4:03 PM
Julio Barreto
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama provided opening remarks to a dinner sponsored by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute to begin the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The dinner was held September 16.
Obama said the most significant act of his early tenure as president was the appointment of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor was on the dais at the dinner. Also attending the dinner was singer Marc Anthony who received the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Anthony was in attendance with his wife, actress Jennifer Lopez.
CHCI holds it Annual Policy Conference
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute held its annual policy conference September 14-15 in Washington with major presentations devoted to the 2010 census and the impacts of the housing and health care crisis on Hispanics.
According to Arturo Vargas, Executive Director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) the 2010 census is the biggest issue facing Latinos in the year. He told an audience the census impacts every issue they are passionate about and is equal to $14,000 per person.
Vargas made his remarks at the opening plenary session of the conference. He said this is the first Latino census because forms will be distributed in English and Spanish, there are Latinos in key positions within the US Bureau of the Census and Hispanic have gained enough political clout to ensure there is a fair and accurate census.
Another panelist, Phil Sparks, Director of The Census Project, said there is $300 billion of federal finds at stake and any mistakes made during the census could cost communities ten times that amount.
During a discussion on health care panelists said more funding is needed to ensure Hispanics receive the training necessary to become health care professionals. Individuals on the panel, which was chaired by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), said Hispanics are more likely to have higher rates of preventable diseases and be misinformed on medical options due to miscommunication with health care professionals. Greater efforts to increase the number of Hispanics practicing medicine, becoming nurses and educating the community on preventative measures will help reduce the many health problems Hispanics face, according to panelists.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan addressed the conference said more work needs to be done to increase the achievement levels of Hispanic students all grade levels and in higher education but opportunities will present themselves as the president’s initiatives take hold. He said President Obama is committed to investing in education and has bipartisan support to ensure students in K-12 can increase their performance by holding schools and their administrators more accountable. He also said students should be able to attend the college of their choice regardless of their immigration status.
The second day of the conference began with a discussion on the impact of Hispanics in the workforce and the economy. According to a speaker at the morning plenary session, legalization as a result of the 1986 immigration bill resulted in dynamic economic activity. Dr. Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda, Associate Professor at University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) said the 1986 bill resulted in over $1 trillion of economic growth over a 10 year period after it was passed and this growth also had an impact on families. The university is expected to release the findings of a report on this topic in October.
Hinojosa-Ortega said Latino families are forced outside of the banking system and spend over $6 billion in check cashing and pay lending fees. He also said they sent $60 to $70 billion in remittance to Latin America in cash which, he claims, is more than the foreign aid and World Bank lends combined.
The Plenary Session included comments from a Member of Congress, two cabinet secretaries, and the first Latina owner of a bank in California in 34 years. The highlights of their comments follow:
• Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) said Hispanics can’t take classes at community colleges and universities because these institutions are cutting back classes. She said Congress is looking to pass legislation increasing Pell grants for students.
• Shaun Donovan, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) www.hud.gov, announced the department has issued $6 million in grants to 10 Hispanic colleges and universities to rebuild homes, remove lead paint and perform community development activities.
• Hilda Solis, Secretary of the Department of Labor, said she is hiring more Occupational Health and Safety and wage and hour inspectors to make certain Hispanics are earning fair wages in safe work environments.
• Maria Contreras-Sweet, Chairwoman of the Board, Promerica Bank said Latinos must focus on “owning our own institutions” and creating wealth.
The Caucus also held a session where a panel of experts said more funding is needed to provide financial counseling and rooting out discrimination in housing to ensure Hispanics are able to buy homes. The panel, Current Issues in Latino Ownership, was moderated by Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ). According to Jose Garza, Director of Housing Services for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), next to Native Americans Hispanics is the worst housed group in the country.
He said Hispanics tend to get lumped together but have very distinct needs based on the region of the country where they reside. He and Graciela Aponte, Legislative Analyst with the National Council of La Raza, more research is needed by origin and region on housing issues; more education needs to be provided to tenants so they understand their rights; there is a need for an increase in the number of affordable housing units; and, there needs to be greater access to financial education so the “unbanked can get banked”.
