5, 1862, that untrained, outnumbered, and outgunned Mexican forces--determined to protect their land-- successfully defended the town of Puebla against the French.

The quest for an independent Mexico started on September 16, 1810, when the people of Mexico, following the will to become a free nation, refused to submit to Spanish rule. The struggle went on for 10 years. Finally, in 1821, the first independent Mexican government was established.

But being an independent nation was not easy. Over the years, Mexico received economic support from several nations, France and England among them. Later on, even Spain supported the new country. Thus, Mexico became heavily indebted to foreign powers. Due to ongoing political unrest caused by many groups struggling for power, Mexico was not able to pay back the loans. On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium in which all-foreign debt payments would be suspended for a period of two years, with the promise that after this period, payments would resume.

In 1862, France, Spain, and England dispatched their fleets to Mexican shores pursuing not only money but also land rights as payment for their loans. A government representative greeted them and explained that Mexico acknowledge its debts, but had no funds to pay them. They were offered payment warrants in exchange.

The Spaniards and the British decided to accept the warrants and withdrew from the scene. But the French government's representative did not accept the offer and ordered his troops to invade the country and head toward Mexico City, the nation's capital. They had to cross through the state of Puebla to get to the capital.

Mexican President Benito Juarez. reacted immediately and prepared the defense. He commanded Ignacio Zaragoza, a young and brave General, to fortify the City of Puebla and repel the French invaders.

The battle was by no means even. France, under Louis Napoleon's rule, had the world's most powerful army, and sent more than six thousand men to invade Mexico. But the courage and the love of freedom impelled the Mexican people to fight back.

General Ignacio Zaragoza led 5,000 ill-equipped Mestizo and Zapotec Indians called Zacapoaxtlas. On the 5th of May 1862, the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe, in the city of Puebla, became the scene of the historical defeat of the great European army. Against overwhelming odds, they managed to drive back the French army, achieving a total victory over soldiers deemed among the best trained and equipped in the world and embarking on the end of the European domination in America.

For Mexico, this day has come to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism in the history of Mexico. In our country, Cinco de Mayo is also a celebration of the rich cultural heritage Mexican Americans have brought to the United States.

Hispanics are the fastest-growing minority group in the United States. According to the most recent data available, the estimated Hispanic population in the U.S. is 42.7 million--constituting 14 percent of our nation's population.

Hispanics now own a record number of small businesses--1.6 million, with annual revenues of more than $221 billion. Small businesses create two-thirds of American jobs, and the fastest-growing small business sector is Latino-owned firms.

Today, there are 30 Hispanic Members in the United States Congress, including 24 Democrats, many of whom are Mexican-American, representing constituencies in all regions of the country, from California to New York, from Arizona to Illinois, from Colorado to Florida.

These gains and numbers tell us that Hispanics are a driving force in our country--economically, socially and politically. Hispanics share the common goals with all other Americans of freedom, opportunity, and a chance to build a better life. In pursuing these aspirations, Hispanics have made important contributions to life in the United States in the fields of culture, sports, entertainment, business enterprise, science, politics and others.

On Saturday, May 5th, millions of Americans will join our neighbors to the south in celebrating Cinco de Mayo. On this day, we are reminded that all people--regardless of their race, color, or gender--have enriched cultures and are worthy of respect and self-determination.

I am happy to be here today to celebrate this momentous day and to recognize the values, traditions, and positive contributions of

the Mexican culture. I urge all members to join me in supporting H. Res. 347, and commemorate the historical significance of Cinco de Mayo.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleagues and my friend Albio Sires for yielding me the time. I would also like to thank Chairman Lantos and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen and then, of course, my friend Dan Burton and the leadership for their support and their effort in bringing this bipartisan resolution to the floor.

I rise today in support of H. Res. 347, a resolution honoring the significance and impact of Cinco de Mayo. This Resolution 347 recognizes the Cinco de Mayo holiday, which commemorates May 5, 1862, the date in which the Battle of Puebla was fought by Mexicans who were struggling for their independence and freedom.

While Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican Army's victory over

France in this key battle, it was also but one of many battles for the courageous Mexican people who won their long and brave struggle for independence and freedom.

Today the Cinco de Mayo holiday is not only the commemoration of the defeat of the French foreign army, it is also a celebration of virtues of individual courage and patriotism of all Mexicans and Mexican Americans who have fought for freedom and independence against foreign aggressors.

