NALEO CONGRATULATES NATIONAL LEADERS AS THEY ASCEND TO PROMINENT POSITIONS IN CONGRESS, THE ADMINISTRATION, AND LEADING NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Latinos in Top Posts Represent Significant Advancement in Political Development for the Community

Los Angeles, CA ––The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), the nation’s preeminent Latino leadership organization, praises Latino leaders who have ascended to top leadership positions in the House of Representatives, the Administration and in nationally recognized organizations.

Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi has appointed several Latino U.S. Representatives to lead committees and subcommittees in the 110th Congress and the Democratic Leadership.  U.S. Representative Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), who has been Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee since 1998, has been officially appointed to Chair this full congressional committee, making her the first Latina in the history of the House to have been the ranking member and Chair of a full committee.

U.S. Representative Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) has been appointed to chair the House Intelligence Committee. Chairman-designate Reyes has an extensive background in law enforcement and national security issues and has served on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence since the spring of 2001.

Speaker-designate Pelosi also selected U.S. Representative Hilda Solis (D-CA) to serve as Vice Chair of the Democratic Steering Committee.  The Steering Committee is responsible for developing policy for the Democratic Caucus and makes recommendations on the appointments and committee assignments for Members.  Other Latino members of the Steering Committee include Nydia Velázquez and Loretta Sánchez (D-CA).  In 2000, Representative Solis became the first woman to receive the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for her pioneering work on environmental justice issues in California and her relentless, successful struggle to protect the families of the San Gabriel Valley against harmful toxins.

U.S. Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA), the only congressional member from Southern California on the House Committee on Ways and Means, will serve as Assistant to the Speaker.  In appointing Representative Becerra, Speaker-designate Pelosi said “As former Chair of the Hispanic Caucus, he has proven himself a national leader on issues of importance to the Latino community, the nation’s largest and fastest growing minority.  His appointment to the new Democratic Leadership will strengthen the voices of Latinos across the country.”

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has elected U.S. Representative Joe Baca (D-CA) to serve as its next Chair. Representative Baca will lead the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which includes all Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate of Latino heritage.  Representative Baca succeeds outgoing Chair, Representative Grace Napolitano (D-CA) who served the Caucus with distinction during her tenure.  Also elected to Congressional Hispanic Caucus leadership were Representatives Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) as first Vice Chair, Charles A. Gonzalez (D-TX) as second Vice Chair and Linda T. Sánchez as Caucus Whip.

Tapped by President George W. Bush to serve as the next General Chairman for the Republican National Committee, U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) will be the face of the Republican Party, focusing on fundraising and outreach, and promoting the GOP agenda.  Formerly the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Senator Martinez took his place in the history books as the first Cuban-American to serve in the U.S. Senate and becomes the first Latino to hold the position of General Chairman for either of the major political parties.

Appointed by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Under Secretary of Education, Sara Martinez Tucker will be responsible for implementing the work of the Commission on the Future of Higher Education,
as well as coordinating policies, programs and activities related to vocational and adult education, postsecondary education, college aid and the President’s financial reforms for the Pell Grant Program.

Unanimously elected to serve as its next Chair, Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Luis G. Fortuño will lead the Congressional Hispanic Conference.  Established in 2003, the Conference is composed of Republican members of Congress who have Hispanic or Portuguese ancestry, including those members who represent a substantial Hispanic population in their districts.  He succeeds outgoing Chair, U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), who was selected by the House Republican Conference as the new Ranking Member of the influential House Committee on International Relations, making her the first Latino to hold this post. Elected to the House of Representatives in 1989, Representative Ros-Lehtinen became the first Latina and first Cuban-American elected to Congress.

“The ascension of so many Latino leaders to serve in prominent leadership roles is an historic milestone for the Latino community,” said John Bueno, NALEO President and former President Pro-Tem for the City of Pontiac, Michigan.  “This significant gain in leadership is a reflection of Latinos as a permanent part of the nation’s political landscape,” added Mr. Bueno.  “It is a testament to the caliber of Latinos in the United States that are currently serving our nation at the highest levels of public service.  NALEO congratulates all the new appointees as they take the helm of their new positions.  NALEO also congratulates all of the Latino Members in the House and the Senate for their recent electoral victories,” concluded Mr. Bueno.