PRINTER'S NO. 2189
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
145
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY GUZMAN, BURGOS, HANBIDGE, SANCHEZ, ROZZI, KINSEY,
HOWARD, HILL-EVANS, CONKLIN, VITALI, SCHLOSSBERG, SAPPEY,
HEFFLEY, T. DAVIS, GUENST, MENTZER, R. BROWN, DELLOSO,
MILLARD, McNEILL, O'MARA, BURNS, KIM, N. NELSON, NEILSON,
MALAGARI, WEBSTER, HERRIN, FRANKEL, HENNESSEY, INNAMORATO,
A. DAVIS, JOZWIAK, D. WILLIAMS, SHUSTERMAN, SCHLEGEL CULVER,
LEE, HOHENSTEIN, LEWIS, PASHINSKI, DeLUCA, KINKEAD, CIRESI
AND SAYLOR, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Designating September 15 through October 15, 2021, as "Hispanic
Heritage Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, "Hispanic Heritage Month" is recognized every year
in the United States in celebration and honor of the cultures
and contributions of Americans who trace their roots back to
Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America and Spanish-
speaking Caribbean nations; and
WHEREAS, This month-long celebration pays tribute to the
generations of Hispanic and Latino Americans who have had a
positive and enriching influence on our nation and society; and
WHEREAS, Esteemed trailblazers to be celebrated include
Dolores Huerta; Cesar Chavez; Sylvia Rivera; Roberto Clemente,
the first Latin American and Caribbean American to win a World
Series as a starting player; Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic-
American woman to go to space and serve as director of the
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Johnson Space Center; and Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic
American to serve as a member of the United States Supreme
Court; and
WHEREAS, The celebration originated as "Hispanic Heritage
Week" from a bill introduced by California Congressman George E.
Brown to recognize the role Hispanic communities played
throughout American history; and
WHEREAS, The effort by Congressman Brown eventually led to
Congress passing a law that allowed President Lyndon B. Johnson
to issue the first "Hispanic Heritage Week" in September 1968;
and
WHEREAS, "Hispanic Heritage Week" was expanded to a month-
long celebration through the work of California Congressman
Esteban E. Torres and United States Senator Paul Simon from
Illinois who proposed the idea; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Torres and Senator Simon successfully
passed a bill through Congress that was signed by President
Ronald Reagan in 1988, allowing President George H.W. Bush to
declare the first "Hispanic Heritage Month" from September 15 to
October 15, 1989; and
WHEREAS, "Hispanic Heritage Month" coincides with the
anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua on September 15; the
anniversary of independence for Mexico on September 16; the
anniversary of independence for Chile on September 18; and Día
de la Raza, which is celebrated on October 12; and
WHEREAS, The United States Census Bureau estimated in 2019
that the United States has a Hispanic population of 60.6 million
making it the largest ethnic minority in the country and Latinos
accounting for over half of all the United State's population
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growth since 2010; and
WHEREAS, Hispanic Americans have faithfully served in the
United States military throughout the nation's history,
currently making up nearly 16% of the active-duty population;
and
WHEREAS, Nearly 1 million Hispanics call Pennsylvania home,
serving as an integral part of the cultural diversity of this
Commonwealth by sharing their music, food, art, dance and other
aspects of their rich traditions and serving a significant role
within the Pennsylvania economy as business owners, public
servants and essential workers; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is in debt to many individuals in
Hispanic communities for the significant role they have played
in essential professions during the COVID-19 pandemic,
especially in the agriculture and food services industries in
which Hispanics make up the majority of the workforce
nationally; and
WHEREAS, "Hispanic Heritage Month" has long been an important
opportunity to celebrate and honor communities of Hispanic
origin, recognizing that these communities bring significant
value to this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, These communities serve as fine examples of how all
citizens might live out the values of this Commonwealth through
service, faith and a desire to achieve the American dream;
therefore be it
RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
designate September 15 through October 15, 2021, as "Hispanic
Heritage Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the General Assembly call on every
Pennsylvanian to honor the culture and history represented
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within Hispanic communities through robust learning, service and
celebration, recognizing the positive impact these communities
have on the Commonwealth and the nation.
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