Sessions objects to S.Res.404, Cesar Estrada Chavez
Senator Sessions asked to modify the request with a Vitter amendment at the desk. Senator Menendez did not accept the request to modify and Senator Sessions objected to the original request.
The unofficial transcript of the exchange is below.
MR. MENENDEZ: MR. PRESIDENT, I SHORTLY AM GOING TO MAKE A
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST ON S. RES. 404, A RESOLUTION THAT I
INTRODUCED HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF CESAR CHAVEZ. THIS
RESOLUTION HAS BEEN BLOCKED BY MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE AISLE EVERY TIME IT HAS COME UP FOR THE LAST SEVEN
CONSECUTIVE YEARS. EVERY TIME. EVERY TIME. NOW, TODAY, ON WHAT
WOULD HAVE BEEN CESAR CHAVEZ'S 87th BIRTHDAY, I ASK MY
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES TO FIND IT IN THEIR HEARTS TO HONOR A MAN
WHO REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COUNTRY. FRANKLY, I DON'T
UNDERSTAND THEIR RELUCTANCE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THEIR
OBSTRUCTIONISM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN LOOK BACK AT
THAT TIME IN HISTORY, AT THE SACRIFICES CESAR CHAVEZ MADE FOR
OUR COUNTRY, ASKING FOR NOTHING MORE THAN FAIR TREATMENT AND
JUSTICE. NOW, I REALIZE IT'S UNCOMMON TO MAKE A LIVE UNANIMOUS
CONSENT REQUEST FOR A COMMEMORATIVE RESOLUTION, BUT IF
REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO OBJECT YET AGAIN FOR AN EIGHTH YEAR IN
A ROW TO HONORING A -- IN MY VIEW, A GREAT AMERICAN HERO, I
REALLY WANT IT TO BE ON THE RECORD. I THINK REPUBLICANS NEED TO
ANSWER TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AS TO WHY AS A PARTY THEY CAN
AGREE TO PASSING RESOLUTIONS HONORING WORLD PLUMBING DAY OR
CONGRATULATING THE PENN STATE DANCE MARATHON -- BOTH SENATE
RESOLUTIONS THAT WERE ADOPTED THIS MONTH BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT
-- BUT INSIST ON STANDING IN THE WAY OF HONORING A CIVIL RIGHTS
TRAIL BLAZER WHO CHANGED THE COURSE OF OUR NATION'S HISTORY.
CESAR CHAVEZ WAS A MAN BEFORE HIS TIME AND HE DESERVES PROPER
RECOGNITION. HE DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY,
JUSTICE AND DIGNITY. NOT ONLY FOR HISPANIC FARM WORKERS BUT FOR
ALL WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES. YET OUR FRIENDS ON THE OTHER
SIDE CANNOT FIND IT IN THEIR HEARTS TO HONOR HIM, AND I HAVE TO
ASK WHY. WHY CAN'T THEY SIMPLY SAY "YES"?
IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY MAN WHO GAVE OF HIMSELF FOR HIS CAUSE
AND DESERVES TO BE REMEMBERED AND HONORED BY THE UNITED STATES
SENATE. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES PROCLAIMED TODAY,
MARCH 31, 2014, AS CESAR CHAVEZ DAY. OVER TEN STATES HONOR HIS
LIFE AND LEGACY EACH YEAR ON THIS DAY. THE SECRETARY OF THE
INTERIOR ESTABLISHED A NATIONAL MONUMENT IN HIS HONOR. AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOU'LL FIND SCHOOLS AND PARKS, STREETS,
LIBRARIES AND OTHER PUBLIC FACILITIES NAMED AFTER CESAR CHAVEZ
AS WELL. SO I IMPLORE SENATE REPUBLICANS TO RECONSIDER DENYING
CESAR CHAVEZ'S LEGACY FOR AN EIGHTH YEAR IN A ROW. ADOPT THIS
COMMEMORATIVE RESOLUTION BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. GIVE CESAR
CHAVEZ THE RECOGNITION HE SO DESERVES. THAT'S ALL WE ASK.
