Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Azorean Refugee Act of 1958

Floor Speech

COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AZOREAN REFUGEE ACT OF 1958 -- (House of Representatives - September 22, 2008)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, today it is my honor to rise in strong support of House Resolution 1438, which commemorates, as noted by the two previous speakers, the 50th anniversary of the Azorean Refugee Act of 1958.

This resolution is sponsored by the Portuguese Caucus, my colleagues and good friend Congressman Devin Nunes and Congressman Dennis Cardoza. We've worked on this together, not only to take note of this significant anniversary, but also to coordinate with our guests, the President of the Portuguese Parliament and three members of the House of Deputies.

It was September 27, 1957, when the island of Faial experienced a series of volcanic eruptions that lasted for over a year and shattered the economic infrastructure of that island, and had impacts throughout the Archipelago.

During that time, two great United States Senators, John Pastore of Rhode Island, who represented a large Portuguese constituency, and Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts, later to become the 35th President of the United States, offered to help those who were suffering as a result of this natural event that devastated the islands. They did so by drafting and passing the law of Azorean Refugee Act of 1958.

It made available special non-quota immigrant visas available to the victims of the earthquakes and volcanoes, and it was extended until 1963, that allowed even more refugees to come to the United States.

Between 1960 and 1980, over 175,000 Azoreans have come to establish and develop their roots in the United States and, at the same time, maintain their family relationships to their friends and their members of their families in the Azores and in Portugal. In fact, the 2000 U.S. Census showed that there were almost 2 million Portuguese-Americans in the United States, many of them of Azorean descent.

Mr. Speaker, these Portuguese immigrants have contributed greatly to the fabric of our Nation, not only in the Northeast and New England, but in California as well. As has been noted, they have participated in all walks of life. In my district and Mr. Cardoza and Mr. Nunes' the Portuguese-Americans have been dominant in the San Joaquin Valley, not just in the dairy industry, but yes, they've also become teachers and doctors and judges and yes, even Members of Congress.

The Portuguese culture is thriving in the San Joaquin Valley, and there are many festas throughout the year, family reunions, the exchanges of those traditions and the ties that bind us quite well.

It's important to note that we have, as I mentioned a moment ago, a visiting delegation. Up in the gallery we have the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal, President Jaime Gama. With him are the former Speaker, Joao Moto Amaral, next to him is a member of the House of Deputies, Antonio Filipe, as well as Ricardo Rodrigues. And we're very appreciative that they be could be here to witness this 50th anniversary and this acknowledgment, because we need to understand that it's more than just like immigrants before and immigrants since. We have had a solid relationship with Portugal with the largest Air Force base, military strategic diplomatic involvement as it relates to just not Europe but the Middle East and Africa, all very vital to America's interests.

Again, we want to recognize all those Portuguese-Americans for their contributions to our Nation, the Azoreans who came to America under this Azorean Refugee Act. We want to thank our Portuguese Caucus, Congressman Nunes, Cardoza, Congressman Frank, Congressman Kennedy and McGovern, all who are cosponsors of this resolution who represent significant Portuguese communities.

We also want to thank Chairman Conyers, Ranking Member Lamar Smith and the leadership on both sides for moving this resolution in an expedited fashion through the committee process and onto the floor. We urge an ``aye'' vote.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source