Providing funding to ensure the printing and production of the authorized number of copies of the revised and updated version of the House document entitled "Hispanic Americans in Congress", and for other purposes.

First of all, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for bringing this bill to the floor.

In 2001, I sponsored the original resolution which created the ``Hispanic Americans in Congress'' book. And to some folks watching this debate, that may not be the most important bill we will debate in the next couple of days--or it may be, for that matter--but on the other hand, when you really think of the historic nature of this resolution and what happened in 2001, where this book became a very big item in libraries and communities throughout the Nation--in fact, Members of Congress received a lot of mail and phone calls at that time asking for copies, and of course it was a very limited amount.

Now, this resolution would allow for a growth in that number, but most importantly, dealing with the world we deal in today, this resolution allows for a digital copy to be made available. Now, I don't know the specific language of the bill, but I would imagine that any American then can take that digital copy and make their own copy, and so libraries and schools and individuals will be able to make that number grow. And it's important to know why that is an important thing to do.

``Women in Congress,'' ``African Americans in Congress,'' ``Hispanics in Congress'' was simply a way for people to say we have a lot of information about these particular communities in terms of what they've done in sports, in show business, in business, but there's little information--very little--as to what has happened in Congress since the beginning of time of our Republic. So this book, when it first came out, was really something that incurred a lot of research and brought about a lot of discussion because people just did not know how long back there had been Hispanic Americans in Congress.

Finally, with the growth of the Latino leadership community, with the fact that when this book first came out, to be honest, it was really a book about this side of the aisle, now the next book will be about a wide side of the aisle, both sides, because it has grown dramatically, and we suspect after the next election the number will even grow more dramatically.

So I thank you both for bringing this resolution up. I hope all Members vote for it unanimously and we can get the book printed as soon as possible.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to adopt this resolution which the chairman has accurately described. Members who served in the 107th Congress will recall that in 2001 we authorized new additions of three congressional publications: ``Women in Congress,'' ``Black Americans in Congress,'' and ``Hispanic Americans in Congress.''

The new editions of ``Women in Congress'' and ``Black Americans in Congress'' were distributed to Members, libraries, and others in 2007 pursuant to their respective authorizations. However, in the 11 years since we authorized the new edition of Hispanic Americans in Congress, circumstances have changed, including, I am delighted to say, the election of more Hispanics to serve in this House and the other body. This means the new edition will be larger than estimated, and the cost of printing the same number of copies of Hispanic Americans will likely be larger.

As I urge adoption of this resolution, I wish to thank the Clerk, who worked on this revised edition, and the dedicated men and women of the Government Printing Office, who procure the volumes for their fine work.

The new editions of ``Women in Congress'' and ``Black Americans in Congress'' are useful, high-quality reference volumes of great value to students, historians, and us. I am certain the new edition of ``Hispanic Americans in Congress'' will similarly be well received when published and distributed in the coming months.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano) for as much time as he may consume.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 132) providing funding to ensure the printing and production of the authorized number of copies of the revised and updated version of the House document entitled ``Hispanic Americans in Congress,'' and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 132, providing funding to ensure the printing and production of the authorized number of copies of the revised and updated version of the House document entitled ``Hispanic Americans in Congress.''

The previous authorization from the 107th Congress did not authorize sufficient funds to make available to Members the same number of copies as the previous publications of ``Black Americans in Congress'' and ``Women in Congress.'' Additionally, the resolution also authorizes the electronic publication of ``Hispanic Americans in Congress,'' ``Women in Congress,'' and ``Black Americans in Congress,'' thereby bringing us up to what is becoming more and more the way of publication, that is, by electronic means.

This resolution will help to ensure that this valuable history will be available for future generations. I would urge my colleagues to support the resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no more requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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