Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements and birthday this March 31st of the late Cesar Chavez, a true pioneer for workers and communities who rose to become one of our nation's--and world's--greatest advocates of nonviolent social change.
Cesar Chavez is best remembered for founding and leading the first successful farm workers' union and becoming the president of the United Farm Workers of America. His tremendous efforts--and those who worked with him--improved the lives of tens of thousands of workers and families, and inspired millions of people from all walks of life around our nation and world.
Born on a small Arizona farm on March 31, 1927, Cesar Chavez began his life as a farm worker in the field at age 10. He served in the United States Navy during World War II.
With the strength of family and the unity of fellow farm workers, Cesar Chavez became an organizer with the Community Service Organization, a civic group of Mexican-Americans, in the early 1950s. Soon thereafter, he moved with his wife, Helen, and eight children to California's Central Valley where he founded the National Farm Workers Association. With his young children by his side, Cesar would visit California farm communities to bring public light to the substandard working conditions and lack of sufficient pay and benefits of thousands of Latino migrant workers who worked long hours on farms. Chavez led peaceful boycotts to bring national attention to the fight for equality and justice for migrant farm workers. His passionate leadership brought together a remarkable alliance of students, unions, minorities, churches and others to fight for their fellow men, women, and children working in the agricultural sector.
I was proud to be a member of the California State Senate in 2000 and vote to have the State of California recognize Cesar Chavez's birthday as a day to remember his good work and to re-ignite our personal and social passion for continually improving the conditions of workers and communities across our nation and world.
So, Mr. Speaker, today I ask all Members of the United States House of Representatives to pause and honor a great man, Cesar Chavez, and the great cause he helped lead of advancing fairness, justice, and the improvement of the living and working conditions of our fellow human beings.