NOTHING MORE. THIS YEAR, THERE IS A NEW MOVIE CHRONICLING THE
LIFE OF CESAR CHAVEZ, A LIFE LIVED WITH HONOR AND DIGNITY AND
DECENCY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL OF US. THE FILM IS LONG
OVERDEUVMENT THAT LIFE, THAT DEDICATION, THAT SPIRIT WILL
ALWAYS BE MISSED. HE WAS BORN NEAR HIS FAMILY'S FARM IN YUMA,
ARIZONA. WHEN HE WAS 10 IN THE HARD TIMES OF THE DEPRESSION,
THE FAMILY LOST THEIR FARM, LIKE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS, AND
THEY BECAME MIGRANT FARM WORKERS, LABORING IN VINEYARDS ACROSS
THE SOUTHWEST, WHERE HE LEARNED OF THE INJUSTICE AND HARDSHIP
OF A FARM WORKER'S LIFE. HE NEVER LEFT THOSE FIELDS. HE NEVER
LEFT THE LAND. HE NEVER TURNED HIS BACK ON THE PEOPLE WHO
WORKED IT AND THE REST IS HISTORY. ROBERT KENNEDY CALLED HIM
ONE OF THE MOST HEROIC FIGURES OF OUR TIME. I THINK IT'S
BECAUSE CESAR CHAVEZ UNDERSTOOD AND BELIEVED IN ONE FUNDAMENTAL
TRUTH. HE ALWAYS SAID -- QUOTE -- "THE FIGHT IS NEVER ABOUT
GRAPES OR LETTUCE. IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT PEOPLE." HE WAS RIGHT AND
THAT FIGHT CONTINUES TODAY. THE STRUGGLE FOR FAIRNESS AND
DIGNITY FOR EVERY AMERICAN GOES ON AND CESAR CHAVEZ WAS AND IS
ITS INSPIRATION. HE CERTAINLY IS AN AMERICAN HERO BUT MOST
DEFINITELY A HERO TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. HE PAVED THE WAY
FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF HISPANIC-AMERICANS, FOR INNOVATIVE AND
SOCIAL IMPROVEMENTS. IF THERE'S ONE MAN THAT REDEFINED
LEADERSHIP, IT IS CESAR CHAVEZ. AND I THINK MY COLLEAGUES NEED
TO KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY STANDS WITH ME TODAY AND STANDS
FIRMLY BEHIND MY RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF
CESAR CHAVEZ. MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE A LIST AND IN THE INTEREST
OF TIME I WON'T READ IT BUT OF OVER 29 NATIONAL AND ACTUALLY 37
NATIONAL HISPANIC AND LABOR ORGANIZATIONS ALL WHICH SUPPORT THE
RESOLUTION THAT I'D ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO INCLUDE IN THE
RECORD.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. MENENDEZ: WE ALL EAGERLY AAWAIT THE DAY WHEN POLITICS WILL
NO LONGER PRECLUDE ITS PASSAGE. CESAR CHAVEZ'S PROFOUND LEGACY
AND LASTING LEGACY CAN BE REDUCED TO THREE WORDS -- THEY ECHO
FROM THE FIELDS OF DELANO, CALIFORNIA, ACROSS AMERICA ALL THE
WAY TO THE WITHOUT. CE SE QUEDA. THESE THREE WORDS, WHILE
SIMPLE IN NATURE, HARBORED THE POWER OF COMMUNITIES TO MOVE
FROM DARKNESS TO A BRIGHTER LIGHT OF HOPES. THESE THREE WORDS
REPRESENTED AS THE VERY CORE OF SPIRIT THAT BREATHES LIFE INTO
AMERICA'S STRUGGLE FOR A BETTER LIFE. AS THE LEADER OF THE
FIRST SUCCESSFUL FARM WORKER'S UNION IN THE UNITED STATES, HE
FOUGHT TO ENSURE THOSE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO PROVIDE AMERICANS
WITH FOOD RECEIVED THE BENEFITS THEY DESERVED. NONETHELESS, HIS
SERVICE EXTENDS FAR BEYOND OUR AGRICULTURAL FIELDS AND PROVIDES
INSPIRATIONS TO THOSE WORKING TO IMPROVE HUMAN RIGHTS,
EMPOWERING WORKERS, REGARDLESS OF RACE OR ETHNICITY. HIS
COUNTLESS EFFORTS TO ENSURE EQUALITY, JUSTICE AND DIGNITY FOR
ALL PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE A TESTAMENT OF HIS
