Bill Summary
The resolution supports the establishment of April 10 as "Dolores Huerta Day" to honor the significant contributions and legacy of Dolores Huerta, a prominent labor and civil rights leader. Born on April 10, 1930, Huerta co-founded the National Farm Workers Association with Cesar Chavez and played a key role in various labor movements, including organizing grape boycotts that led to better working conditions and labor rights for farm workers. She has been a fierce advocate for feminism and the rights of women and Latinos, promoting political participation among these groups. Huerta has received numerous accolades for her activism, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The resolution calls for recognition of her efforts to promote civil rights and equality in the United States.
Possible Impacts
The designation of April 10 as "Dolores Huerta Day" could have several impacts on people, including:
1. **Increased Awareness of Civil Rights Issues**: Celebrating Dolores Huerta Day can educate the public about her contributions to labor rights and civil rights, particularly for marginalized communities. This awareness may inspire individuals to engage in activism, advocate for social justice, and understand the importance of collective bargaining and workers' rights.
2. **Empowerment of Women and Minorities**: Recognizing Huerta's legacy may empower women and minority groups by highlighting her role as a feminist and a champion for Latino rights. This acknowledgment can encourage more women and individuals from diverse backgrounds to pursue leadership roles in politics and community organizing, fostering a more inclusive society.
3. **Promotion of Community Engagement**: The establishment of a dedicated day in Huerta's honor can serve as a catalyst for community events, discussions, and initiatives focused on social justice, labor rights, and equality. Such activities can bring people together, cultivate a sense of community, and encourage collaborative efforts to address ongoing social issues, thus enhancing community solidarity and activism.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 326 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 326
Supporting the designation of April 10 as ``Dolores Huerta Day'', in
honor of the accomplishments and legacy of the trailblazing labor and
civil rights leader Dolores Huerta.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 10, 2025
Ms. Garcia of Texas (for herself, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Bera, Ms. Brownley,
Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Casar, Mr. Castro of Texas, Ms. Chu, Mr. Cisneros,
Mr. Correa, Mr. Costa, Ms. Crockett, Mr. Cuellar, Mrs. Dingell, Mr.
Doggett, Ms. Escobar, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Frost, Mr. Garcia of
California, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr. Gomez, Mr. Green of Tennessee,
Mr. Huffman, Ms. Jacobs, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Ms. Leger Fernandez,
Ms. Lofgren, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr.
Mullin, Ms. Norton, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Panetta, Ms.
Pelosi, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Pou, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. Rivas, Mr. Ruiz, Ms.
Salinas, Ms. Sanchez, Mr. Soto, Ms. Stansbury, Mr. Thompson of
California, Ms. Titus, Mr. Torres of New York, Ms. Underwood, Mr.
Vargas, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Waters, Mr. Hernandez, and Mr. Vicente
Gonzalez of Texas) submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Supporting the designation of April 10 as ``Dolores Huerta Day'', in
honor of the accomplishments and legacy of the trailblazing labor and
civil rights leader Dolores Huerta.
Whereas Dolores Huerta was born on April 10, 1930, in Dawson, New Mexico;
Whereas Dolores Huerta began her activism career in 1955 when she cofounded the
Stockton, California, chapter of the Community Services Organization,
which worked to improve voting access and economic conditions for
Latinos;
Whereas, with her coorganizer Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta founded the National
Farm Workers Association, the predecessor of the United Farm Workers'
Union, in 1962;
Whereas Dolores Huerta was the driving force behind the nationwide table grape
boycotts in the late 1960s that led to a successful union contract by
1970;
Whereas Dolores Huerta helped organize the Delano strike of 5,000 grape workers
in 1965 and was the lead negotiator in developing the ensuing contract;
Whereas Dolores Huerta led another consumer boycott of grapes that was
instrumental in the groundbreaking enactment of the California
Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975, the first law in the United
States that allowed farm workers to collectively organize and bargain;
Whereas Dolores Huerta has worked tirelessly to create safer working conditions
for farm workers, including eliminating harmful pesticides;
Whereas Dolores Huerta served as the voice for feminism and women's equality
within the farm workers movement;
Whereas Dolores Huerta originated the phrase ``Si Se Puede'', which became a
rallying cry for the farm workers movement and against injustice
everywhere;
Whereas Dolores Huerta remained committed to her principles of nonviolent civil
activism, even when faced with violence at the hands of police and
growers;
Whereas, in 1993, Dolores Huerta became the first Latina inducted into the
National Women's Hall of Fame;
Whereas Dolores Huerta worked in the latter part of her career to elect more
Latinos and women to political office, and has been a champion for the
rights of women and Latinos;
Whereas Dolores Huerta traversed the country for 2 years on behalf of the
Feminist Majority's Feminization of Power: 50/50 by the year 2000
Campaign encouraging Latinas to run for office, which resulted in a
significant increase in the number of women representatives at the
local, State, and Federal levels;
Whereas Dolores Huerta also served as National Chair of the 21st Century Party
founded in 1992 on the principles that women make up 52 percent of the
party's candidates and that officers must reflect the ethnic diversity
of the Nation;
Whereas Dolores Huerta has received numerous awards, including the Eleanor
Roosevelt Human Rights Award in 1998 and in 2012 the Presidential Medal
of Freedom, the highest civilian honor;
Whereas Dolores Huerta holds 9 honorary doctorates, including from Princeton
University, Mills College, the University of the Pacific, and the
University of Southern California;
Whereas, in 1998, Dolores Huerta was named one of the 100 Most Important Women
of the 20th Century by Ladies Home Journal;
Whereas, in 2003, Dolores Huerta founded the Dolores Huerta Foundation to
continue her legacy of fighting for equality and civil rights, and is
currently the president of this foundation; and
Whereas the United States should continue to advance the efforts of Dolores
Huerta to ensure equal protection under the law and civil rights for all
people of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of ``Dolores Huerta Day''; and
(2) honors Dolores Huerta's legacy and contributions to
advancing civil rights and equality.
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