Media

Washington, DC - Today, Congressional Tri-Caucus Chairs – composed of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (D-CA) – issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced the proposed rule for Title I spending under the Every Student Succeeds Act:

Washington, D.C. – Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Members met with Dr. Thomas Frieden of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The meeting was held on Capitol Hill at the request of the Caucus.

Caucus Members had a constructive meeting with CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden. They raised several issues during the meeting including, their concerns over the increasing spread of Zika in Puerto Rico, their efforts to ensure bipartisan funding is passed in Congress, and their push in educating Latino populations and engaging with academic and research institutions.

Director Frieden stated his commitment to ensuring that funding is used efficiently, highlighted CDC’s work with centers of excellence, and discussed CDC’s outreach in Puerto Rico. Among other activities to protect Americans, he discussed that the FDA is requiring screening of blood supplies.

Washington, D.C. – Representative Linda T. Sánchez , Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), sent the following letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell following the release of the Republican spending plan. The resolution ignores the dire need in Flint, Michigan, a low-income, minority-majority city.

September 23, 2016

Dear Speaker Ryan and Leader McConnell:

We are writing to you on behalf of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to express our deep concern about the lack of emergency funds in the proposed Republican continuing resolution to help address the Flint water crisis. It is unconscionable that the current package includes funding for other states facing natural disasters but ignores Flint, Michigan, a low-income, minority-majority city.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Members released the following statements in response to this weekend’s shooting in Orlando, Florida. 49 people were killed and 53 more were wounded during an LGBT dance club “Latin Flavor” night. The attack is the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) released the following statements denouncing Rep. Paul Gosar’s (R-AZ) amendment to the 2016 defense funding bill, which would prevent undocumented young people brought to the United States as children – known as DREAMers – from serving in the military. Currently, select individuals can serve under special circumstances.

Rep. Gosar is leading a group of far-right Republicans, including Reps. Steve King (R-IA) and Mo Brooks (R-AL) in an effort to remove bipartisan compromise language from the NDAA that confirms that the Secretary of Defense has the ability to use his broad discretionary power to enlist immigrants – including beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program – if he determines it is in the national interest.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Second Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), led a letter to the House Appropriations Committee, urging them to strike a provision from the FY2017 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill that would require the Library of Congress to use the terms “aliens” and “illegal aliens” in its subject headings. In March, the Library of Congress decided to replace the term “aliens” in its subject headings with “noncitizens,” and to replace the term “illegal alien” with “non-citizens” and “unauthorized immigration.” The Tri-Caucus – comprised of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) – also signed the letter.

Washington, DC- Today, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) released the following statements opposing the reported plans by ICE to deport Central American refugees. The plans were first reported by Reuters yesterday.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has been denouncing these ICE removals since January. Among the Caucus’ efforts, the CHC released a statement in January opposing the raids, held a press conference, and requested a meeting with President Obama to discuss this issue. CHC Members also joined House Democrats in sending a letter to the Administration to express their concern on the removal of these mothers and children and called for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

Washington, DC- Today, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus met with Speaker Paul Ryan. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss priorities important to the Latino community. At the top of the list was Puerto Rico. The meeting was productive and cordial.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has been fighting for the 3.5 million American citizens that reside in Puerto Rico and for an end to the economic and fiscal crisis on the Island. CHC Members urged the Speaker to swiftly usher through the House legislation on Puerto Rico that allows the Island to restructure a meaningful portion of its debt, provides for reasonable, respectful and independent oversight of Puerto Rico’s fiscal affairs, and does not include labor provisions that harm workers.