Washington - Today US Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), chairman of the Senate Democratic Hispanic Task Force a champion for issues faced by the Latino community, joined millions of Americans in celebrating Cinco de Mayo and the important contributions of Mexican-Americans to the United State. This holiday marks the Mexican army's defeat over the French army in 1862 and is a symbol of cultural celebration and pride.
"We celebrate this day not only out of respect for the rich history and culture of our neighbors in Mexico, but also in honor of the tremendous contributions and achievements by Mexican-Americans that have made ours a better nation," said Senator Menendez. "From Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta to Janet Murguia, from Romualdo Pacheco to Ken Salazar, from Anthony Quinn to Salma Hayek, Mexican-Americans have helped weave the fabric of our nation and continue to do so. Many Mexican-Americans, like other Americans of Latino descent, face real challenges in the areas of health care coverage, education, housing and jobs, and I will continue to pursue policies in collaboration with my colleagues in the Senate and President Obama to make sure they have every opportunity to succeed and thrive."
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