A resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the heritage and culture of Latinos in the United States and their immense contributions to the Nation.

Madam President, I rise today to recognize September 15 through October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month. America has always celebrated its diverse heritage with pride. It has always honored those who have contributed and made this Nation great.

Irish Americans, Italian Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans--all Americans--have come to this Nation and added to the rich and colorful patchwork quilt of American democracy.

This resolution recognizes Hispanic Americans for the contributions they have made to the rich fabric of America. It designates the next 30 days as Hispanic Heritage Month and in so doing celebrates the long history of Latinos in the United States and the extraordinary contribution they have made to this Nation throughout our history. That history is clear--written boldly but sometimes little known. But this is our history in America, and it is America's history.

Latinos have proudly served this Nation, helped build it and defend it, and continue to serve today.

We have been contributing to and have been part of the American tapestry for hundreds of years. Hispanics fought for freedom alongside the patriots in the American Revolution.

Increasingly, we find references to those who came before us-- Bernardo de Galvez, a Spanish army officer--the Governor of Louisiana from 1775 to 1785--who played a role in blocking British advances against George Washington in the American Revolution. And Jorge Farragut, a Spanish ship captain who came to America and fought for the colonies against the British.

He was the father of the Civil War hero ADM David Farragut, known for his famous rallying cry, ``Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead.''

I would imagine that few who walk past Farragut Square in Washington--not far from this Chamber--realize that Admiral Farragut was of Hispanic origin.

Latinos fought and died on both sides of the Civil War and have participated in every war since. There were at least 10,000 Mexican Americans fighting for the Union during the Civil War and a number of others fighting for the Confederacy.

In one of the folkloric tales of the Civil War, there was the story of Loretta Velasquez who was born in Cuba and claimed that she disguised herself as a male lieutenant and fought against Union forces at several battles, including Bull Run, and later claimed to have worked as a spy for the Confederacy.

Even in the Spanish-American War, a dozen Latinos were among Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders.

In World War I, an Army pilot, David Cantu Barkley of Laredo, TX, of Mexican decent volunteered to penetrate German lines in France. With a comrade, he drew maps of German positions and supplies.

Barkley drowned on the return trip, but his partner survived and carried back the logistical information. Praised by General Pershing, Barkley won the Medal of Honor. Among the heroes of World War II was marine PFC Guy ``Gabby'' Gabaldon who won the Navy Cross for capturing more than a thousand enemy soldiers in the South Pacific during the summer of 1944.

The honor and patriotism of these brave soldiers cannot be overstated.

The story of Alejandro Ruiz, an Army private who fought in Okinawa, epitomizes their commitment to this Nation and the tragedy some of them endured.

Private Ruiz's Medal of Honor citation noted his ``conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty.

. . . When an enemy soldier charged him his rifle jammed. Undaunted Private Ruiz whirled on his opponent and clubbed him down . . .

. . . Leaping from one opening to another, he sent burst after burst into the pillbox, killing 12 of the enemy and completely destroying the position . . .

. . . Private Ruiz's heroic conduct in the face of overwhelming odds, saved the lives of many of his comrades and eliminated an obstacle that long would have checked his unit's advance.''

Private Ruiz wrote in a letter: ``I never questioned my duty because I believe that as Americans we have a responsibility to serve our country and preserve our way of life and freedoms. All I can say is I did what I had to do.''

Private Ruiz served this Nation with honor. Madam President, 14,000 Hispanic soldiers served in Korea and more than 300 died; 80,000 Hispanics served in the Vietnam war, representing 5.5 percent of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country in those years--even though, at the time, Latinos comprised only 4.5 percent of the population.

As we speak, 28,000 Latinos currently serve with distinction in Afghanistan and Iraq; 561 casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan have been Hispanic casualties.

In fact, there are almost 1.5 million Hispanic veterans of the Armed Forces in this country today who also served with honor.

And of the Hispanics who have served in uniform, 41 of them have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, including David Cantu Barkley and Private Ruiz.

This month we celebrate the contribution of all Latinos to the history of this Nation.

We celebrate the contribution of the many community leaders and local heroes in our neighborhoods, our cities, and towns, and in every State in America.

All across this Nation, the Latino population is growing. We are now the largest minority group in the country--contributing to the community, the economy, and the political debate.

Today, Hispanics hold 29 seats in the U.S. Congress, 2 in the Cabinet, and 1 on the Supreme Court.

We are no longer on the outside looking in. We are at the table on every major issue before Congress--every major issue before the courts.

I stand here, a United States Senator, a lawyer, a Hispanic American who took his seat on the floor of this Chamber not long ago and proudly cast my vote for Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

That was a historic moment for me, a historic moment for the Hispanic American community, one we will never forget, but I can say with some measure of confidence, I believe it is only the beginning.

This month let us celebrate not only Hispanic Heritage but let us proudly celebrate and proclaim the history of Hispanics in America going back to the Revolution, and then let us recognize the role a new generation of young Latinos will play in making this, the 21st century, another American century.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and join with me in celebrating the heritage and culture of Latinos in the United States and their immense contributions to this Nation.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 629, submitted earlier today.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.