December 03, 2019

Senate Passes Cárdenas Bills to Name Post Offices in Honor of Marilyn Monroe, Ritchie Valens

WASHINGTON, DC – Late last month, the United States Senate passed two bills to rename post office buildings located in Van Nuys and Pacoima in honor of the legendary musicians Marilyn Monroe and Ritchie Valens. The two bills, introduced by Congressmen Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), passed the House of Representatives in October.

“I’m proud that my bills to rename post offices in honor of the legendary Marilyn Monroe and Ritchie Valens passed the Senate,” said Congressman Cárdenas. “Despite the obstacles they faced growing up, Monroe and Ritchie were able to beat the odds and go on to become nationally renowned icons. Long after their passing, the two pop and rock trailblazers continue to inspire millions of young artists to this day. I thank my colleagues in the Senate for helping push this over the finish line.”

The pop and rock legends have roots in Congressman Cárdenas’ district – Monroe grew up in Van Nuys and Valens was born and raised in Pacoima.

A native of Pacoima, Ritchie Valens was a rock and roll pioneer, one of mainstream America’s first popular Mexican-American artists and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement. Once a student at San Fernando High School, Valens’ smash hit “La Bamba” took the nation by storm before he tragically passed in a plane crash that became known as “The Day the Music Died.”

Marilyn Monroe was and remains one of the most famous models and actresses in American culture. Monroe was raised in Van Nuys and attended Van Nuys High School and was discovered by an army photographer while she was working at the Radioplane Munitions Factory during World War II. Her films grossed the equivalent of $2 billion before her tragic passing at the young age of 36.

 

The clip of Rep. Cárdenas’ speech on the bills can be viewed here:

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