Cinco de Mayo is also a day to celebrate the rich cultural heritage that Latinos have brought to the United States. Latinos are the fastest growing minority population in the country, representing 45 million people, 17 percent of the total population. The Latino community has made many important contributions in all aspects of life: the arts, sports, the business world, sciences. Latinos have also fought in all American wars beginning with the Revolutionary War, earning 41 Medals of Honor overall. In World War II, 500,000 Hispanics fought, 65 Puerto Ricans fought. Thirteen Medals of Honor, 11 Mexican Americans, one Puerto Rican. Today there are over 30 Latino Members in the United States Congress. This statistic points to what a driving force the Latino community has become in our country economically, socially, and politically.

Cinco de Mayo also provides us with a great opportunity to look back at our own heritage as Americans. We must remember that our country was built by people from different homelands with different diverse cultures held together by common bond with a willingness to fight and die for freedom.

Unfortunately for Latinos, there are many inequities that have put our communities at a social and economic disadvantage. My colleagues and I in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus are working together in a bipartisan basis to end these barriers to increase opportunities for Latinos, particularly in areas of education, health care, homeownership, and equal representation in corporate America. As Americans, we must unite to achieve these common goals.

In a large sense, Cinco de Mayo symbolizes the right of a free people to self-determination, just as Benito Juarez once said: ``The respect of other people's rights is peace.''

I ask my colleagues to support H. Res. 347.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 347) recognizing the historical significance of the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution.

I would like to begin by applauding the efforts and the leadership of the author of the resolution, Congressman Joe Baca, who is also the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Mr. Speaker, the Cinco de Mayo holiday commemorates the May 5, 1862, victory of a vastly outnumbered Mexican Army under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza over Napoleon III's regiments at the Battle of Puebla.

The triumph of the Mexican people over the French in this battle has come to symbolize the fight for freedom and justice. To most of us in the United States, this holiday is expressed through the enjoyment of Mexican and Mexican American culture, the food, the music, and the customs. This resolution encourages continuing those celebrations, but it also reminds us that Cinco de Mayo is a tribute to the contributions that the Mexicans and Mexican Americans have made and continue to make across our Nation.

We take pride in these achievements and in the continuing dedication of thousands of Mexican American men and women in uniform.

Cinco de Mayo reminds us that the foundation of the United States is built by people from many nations and diverse cultures willing to fight and die to make ours a stronger and freer world.

I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California's 43rd District, chairman of the Committee on Agriculture's Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from the 15th District in Texas, chairman of the Education and Labor Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitivness, and member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (Mr. Hinojosa).

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 347, and also I rise to honor a true hero who gave his life to free his country from foreign oppression.

Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin was born in 1829 near what is now Goliad, Texas, a community in my congressional district.

In 1862 French troops began a march to capture Mexico City. They met the Mexican forces led by a courageous and well-trained 33-year-old general at the city of Puebla, Mexico, in a battle that lasted the entire day of May 5, 1862. Under General Ignacio Zaragoza's leadership, the vastly outnumbered Mexican Army forced the withdrawal of Napoleon III's army, the premier army in the world.

French Army losses were heavy, but Mexican troop casualties were few. The costly delay in Puebla, Mexico helped shorten the French intervention. It also helped preserve the American Union as it kept the French Army too busy to directly aid the Confederacy with troops during the U.S. Civil War.

General Zaragoza and his troops received a hero's welcome in Mexico City. While visiting his sick troops, Ignacio contracted typhoid fever and died on September 8, 1862 at the age of 33, only a few months after the great battle against the French.

President Juarez declared May 5, Cinco de Mayo, a national holiday in his country. Today, we celebrate Cinco de Mayo throughout Mexico and around the world, but I hope that as we celebrate it, we remember the courage and sacrifice of this true hero.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

First of all, I want to congratulate Mr. Baca, my good buddy, for sponsoring this resolution. And I want to say very briefly that our side supports moving forward with this resolution of the gentleman from California, which recognizes the historical significance of Cinco de Mayo.

Our good neighbors to the south, Mexico, and we here in the U.S.A. have many things and values in common, and we ought to celebrate and share them together, as this resolution does today. Cinco de Mayo is an important holiday celebrated to commemorate May 5, 1862, the date Mexicans fought the Battle of Puebla to end their struggle for independence and freedom.

So let us recognize the historic struggle for independence and freedom of the Mexican people as symbolized by this important holiday and celebrate and rejoice together the holiday of Cinco de Mayo.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.