LEADERSHIP AND SUCCESS, A SUCCESS THAT CAN ONLY BE MEASURED BY
THE LASTING IMPACT HE'S MADE TOWARD ENDING WORKPLACE
DISCRIMINATION, UNSAFE AND UNFAIR WORKING CONDITIONS, LOW
WAGES, AND CHILD LABOR. HE WAS MORE THAN JUST A FARMER WITH A
VISION. HE WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER THAT EMBODIED THE PURSUIT
OF JUSTICE THAT CONTINUES TO INSPIRE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
TODAY. SO I COME TO THE FLOOR TODAY TO HONOR THE LIFE AND
ACHIEVEMENTS OF CESAR CHAVEZ, TO ASK MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES
TO PUT ASIDE THEIR POLITICS AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT BY A MAN WHOSE
LIFE AND LEGACY DESERVE THE RECOGNITION OF THIS NATION, ONE
NATION, AND ONE CONGRESS. LET US STAND TOGETHER AND RECOGNIZE
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF A GREAT AMERICAN HERO, BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY, LET US HONOR THE VALUES THAT MAKE OUR COUNTRY
GREAT, THE VALUES OF TOLERANCE, HOPE AND FREEDOM UPON WHICH
THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED. LET US ALWAYS REMEMBER, AS CHAVEZ
SAID, THE FIGHT IS ALWAYS ABOUT THE PEOPLE. WITH THAT, MR.
PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
BE DISCHARGED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF S. RES. 404, THE
RESOLUTION BE AGREED TO, THE PREAMBLE BE AGREED TO, AND THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER BE LAID UPON THE TABLE WITH NO INTERVENING
ACTION OR DEBATE.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?
MR. SESSIONS: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM ALABAMA.
MR. SESSIONS: RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT. I WOULD NOTE THAT
THE RESOLUTION HAS NOT COME OUT OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND
THAT SENATOR VITTER, WHO HAS FILED AN AMENDMENT TO THE
RESOLUTION, ASKS THAT THAT AMENDMENT BE ACCEPTED OR VOTED ON,
WHICH HAS BEEN NOT AGREED TO. THE AMENDMENT WOULD SAY A COUPLE
OF THINGS. ONE, WHEREAS CESAR ESTRADA CHAVEZ STRONGLY BELIEVED
IN ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAWS, THEREBY REDUCING THE DELETERIOUS
EFFECTS OF INEXPENSIVE LABOR ON THE WAGES OF FARM WORKERS IN
THE UNITED STATES AND WHICH WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE IN JUNE OF 2013 IN THEIR REPORT ENTITLED
"ECONOMIC IMPACT OF S. 744, THE BORDER SECURITY AND ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY AND MODERNIZATION ACT." AND HE OFFERS THIS
"WHEREAS," A SECOND ONE. "WHEREAS, CESAR ESTRADA CHAVEZ
RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF A SECURE SOUTHERN BORDER WITH
MEXICO THROUGH CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF
IMMIGRATION LAWS BY ENCOURAGING MEMBERS OF THE UNITED FARM
WORKERS OF AMERICA TO CONTACT THE IMMIGRATION AND
SO THOSE WERE -- THAT NOT HAVING BEEN ACCEPTED, I GUESS I WOULD
ASK THAT THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTED. IT'S AT THE DESK, BE AGREED TO
PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION. WELL, MR. PRESIDENT
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: DOES THE SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY SO
MODIFIED HIS REQUEST.
