Pete Stark: “I rise today to acknowledge California's historic 150th birthday celebration. California officially entered the United…”

“I rise today to acknowledge California's historic 150th birthday celebration. California officially entered the United States on September 9, 1850 but the foundations for the development of California were in place well before this important date. Under the Spanish Empire, the colonization and eventual settlement of California was greatly influenced by the mission system. The missions were founded to secure Spain's claim to land and to teach the native people Christianity and the Spanish way of life. The placement of the missions had a direct impact on the development of California, as the missions fostered agriculture, vintnering, livestock raising, and trade as well as religion. I am proud to recognize Mission San Jose, a historical mission in Fremont, California and part of the 13th Congressional District. Mission San Jose was founded on June 11, 1797, by Father Fermin Francisco de Lausen. The mission was the fourteenth of the twenty-one Spanish Missions in California and was one of the most prosperous of all the California missions. Mission San Jose was the center of industry and agriculture; its location was chosen for the abundance of natural resources in this region.”