Obama said the most significant act of his early tenure as president was the appointment of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor was on the dais at the dinner. Also attending the dinner was singer Marc Anthony who received the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Anthony was in attendance with his wife, actress Jennifer Lopez.
CHCI holds it Annual Policy Conference
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute held its annual policy conference September 14-15 in Washington with major presentations devoted to the 2010 census and the impacts of the housing and health care crisis on Hispanics.
According to Arturo Vargas, Executive Director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) the 2010 census is the biggest issue facing Latinos in the year. He told an audience the census impacts every issue they are passionate about and is equal to $14,000 per person.
Vargas made his remarks at the opening plenary session of the conference. He said this is the first Latino census because forms will be distributed in English and Spanish, there are Latinos in key positions within the US Bureau of the Census and Hispanic have gained enough political clout to ensure there is a fair and accurate census.
Another panelist, Phil Sparks, Director of The Census Project, said there is $300 billion of federal finds at stake and any mistakes made during the census could cost communities ten times that amount.
During a discussion on health care panelists said more funding is needed to ensure Hispanics receive the training necessary to become health care professionals. Individuals on the panel, which was chaired by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), said Hispanics are more likely to have higher rates of preventable diseases and be misinformed on medical options due to miscommunication with health care professionals. Greater efforts to increase the number of Hispanics practicing medicine, becoming nurses and educating the community on preventative measures will help reduce the many health problems Hispanics face, according to panelists.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan addressed the conference said more work needs to be done to increase the achievement levels of Hispanic students all grade levels and in higher education but opportunities will present themselves as the president’s initiatives take hold. He said President Obama is committed to investing in education and has bipartisan support to ensure students in K-12 can increase their performance by holding schools and their administrators more accountable. He also said students should be able to attend the college of their choice regardless of their immigration status.
The second day of the conference began with a discussion on the impact of Hispanics in the workforce and the economy. According to a speaker at the morning plenary session, legalization as a result of the 1986 immigration bill resulted in dynamic economic activity. Dr. Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda, Associate Professor at University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) said the 1986 bill resulted in over $1 trillion of economic growth over a 10 year period after it was passed and this growth also had an impact on families. The university is expected to release the findings of a report on this topic in October.
Hinojosa-Ortega said Latino families are forced outside of the banking system and spend over $6 billion in check cashing and pay lending fees. He also said they sent $60 to $70 billion in remittance to Latin America in cash which, he claims, is more than the foreign aid and World Bank lends combined.
The Plenary Session included comments from a Member of Congress, two cabinet secretaries, and the first Latina owner of a bank in California in 34 years. The highlights of their comments follow:
• Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) said Hispanics can’t take classes at community colleges and universities because these institutions are cutting back classes. She said Congress is looking to pass legislation increasing Pell grants for students.
• Shaun Donovan, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) www.hud.gov, announced the department has issued $6 million in grants to 10 Hispanic colleges and universities to rebuild homes, remove lead paint and perform community development activities.
• Hilda Solis, Secretary of the Department of Labor, said she is hiring more Occupational Health and Safety and wage and hour inspectors to make certain Hispanics are earning fair wages in safe work environments.
• Maria Contreras-Sweet, Chairwoman of the Board, Promerica Bank said Latinos must focus on “owning our own institutions” and creating wealth.
The Caucus also held a session where a panel of experts said more funding is needed to provide financial counseling and rooting out discrimination in housing to ensure Hispanics are able to buy homes. The panel, Current Issues in Latino Ownership, was moderated by Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ). According to Jose Garza, Director of Housing Services for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), next to Native Americans Hispanics is the worst housed group in the country.
He said Hispanics tend to get lumped together but have very distinct needs based on the region of the country where they reside. He and Graciela Aponte, Legislative Analyst with the National Council of La Raza, more research is needed by origin and region on housing issues; more education needs to be provided to tenants so they understand their rights; there is a need for an increase in the number of affordable housing units; and, there needs to be greater access to financial education so the “unbanked can get banked”.