MR. MENENDEZ: RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT, MR. PRESIDENT,
THIS IS NOT ABOUT CESAR CHAVEZ. THIS IS ABOUT IMMIGRATION. NOW,
I KNOW THAT MY DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUE HAS A DIFFERENT VIEW
ABOUT IMMIGRATION THAN I DO. I KNOW THAT HE AND SENATOR VITTER,
ON WHO HE'S OFFERING THIS AMENDMENT BY, ALSO HAS A DIFFERENT
VIEW. THE SENATE HAS SPOKEN ON THE QUESTION OF IMMIGRATION. 67
SENATORS, TWO-THIRDS OF THE SENATE, HAS ALREADY SENT AN
IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SO
WHILE WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS, THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE OF
CESAR CHAVEZ. AND IN MY VIEW, IT IS AN INJUSTICE TO HIS MEMORY
TO OFFER SUCH AN AMENDMENT, AND THAT'S WHY I WILL HAVE TO
OBJECT. MR. SESSIONS: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION TO THE ORIGINAL
REQUEST?
MR. SESSIONS: I WOULD OBJECT AND WOULD JUST NOTE THAT I DO HAVE
A DIFFERENT VIEW, AND ON THESE ISSUES WITH REGARD TO THE IMPACT
OF S. 744, HAD IT PASSED, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ADVERSE TO FARM
WORKERS WHO ARE IN THIS COUNTRY WORKING HARD, KNEES PAY RAISES,
AND NEED BETTER JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND I THINK THESE ARE
IMPORTANT PARTS OF MR. CHAFF HE IS'S CAREER $CHAVEZ'S CAREER.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE SENATE WOULD BE PLEASED TO ACCEPT THEM.
I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A DISAGREEMENT, AND I WOULD YIELD THE
FLOOR AND EXPRESS MY RESPECT FOR SENATOR MENENDEZ AND HIS
LEADERSHIP ON THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, BUT WE DISAGREE
ON THIS SUBJECT.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: OBJECTION IS HEARD. MR. MENENDEZ: MR.
PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY.
MR. MENENDEZ: MR. PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE DEEP RESPECT FOR
SENATOR SESSIONS, BUT I'LL JUST SIMPLY SAY, THIS IS THE EIGHTH
YEAR -- THE EIGHTH YEAR -- IN WHICH UNDER SOME FIG LEAF --
BEFORE THEY COULD HIDE THROUGH THEIR OBJECTION. THIS IS REALLY
A FIG LEAF. THE SENATE HAS EXPRESSED ITSELF ON IMMIGRATION
REFORM. THIS IS NOT ABOUT IMMIGRATION REFORM. THIS IS ABOUT
CESAR CHAVEZ. THIS IS ABOUT A MAN THAT LED BOYCOTTS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY TO BRING TO JUSTICE THE RIGHTS OF FARM WORKERS AND ALL
WORKERS ACROSS THE LAND. AND THERE IS NO BIGGER SUPPORTER BY
THE WAY OF IMMIGRATION REFORM THAN THE UNITED FARM WORKERS,
WHICH HE HELPED BUILD, CREATE, AND TODAY IS ONE OF THE
STRONGEST VOICES FOR THAT IMMIGRATION REFORM. SO IT'S REALLY
SHAMEFUL THAT WE CAN PASS, YOU KNOW, COMMEMORATIVE RESOLUTIONS
ON SOME OF THE MOST INSIGNIFICANT ISSUES, BUT ON THE LIFE OF
SOMEONE WHO CHANGED THE COURSE OF THIS COUNTRY FOR MILLIONS OF
LATINOS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT LIFE AND HISTORY AND WOULD WANT TO
SEE THAT LIFE COMMEMORATED THAT THERE CAN BE A CONTINUING
OBJECTION EIGHT YEARS, AND I WILL KEEP COMING EACH YEAR TO THE
FLOOR, MR. PRESIDENT, TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, BECAUSE AT SOME
POINT IT WILL. AND WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR.
