The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING HENRY HUERTA
______
HON. LINDA T. SANCHEZ
of california
in the house of representatives
Friday, August 12, 2022
Ms. SANCHEZ. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to honor the life of the late Henry Perez Huerta. Henry was one of the most important voices in the labor movement in California. He led an incredible life protecting the rights of working families in Southern and Northern California and inspired other leaders to follow in his footsteps.
Henry was a child of the farm worker movement. At 16, Henry watched his father organize a massive rally in Gonzales, California where Cesar Chavez spoke to farmworkers. From that moment, Henry was inspired to live a life where he fought for workers. Outraged by the disenfranchisement of farmworker families like his own, Henry became the youngest deputy registrar in the state of California. He registered countless farm workers to vote and make their voices heard.
After graduating from the University of Oregon, where Henry was one of the very few Mexican-Americans on campus, he worked for the State of California's Department of Industrial Relations for 31 years. His work was so impactful to so many--often acting as a one-person investigation team for the Labor Commission. Thinking of his own family's experience, Henry felt a deep sense of fulfillment helping farm workers receive wages they were unfairly denied.
While working in San Francisco, Henry quickly ascended to Senior Deputy Labor Commissioner, investigating the workplace conditions of sweat shops, agricultural companies, car washes and construction sites. Henry always understood the importance of empowering workers, which led him to lead the charge in unionizing carwash workers in LA.
Henry and his wife, Martha, eventually settled down in Whittier, California, but Henry's passion for political change and empowering working families never faded.
In his final months of life, Henry continued to register voters, and volunteer countless hours to get out the vote. As a result of his tireless activism, Henry was honored by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party as ``Democrat of the Year.''
Henry was such a great activist not just because of the time he spent on work, but also the time he invested in mentorship, friendship, and guidance to local leaders. I am proud to have called Henry a friend and a role model.
Henry Huerta left us too soon. His absence is greatly felt by my community, but his legacy as a voice for the disenfranchised will be remembered for generations. I join Henry's wife, Martha, his 2 children, Enrique Jr., and Zenaida, and all his family and friends in celebrating the difference he made in our community through a full and meaningful life.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 135(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 135(2)
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