Dusty Johnson: “I today publicly recognize the importance of National Hispanic Heritage Month. This 30-day observance begins September…”

“I today publicly recognize the importance of National Hispanic Heritage Month. This 30-day observance begins September 15th, the independence day of five Latin American countries, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and includes Mexico's Independence Day, September 16, as well as Chile's day of Independence, September 18. Despite that Hispanic Americans have played important roles in our great nation for the last five centuries, it wasn't until the 1960s that this legislative body officially honored the Hispanic ethnic legacy. In 1968 Congress voted to name the week including September 15 and 16 National Hispanic Heritage Week, and in 1988 Congress passed Public Law 100-402, expanding National Hispanic Heritage Week to a 30-day celebration. Hispanic individuals have made immeasurable contributions to America in many fields. Dr. Severo Ochoa discovered RNA, Ribonucleic acid, and as a result won the Nobel Prize and set the foundations of many of today's medical technologies. Cesar Chaves made great strides in worker's rights, and more than three dozen Hispanic Americans have been awarded the Medal of Honor for their military service to our country. America, the great melting pot, has always taken pride in her diversity. Over 10,000 of my constituents are of Hispanic origin, and approximately 40 million Hispanics call America home, making them the United States' largest minority group.”