S.Res. 545 — Introduced in Senate

III 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 545 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 15, 2014Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Reid, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Begich, Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Casey, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mrs. Hagan, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Markey, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Reed, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mr. Warner, and Ms. Warren) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the heritage and culture of Latinos in the United States and the immense contributions of Latinos to the United States. Whereas from September 15, 2014, through October 15, 2014, the United States celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month; Whereas the Census Bureau estimates the Hispanic population in the United States at over 54,000,000 people, making Hispanic Americans 17 percent of the population of the United States and the largest racial or ethnic minority group in the United States; Whereas Hispanic Americans are also the largest racial or ethnic minority group in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and 22 individual States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming; Whereas in 2013, there were 1,000,000 or more Latino residents in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and each of the following 8 States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Texas; Whereas Latinos grew the United States population by 1,100,000 between July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2013, accounting for nearly half of all population growth during this period; Whereas the Latino population in the United States is projected to grow to 128,800,000 by 2060, at which point the Latino population will comprise 31 percent of the total United States population; Whereas the Latino population in the United States is currently the second largest worldwide, exceeding the size of the Latino population in every country except Mexico; Whereas there were 11,900,000 Latino family households in the United States in 2013, and Latino children under the age of 18 represent approximately 1/3 of the total Latino population in the United States; Whereas 1 in 4 public school students in the United States is Latino, and the total number of school-age Latino children in the United States is expected to reach 28,000,000 by 2050; Whereas 18 percent of all college students between the ages of 18 and 24 years old are Latino, making Latinos the largest racial or ethnic minority group on college campuses in the United States, including both 2-year community colleges and 4-year colleges and universities; Whereas a record 11,200,000 Latinos voted in the 2012 Presidential election, representing a record 8.4 percent of the electorate in the United States; Whereas an estimated 23,500,000 Latinos are eligible to vote in the 2014 midterm elections, and the number of eligible Latino voters is expected to rise to 40,000,000 by 2030; Whereas more than 2,000 Latino citizens turn 18 and become eligible to vote every day, and an average of 900,000 Latino citizens will turn 18 and become eligible to vote every year between 2014 and 2028; Whereas the annual purchasing power of Hispanic Americans is an estimated $1,200,000,000,000 and is expected to grow to $1,500,000,000,000 by 2015; Whereas there are more than 3,200,000 Hispanic-owned firms in the United States, supporting millions of employees nationwide and contributing more than $468,000,000,000 in revenue to the economy of the United States; Whereas Hispanic-owned businesses represent the fastest-growing segment of small businesses in the United States, with Latino entrepreneurs starting businesses at more than twice the national rate; Whereas, as of August 2014, more than 25,000,0000 Latino workers represented 16.3 percent of the total civilian labor force in the United States, and the share of Latino labor force participation is expected to grow to 19.1 percent by 2022; Whereas Latinos have the highest labor force participation rate of any racial or ethnic group at 66 percent, compared to 62.8 percent overall; Whereas in 2013, there were 298,000 Latino elementary and middle school teachers, 65,000 Latino chief executives of businesses, 55,000 Latino lawyers, and 35,000 Latino physicians and surgeons contributing to the United States through their professions; Whereas Hispanic Americans serve in all branches of the Armed Forces and have bravely fought in every war in the history of the United States; Whereas, as of July 31, 2014, 163,636 Hispanic active duty servicemembers served with distinction in the Armed Forces of the United States; Whereas, as of July 31, 2014, a total of 88,709 Hispanics had served in Afghanistan; Whereas, as of September 2014, 675 United States military fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan were Hispanic; Whereas more than 80,000 Hispanics served in the Vietnam War, representing 5.5 percent of individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States in the conflict, even though Hispanics comprised only 4.5 percent of the population of the United States at the time; Whereas 140,000 Hispanic soldiers served in the Korean War; Whereas, as of September 2014, there are an estimated 1,386,000 Hispanic veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States; Whereas 61 Hispanic Americans have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed on an individual serving in the Armed Forces of the United States; Whereas Hispanic Americans are dedicated public servants, holding posts at the highest levels of government, including 1 seat on the Supreme Court, 3 seats in the Senate, 33 seats in the House of Representatives, and 3 seats in the Cabinet; and Whereas Hispanic Americans harbor a deep commitment to family and community, an enduring work ethic, and a perseverance to succeed and contribute to society: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate— (1) recognizes the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15, 2014, through October 15, 2014; (2) esteems the integral role of Latinos and the manifold heritage of Latinos in the economy, culture, and identity of the United States; and (3) urges the people of the United States to observe Hispanic Heritage Month with appropriate programs and activities that celebrate the contributions of Latinos to American life.