Press Releases

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) welcomed two new Members to the CHC, all whose elections mark historic breakthroughs in the United States Congress: Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), and Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15). Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), an existing CHC Member, was sworn in today as a new Senator. We anticipate Senator-designate Alex Padilla will join the CHC in the coming weeks when he is sworn-in to the Senate before Inauguration Day on January 20, 2020.

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) unveiled an all-Latina CHC team and made two key staff announcements for the roles of Policy Director and Press Secretary/Digital Director. Ivelisse Porroa joins the CHC as Policy Director and Clarissa Robles as Press Secretary/Digital Director. Alma Acosta will continue her role as Executive Director, a position she has held since 2016. Under the leadership of Chairman Ruiz, the CHC will use its leverage and strength to advance public policy that creates lasting change for Hispanic families and work to ensure the promise of America is accessible to the 60 million Hispanics living across the country.

WASHINGTON — Today, in one of his final acts as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), sent a letter to the Library of Congress nominating the 1997 film Selena to the National Film Registry. Since 1988, the National Film Registry has selected films which are culturally or historically significant for preservation.

Chairman Castro issued the following statement on the CHC nomination of Selena:

WASHINGTON — Today, December 30^th, 2020, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement on the appointment of Angela Ramirez to service as Special Assistant to the President and House Legislative Affairs Liaison:

WASHINGTON — Today, December 22^nd, 2020, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Chair-elect Raul Ruiz (CA-36) released the following joint statement on the selection of California Secretary of State Alex Padilla as California's next U.S. Senator:

"The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is proud to welcome Alex Padilla to Congress and the CHC — the first Latino United States Senator from California. Despite Latinos comprising over 40-percent of the state's population, Californians have never been represented by a Latino in the U.S. Senate. This historic appointment represents a new milestone in the generational struggle for Latino inclusion in the American Dream.

WASHINGTON — Today, December 22, 2020, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Chair-elect Raul Ruiz (CA-36) released the following joint statement on the nomination of Dr. Miguel Cardona for U.S. Secretary of Education:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, December 21^st, 2020, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement on COVID-19 relief:

"After months of Republican obstruction in the Senate, Congress is finally providing meaningful relief to American workers, families, and small businesses. This federal government support is a critical lifeline for the U.S. economy during the winter surge of cases, but is not anywhere near enough for working families to fully recover from this unprecedented health and economic crisis.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, December 21^st, 2020, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement on the inclusion of the National Museum of the American Latino in the spending bill:

"Latinos have contributed significantly to the success of the United States while overcoming systemic discrimination — and our stories have largely been erased from U.S. history. Now, our stories will have a new home with a Latino Museum on the National Mall.