Washington, D.C. - The Senate unanimously adopted a resolution cosponsored by U.S. Senator Michael Bennet recognizing September 15 through October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month.

The bipartisan resolution, co-sponsored by 16 other senators, celebrates the heritage and culture of Latinos in the United States and their immense contributions to communities across the country.

"Hispanic Americans are an integral part of Colorado's history and culture," Bennet said. "This Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize the contributions of Latinos and the value they hold in our communities. As we celebrate their many accomplishments, we also commit to create more opportunities for the next generation of Latinos."

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are currently over 57 million Latinos in the United States, representing the largest racial or ethnic minority in the country. About 1 million Hispanics live in Colorado, about 21% of the total population.

With an annual purchasing power of $1.4 trillion, Hispanic Americans own more than 4,700,000 firms that support millions of jobs and contribute more than six hundred billion dollars in revenue to the economy of the United States. In Colorado, Latino's purchasing power totaled over $21.9 billion, an increase of over 400% since 1990.