CHC EXEC DIR & COMMS DIR FOR 114th CONGRESS ANNOUNCED

Washington, D.C. – Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Linda Sánchez announced her new CHC team for the 114th Congress. Valeria Carranza will serve as CHC Executive Director and Jasmine Mora will continue serving as CHC Communications Director. Valeria will officially be assuming her role as Executive Director in February. Both Valeria and Jasmine are first-generation Latinas with more than 19 years of combined public service experience.

"Valeria and Jasmine are the dynamic duo that will staff the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) in the 114th Congress. I am confident Valeria, through her role as Executive Director, will elevate the CHC to new levels and effectively advance the CHC's priorities in Congress. I know Valeria will inject new energy and momentum in the hard work of the CHC in the upcoming Congressional session. Jasmine will continue driving our messaging strategy and communications efforts in the new Congress and will be helping to elevate the Caucus' voice. Like our CHC Members, these two women are intelligent, hardworking, and extremely committed to fighting for the Latino community," said CHC Chair Linda Sánchez.

"Valeria and Jasmine are both extremely dedicated and hardworking Latinas that will serve the CHC well. Their background and expertise will help lead the CHC and ensure that the voices of our members and community are amplified in Congress and beyond. I look forward to working with them through my role as CHC First Vice-Chair," said CHC First Vice Chair Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Bios

Valeria Carranza, CHC Executive Director

Valeria Carranza is a first generation Salvadoran-American, whose work on social justice issues has ranged from leading on immigration, LGBT, and civil rights campaigns to drafting and securing the votes needed to enact legislation on the federal and local level.

She most recently served as the Legislative Assistant and Liaison to the CHC for Congresswoman Linda Sánchez. In this position, she led the Congresswoman's efforts on immigration, voting rights, education, and transportation. Previously, Valeria served as the Deputy Chief of Staff to At-Large Montgomery County, Maryland Councilmember Hans Riemer. Valeria wrote and lobbied for the enactment of legislation to expand access to child care and the passage of tax credit legislation to help lift working families out of poverty. She has also worked in the office of former Congressman Mark Schaur of Michigan, former Los Angeles City Councilmember Tony Cárdenas, and the Albuquerque City Council. She started her public service in Washington, D.C. as a White House intern and has quickly risen in the federal and local area political scene.

In addition to her legislative experience, Valeria has been selected for numerous competitive leadership programs including the Posse Foundation and Center for Progressive Leadership. Most recently she completed a one year intensive national training program from the Front Line Leaders Academy as one of twenty young up and coming political professionals.

Valeria was born and raised in Los Angeles and is a graduate of Dickinson College. She was the first in her family to graduate high school and to attend college. Over the last several years, Valeria and her fiancé have made their home in the Washington D.C. region by putting down roots in Montgomery County Maryland. Valeria looks forward to pushing forward the CHC agenda of empowering Latino communities and continuing to serve and advocate for equitable policies on the federal level.

Jasmine Mora, CHC Communications Director

Jasmine Mora is a communications strategist with extensive experience in policy and political campaigns. Jasmine first joined the CHC as Communications Director in 2013 under the chairmanship of Congressman Rubén Hinojosa.

Prior to joining the Hispanic Caucus, Jasmine served as Communications Director for Congressman Marc Veasey from Dallas-Fort Worth. In 2012, Jasmine worked in Charlotte North Carolina as a Deputy Press Secretary for the Democratic National Convention and later that year, as a Deputy Press Secretary for President Obama in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jasmine's Capitol Hill experience also includes working for Congressman Xavier Becerra's Vice Chair's office and Congresswoman Judy Chu. In 2010, she worked in Colorado and Virginia on the campaigns of Congressman John Salazar and Congressman Tom Perriello.

Jasmine is from Wilmington, California and a graduate of UC Berkeley. She was a middle school teacher in Los Angeles before moving to Washington, D.C. and has a Masters degree in Education from Loyola Marymount University. Jasmine is the daughter of Mexican immigrants and the first in her family to graduate from high school.