Hispanic Heritage Month
Floor Speech
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Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, every year since 1988, we have honored the achievements of the Latino community in the United States through Hispanic Heritage Month. My friend and mentor, Senator Paul Simon, was part of the effort to establish this important time to honor the contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities throughout American history, filled with stories of inspiration and courage. Today, I continue Paul's work by taking the time to honor this rich history and celebrate the leaders paving the way for a brighter future of this Nation.
Illinois is home to a large and vibrant Latino community. I have had the privilege of meeting Latino people from many walks of life, from Dreamers who grew up here, to newly arrived refugees fleeing tyranny. While their stories all differ, they share common themes of hope, resilience, and determination. In their stories, I see my family's story. My mother and her family escaped oppression to find freedom here in America. Many families have followed that same journey to provide a better life in Illinois and across the country. It is not easy to leave your home to travel to an unfamiliar place. But with their courage, they brought diverse cultures, sharing music, food, traditions, and history. The Latino community has made an indelible mark on Illinois through small businesses, top-performing Hispanic-serving institutions, and beautiful cultural centers and museums.
Commitment to family is a core tenant of Latino culture and extends to care for the community at large, where Latino leaders use their talents to help others. Juan and Maria Pedroza emigrated from Mexico in 1989 to Little Village with their small children. Like the story of many families across the country, they, too, came to the United States in search of the American dream, doing whatever it took to ensure a brighter future for their children. Their children--Juan Manuel Jr., Maria Socorro, Gabriela, and Pedro--went on to attend prestigious colleges and universities, including Harvard, DePauw, Cornell, and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Pedro's courage and spirit of service led him to serve in then-Mayor Rahm Emmanuel's office--the first Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals--DACA--recipient to serve in the mayor's office. Pedro recognized the needs of his community and answered the call to public service so others could grow and succeed. The Pedrozas' success has not come without great sacrifices, similar to those that many Latino families have had to make. But through extraordinary determination and resilience, they go above and beyond out of love of family and community.
Chicago also is home to a vibrant Puerto Rican community that has displayed great resilience in the face of serious challenges. Tragically, more than 900,000 Puerto Ricans have lost power in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona. Some areas received more than 30 inches of rain and, sadly, this devastation is a trend. Latinos in the United States are more likely than non-Hispanic Whites to experience heat waves, powerful hurricanes, sea level rises, and floods. It is estimated that Hispanic and Latino people are 43 percent more likely to live in an area expected to be too hot to work a full day outside due to climate change. And communities are responding. Across the United States, thousands of people have joined together to help Puerto Rico-- including in Illinois--where the Puerto Rican Agenda is working to provide immediate relief to those affected by natural disasters. I support their efforts and President Biden's approval of a major disaster declaration for Puerto Rico.
Tackling environmental injustice doesn't end there. Earlier this year, activists and community leaders in southeast Chicago raised concerns with the development of a metal shredder facility. The Chicago Health Department and the Environmental Protection Agency conducted a health impact assessment, finding the metal recycling plant would have increased air pollution and negatively impacted the mental health of residents. As a result, the city blocked the development. This story is not unique to Chicago; Latino communities across the United States have mobilized to make their voices heard and protect our communities.
We also saw this tenacity during the pandemic. Millions of Hispanic and Latino people served as frontline workers--treating patients, feeding communities, and working around the clock to disinfect schools, stores, and health centers at a grave personal cost. Today, Hispanic or Latino persons are twice as likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 and 1.8 times more likely to die from the virus, due to health disparities and continuous exposure. We must never forget the contributions they made, which have supported our Nation during one of its most difficult moments.
Countless Latino leaders have overcome systemic injustices to succeed and inspire the next generation of leaders. As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize the value the Latino community brings to our country through its work and culture. Resilience and love shine through in all that the community does and will continue to make us a stronger country for years to come.
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