Media
Latest News
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, at the start of National Farmworkers Week (March 25-31), U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) announced legislation to ensure the safety and health of workers who are exposed to dangerous heat conditions in the workplace. The senators' bill, the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act, is named in honor of Asunción Valdivia who died in 2004 after picking grapes for ten hours straight in 105-degree temperatures. Mr. Valdivia fell unconscious and instead of calling an ambulance, his employer told Mr. Valdivia's son to drive his father home. On his way home, he died of heat stroke at the age of 53. Mr. Valdivia's death was completely preventable, yet his story is not unique.
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) COVID-19 Task Force met with pharmacy executives from Albertsons, Southeastern Grocers, Good Neighbor Pharmacy Programs & Services/AmerisourceBergen, Ahold Delhaize Pharmacy Brands, and LeaderNET and The Medicine Shoppe/Cardinal Health to learn about the pharmacies' efforts to ensure an equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Last month, the CHC met with major pharmacy executives from CVS, Kroger, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and Walmart. Following the meeting with the small chain pharmacies, CHC Chairman Raul Ruiz, M.D. released the statement below:
WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Tuesday, March 16th, Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) sent a letter to Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressing concerns about reports of right-wing radicalism and white supremacy extremism within U.S. military ranks.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed two bipartisan bills: H.R. 6 the Dream and Promise Act, introduced by CHC Member and Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) and H.R. 1603 the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, introduced by Immigration and Citizenship Judiciary Subcommittee Chairperson Zoe Lofgren (CA-19).
The Dream and Promise Act, which was led by CHC Members Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard and Rep. Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), would provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Xavier Becerra to serve as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Mr. Becerra was a Member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and served over two decades in the House of Representatives. CHC Chairman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) released the following statement in reaction to his confirmation:
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Isabel Guzman as Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Guzman will be the first Latina to serve in President Biden's cabinet. Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) released the following statement in reaction to her confirmation:
WASHINGTON D.C.—Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Dr. Raul Ruiz formally announced the Chairs and Membership of five CHC Task Forces that have already been working this Congress to advance CHC's bold legislative agenda in parallel with Congressional leaders and President Biden's agenda. These five CHC Task Forces have been focused on CHC's 100-day policy priorities aimed at addressing issues facing Hispanic communities as we work to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and build back better. The CHC will be announcing more Task Forces in the weeks to come to advance the Caucus' work in other key policy areas in the 117th Congress.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Rescue Plan Act, the $1.9 trillion bill put forward by President Biden and Democrats in Congress to address the continuing economic and health crises caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus voted unanimously for the bill, which will now head to President Biden's desk to be signed into law. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) issued the following statement:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On February 2, 2021, the President issued Executive Order 14,012, directing the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to review the implementation of the public charge ground of inadmissibility. As part of its review, DHS determined that continuing to defend the Trump's public charge rule was neither in the public interest nor an efficient use of limited government resources. Therefore, yesterday, the Biden Administration dropped its litigation defense of the Trump Administration's public charge regulations. As a result, federal courts dismissed the appeals, ending the 2019 policy. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) issued the following statement after the announcement:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. The PRO Act is the most comprehensive workers' rights legislation since the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).