March 31, 2004

Today, on the 67th anniversary of his birth, people across America will pay tribute to a remarkable man, Cesar Estrada Chavez.

I had the honor of meeting Cesar Chavez. No one was a more powerful or more passionate advocate for the men, women, and children who work on farms throughout this country.

It’s easy for Americans to forget that the food they eat doesn’t magically appear on a supermarket shelf. Every bunch of grapes, every box of cereal, every can of corn represents the labor of real human beings – so many of whom come to this country in search of a better life, but instead find low wages, poor housing, and substandard working conditions.

Cesar Chavez didn’t just know about this struggle. He and his family lived it. He grew up moving from town to town and from school to school while his father worked in the fields. He himself became a farm worker as soon as he finished the eighth grade. Born out of his sweat and toil was a fierce determination to give a voice to people like him and his family who labored so hard and received so little in return.

Chavez became one of America’s most well-known, beloved, and effective labor leaders. As the founder and leader of United Farm Workers of America, Chavez shed light on the shameful treatment of farm workers in our country. He led boycotts and marches. He helped register voters. He went on hunger strikes. And he united workers across America with a simple, yet powerful, message: “Si se puede” – “Yes we can.”

Cesar Chavez represented farm workers. But the priorities he fought for are America’s priorities: Better pay and benefits for workers. Better education for children. Expanded civil rights for minorities. All working Americans today owe a debt of gratitude to this outstanding individual.

Of course, Chavez’s work is not done. There is still a great deal we can do to help create a better life for working Americans, especially those who work on farms. One thing we can do right now is pass the bipartisan AgJOBS bill, which I’m proud to cosponsor. This bill, sponsored by my colleagues Senator Craig and Senator Kennedy, would give many hard-working nonimmigrant farm workers a chance to obtain legal status. This bill is the right thing to for these workers. And by increasing the number of legal farm workers, it’s the smart thing to do for our economy. This legislation has the support of agricultural businesses, labor unions, as well as immigrant and civil rights groups. It deserves to become law.

But there is so much more we can and should do to make America a land where each and every person receives respect and opportunity. We can extend a helping hand to the children of nonimmigrant workers – by passing the DREAM Act to help those children get a college education. We can give every child in this country a chance at success – by making a real commitment to our public schools. We can ensure that a job in America is truly a gateway to a better life – by raising the minimum wage and making it a fair and living wage. And we can make access to health care a right – not a privilege – for every man, woman, and child in America.

By perpetuating his legacy, we will truly be honoring the memory of Cesar Chavez. Let us continue his commitment to achieving basic rights and dignity for all American workers. And let us use his vision as a guide as we strive to build a better tomorrow for all Americans.

-30-