Press Releases

CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS DENOUNCES REPUBLICAN PLAN TO DENY VOTING RIGHTS TO MILLIONS
January 5, 2011
Press Release
(Washington, DC)- Today, House Republicans will vote to strip delegates representing Puerto Rico and other US Territories of their voting rights. Congressman Charles Gonzalez (TX-20,) Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, issued the following statement:
“During the last three Democratic Congresses, delegates representing Puerto Rico and other U.S. Territories, were provided with house floor voting rights on amendments. Today, Republicans will move to end these rights and deprive more than 4 million Hispanic-American citizens an official voice in Congress.
The American citizens residing in the United States territories pledge allegiance to the same flag as their fellow Americans, fight our wars, die defending our freedom and are an integral part of the American Family.
CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS ELECTS LEADERSHIP FOR THE 112th CONGRESS
November 18, 2010
Press Release
(Washington D.C.)-Today, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) announced the unanimous election of its leadership for the 112th Congress. In elections held today, the CHC elected Congressman Charles A. Gonzalez (TX-20) as Chair, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) as 1st Vice Chair, Congressman Ben Ray Lujan (NM-03) as 2nd Vice Chair, and Congressman Dennis Cardoza (CA-18) as Whip.
CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS (CHC) APPLAUDS INTRODUCTION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM ACT OF 2010
September 30, 2010
Press Release
(Washington, DC) – On Wednesday, Congressional Hispanic Caucus member Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2010 (S 3932.) The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) fully supports their plan which provides Americans with a real solution to its broken immigration system.
“Senators Menendez and Leahy’s legislation confronts our broken immigration system head-on and lays out a sensible plan to fix it,” said Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Chairwoman of the CHC. “We need a legal immigration system that works, an end to illegal immigration, a secure border, and rules that everyone will follow. S. 3932 is a clear sign that reforming the immigration system is a top priority.
CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS (CHC) COMMENDS SECRETARY DUNCAN FOR LAUNCHING TEACH CAMPAIGN TO RECRUIT MINORITY TEACHERS
September 27, 2010
Press Release

(Washington, DC) – Today, Secretary Arne Duncan launched a national campaign aimed at increasing the number, quality and diversity of candidates in the teaching field. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) commends Secretary Duncan’s efforts. We are committed to working alongside him and increasing the awareness of teaching as a valuable profession in our society.

“It is very important that a classrooms’ diversity be reflected in its teachers,” said Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Chairwoman of the CHC. “Only 7% of teachers are Latino, compared with 21% of the student body. As the Administration and Congress focus their efforts on improving America’s education system, campaigns like TEACH are critical to bridging that gap.”

CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS (CHC) VOWS TO CONTINUE FIGHT FOR DREAM ACT, COMPREHENSIVE REFORM
September 21, 2010
Press Release
(Washington, DC) – Today, by a 56 to 43 vote, the Senate failed to invoke cloture on the National Defense Authorization Act, blocking consideration of the DREAM Act. Despite this setback, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus remains committed to moving immigration reform legislation forward.
“The DREAM Act is a critical measure for thousands of talented young people who love this country and wish to stay here,” said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “We must redouble our efforts and see that this bill, along with Comprehensive Immigration Reform, is enacted in to law.”
Last week, Senator Reid announced his intentions of offering the DREAM Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.
CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS (CHC) ANNOUNCES FALL STRATEGY FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM
September 15, 2010
Press Release
(Washington, DC) - Today, Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) joined together announcing an aggressive fall strategy to move Comprehensive Immigration Reform toward enactment. The unveiled plan involves four key steps this fall:
1) An immediate up or down Senate vote on the DREAM Act with no amendments. Majority Leader Harry Reid indicated Tuesday this would occur in coming weeks;
2) Lawmakers called on the Senate to support the comprehensive immigration reform legislation that Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) will introduce. House Members previously introduced such legislation (H.R.
CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS (CHC) MOURNS THE LOSS OF CIVIL RIGHTS PIONEER MARIO G. OBLEDO
August 24, 2010
Press Release
(Washington, DC) - The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) issued the following statement regarding the passing of Mario G. Obledo:
“Mr. Obledo had an impact on every Latino in the United States,” said Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “He had the vision and dedication to cultivate the community’s political power by helping establish organizations like the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the Hispanic National Bar Association, and the National Coalition of Hispanic Organizations. His work to increase Latino representation at all levels of our government and society created the foundation on which the CHC stands today, and for that we are eternally thankful.”
A trailblazer, Mr.
CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS (CHC) APPLAUDS RECESS APPOINTMENT OF MARI CARMEN APONTE TO BE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO EL SALVADOR
August 20, 2010
Press Release
(Washington DC) – The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) applauds President Barack Obama for his announcement that he intends to recess appoint Mari Carmen Aponte as U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador.
“Mari Carmen Aponte’s commitment and dedication to our country has colored her entire career,” said Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Chairwoman of the CHC. “Starting with her participation in the prestigious White House Fellows program under President Carter, where she worked to maintain safe, affordable housing options for all Americans, to her role as the Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration where she served as a liaison between Puerto Rico and the mainland, representing our nation’s 4 million Puerto Ricans. There is no doubt in my mind that Ms.
CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS (CHC) APPLAUDS DECISION TO BLOCK MAJOR PARTS OF ARIZONA S.B. 1070
July 28, 2010
Press Release
(Washington, DC)- The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) applauds Judge Susan Bolton’s decision to enjoin Arizona from enforcing the four most concerning provisions of the Arizona S.B. 1070.
Specifically, Judge Bolton’s ruling prohibits Arizona from: requiring police officers to ask for proof of legal status while making arrests; making it a crime for an undocumented immigrant to solicit, apply, or perform work; authorizing the warrantless arrest of a person when there is probable cause to believe that person had committed a public offense punishable by deportation; and from making the failure to apply for or carry alien registration papers, a state crime.
CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS (CHC) STATEMENT ON DOJ’S CHALLENGE TO ARIZONA IMMIGRATION LAW, S.B. 1070
July 6, 2010
Press Release

(Washington, DC) - In response to the Department of Justice’s announcement that it has filed suit against the state of Arizona for its recently passed immigration law, S.B. 1070, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, issued the following statement:

“Immigration policy is a federal responsibility and with today’s challenge of Arizona S.B. 1070, the Department of Justice made it clear that state laws which violate the Constitution will not go uncontested. Our country needs a federal solution to this problem, not a chaotic hodgepodge of 50 different state immigration policies.Although S.B. 1070 sounds tough, it will do nothing to solve the problem and will foster a hostile environment for people of color and encourage racial profiling.