Civil Rights, Housing, and Voting Rights

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members released the following statements on Evenwel v. Abbott. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments for the case today and CHC Members led a press conference outside the Court earlier this morning. Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), and Thomas Saenz from the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF) spoke on the devastating effects the case would have on the Latino community.

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus issued a statement of opposition to Donald Trump hosting Saturday Night Live. CHC Members issued the statement and follows an earlier statement made by the Chair on the inflammatory remarks made by Trump on the Mexican community.

The statement of opposition adopted by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus reads:

Whereas, Mr. Donald Trump has been invited to host Saturday Night Live on NBC on November 7, 2015;

Whereas, Saturday Night Live is a flagship program on a national network;

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) released the following statements in anticipation of the Pope's Address to Congress tomorrow. Last year, the Hispanic Caucus sent a letter to His Holiness, inviting him to speak before a joint session of Congress. You can view the letter here.

CHC Chairwoman Linda T. Sánchez: "We look forward to hearing Pope Francis speak on a number of issues important to Latinos and working families – from juvenile justice to comprehensive immigration reform and the need to protect our environment. His Holiness and the Hispanic Caucus share a commitment to fighting for justice and civil rights and we believe his message of compassion is one that is critically needed in Congress right now."

WASHINGTON – – The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) will hold a press conference on Thursday, September 17^th. CHC Members will deliver a special message to the Latino community in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs September 15 through October 15. CHC Chairwoman Linda Sánchez will lead the press conference and will be joined by other Members of the Caucus.

September 17^th is also Citizenship Day.

WHO: Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus

WHAT: CHC Message to the Latino Community Press Conference

WHEN: Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. ET

WHERE: House Triangle, Located at the corner of New Jersey Avenue SE and Independence Avenue SE

Washington, DC- Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (D-CA), a member of the Ways and Means Committee, today released the following statement on the Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges making same-sex:

"Love wins!"

WASHINGTON (Wednesday, June 24, 2015) – Two years since the Supreme Court gutted core protections in the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder, states and localities throughout the country have passed sweeping laws that disproportionately suppress the voting rights of minorities. These laws have left voters without the protections they need to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

To restore and advance the voting protections for all Americans, a group of Senate and House Democratic lawmakers joined together Wednesday to introduce the Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA) of 2015.

Washington, D.C. – CHC Chairwoman Linda Sánchez released the following statement today on behalf of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus:

"The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is outraged by Donald Trump's racist remarks on the millions of Mexicans living in the United States.

His comments were not only wrong but divisive and perpetuate hateful stereotypes toward the Latino community.

Latinos are an integral part of the American fabric.

We are lawyers, doctors, teachers, Members of Congress, and servicemen and women who sacrifice their lives in defense to our country.

It's this kind of incendiary rhetoric which can lead to acts of violence. The most recent shooting in Charleston, South Carolina and the fatal stabbing of an Ecuadorian immigrant in Suffolk County, New York are examples of the incendiary acts that can result from hateful speech.

Washington, DC – In March, the Army Times reported allegations of a practice in which soldiers in a given battalion were given a "free pass" to use racial slurs. In response, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Rep. Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) and Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Rep. G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), and sent a letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter calling on the Department of Defense to end long-standing and continued instances of racial hazing within the military.