President
Delaware State Representative Joseph E. Miro

President-Elect
New Mexico State Senator Bernadette Sanchez

Vice President for Public Policy
Maryland State Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez

Vice President Membership
Connecticut State Representative Guillermina “Minnie” Gonzalez

Treasurer
Wyoming State Representative Floyd Esquibel

Secretary
Kansas State Representative Mario Goico

Arizona State Representative Steve Gallardo
Chair, Labor & Workforce Development Task Force

Illinois State Senator Iris Martinez
Chair, Education & Civil Rights
Task Force

Rhode Island State Senator Juan M. Pichardo
Chair, Business & Economic Development Task Force

Puerto Rico Senator Luz Z. (Lucy) Arce Ferrer
Chair, Health Care Task Force

Arizona State Representative.
Ben Miranda
International Relations, Trade & Immigration Task Force

Be a Sponsor of the NHCSL Sixth National Summit:

“Noche de Celebración”
$50,000
Gold Sponsor
$25,000
Patron Sponsor
$15,000

Different levels of sponsorship are now available on a first come first serve basis. Sponsorship of NHCSL National Summit offers a series of great benefits for you and your company. Visit www.nhcsl.org for more information.

Advertise in NHCSL’s Summit Journal
Ad space is available in the 2008 Summit Journal which will be published in 2009. Ad specifications and costs are available at www.nhcsl.org

The Pew Hispanic Center announced on February 11, 2008 that the population in the Unites States will rise to 438 million in 2050 from 296 million in 2005 and 82% of the increase will be due to immigrants arriving from 2005 to 2050 and their US born children.

U.S. Population Projections for 2005-2050 developed by the Pew Research Center state that one in five Americans will be an immigrant in 2050, compared with one in eight in 2005. According to the Pew Hispanic Center in 2050, immigrants will have surpassed the peak during the last great wave of immigration which took place 100 years ago. The Hispanic community which is today the largest minority group will make up for 29% of the population in the United States in the year 2050.

More information about these findings can be found at http://pewhispanic.org/

Immigration is one of the key issues in the 2008 Elections and a policy priority for NHCSL. Why are the 2008 candidates for  President of the United States reaching out to this Hispanic community more than ever before in US history? In particular, what constitutes the Hispanic vote?

First, the Hispanic vote is not a uniform vote. There are the recently arrived, second generation and third generation Hispanics. According to the Census Bureau, Hispanics can be of any race: white, black, asian, american indian or the predominant mestizo. Levels of education vary as widely. All these differences make up for very different Hispanic constituencies sometimes at odds with each other. But lately all these constituencies have banded together around the immigration issue. Hispanics know there is a need for immigration reform. Whether this includes closing the border or not is a secondary issue. In the general elections, Hispanics will support those who they perceive will bring about this reform.

This diversity helps to explain why are the candidates so interested in reaching the Hispanic vote. They know that Hispanics constitute a big swing constituency which can just as easily vote for Senator McCain, Senator Clinton or Senator Obama. Their vote is not set in stone and does not respond to traditional American wedge issues which candidates regularly use in American politics. They care mostly about their families so issues that affect them as individuals do not matter as much. Thus it is a harder constituency to reach and Sen. McCain, Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama can just as easily push their big vote toward their opponent.

NHCSL is following closely the 2008 Elections and the current candidates positions on the immigration issue in an effort to bring to you concise information that could affect the Hispanic community in the US. In March’s e-newsletter we will post an outline of the candidates’ latest policy plans as it relates to the immigration debate.

By Tatiana Guerra

National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) President Joseph E. Miró (DE) announced the resolutions adopted by the Executive Committee at its annual meeting on November 17, 2007, in Miami, Florida. The resolutions address a series of issues in the areas of healthcare, prescription drug care, technology competition, and support for reauthorization of the Farm Bill Legislation. A resolution calling on U.S. Congress to support the pending U.S-Colombia Trade Agreement was also adopted.

“NHCSL remains committed to addressing these important areas that will have a direct impact on the quality of life for the Hispanic/Latino community.” said Representative Miró. “It is crucial that as legislators we continue our work to ensure that meaningful legislation is created to improve the lives of those affected both in the U.S. and in our sister countries abroad.”
For a complete list of the resolutions adopted by NHCSL in 2007 visit www.nhcsl.org

The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) is the preeminent organization representing the interests of 300 Hispanic state legislators from all states, commonwealths, and territories of the United States. Founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)3, NHCSL is a catalyst and advocate for joint action on issues of common concern, such as health, education, immigration, homeownership and economic development to all segments of the Hispanic community. NHCSL also works to design and implement policies and procedures that will impact the quality of life for Hispanic communities; serves as a forum for information exchange and member networking; an institute for leadership training; a liaison with sister U.S. Hispanic organizations; a promoter of public/private partnerships with business and labor; and a partner with Hispanic state and provincial legislators and their associations representing Central and South America. For more information visit www.nhcsl.org