In September 1968, Congress authorized the President to annually designate the week of September 15 as “National Hispanic Heritage Week” and to “call upon the people of the United States, especially the educational community, to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.” The designation of these days in September was made in recognition of independence day celebrations in a number of Latin American countries. In 1988, Illinois Senator Paul Simon introduced a bill to lengthen the celebration to “National Hispanic Heritage Month,” beginning each year on September 15.

In 1928, Mexican-born Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo became the first Hispanic American to serve in the U.S. Senate when he was elected to fill the unexpired term of New Mexico Senator Andrieus A. Jones. Dennis Chavez, the first American-born Hispanic senator, occupied the same New Mexico Senate seat from 1935 to 1962. The third Hispanic American to serve in the Senate was Joseph M. Montoya, who also represented the state of New Mexico, from 1964 to 1977. There are currently a record 27 Hispanic members serving in the 110th Congress. Three are senators: Ken Salazar of Colorado, Mel Martinez of Florida, and Robert Menendez of New Jersey.  They reflect the growing ethnic diversity in the Senate.