Hispanic American Senators and Representatives
H I S PA N I C A M E R I C A N
Senators and Representatives
Senadores y congresistas hispanos americanos
MEL MARTINEZ
(R-Senator-FL)
Mel Martinez is a United States
Senator from Florida, a Republican,
a Cuban American, and the former
Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development under President
George W. Bush. Born in Cuba,
he arrived in the U.S. at age 15.
Mel earned his undergraduate and
law degrees from Florida State
University, and went on to practice
law for 25 years. Today, Senator
Martinez serves in the U.S. Senate
and sits on the Armed Services committee, the Banking,
Housing and Urban Affairs committee, and the Energy and
Natural Resources committee. He also serves on the Senateʼs
Special Committee on Aging.
ROBERT MENENDEZ
(D-Senator-NJ)
Bob Menendez grew up the son of immigrants in a
tenement building in Union City. A product of New Jerseyʼs
public schools and a graduate of the stateʼs universities, he
has served as a school board member, a mayor and a state
legislator. Since 1992, he has been fighting for New Jersey
families in Washington, where he rose to become the third-
highest ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives
before taking office in the Senate in 2006.
Bob first entered public service as a 19-year old college
student when he launched a successful petition drive
to reform his local school board. He learned then the
importance of standing up for whatʼs right, no matter how
powerful the opposition.
That same commitment led Bob to stand up to the
2008/2009 WWW.HISPANICYEARBOOK.COM
powerful mayor of Union City
when he saw him abusing his office
for personal gain. He took on the
mayor and testified against him in
court, even though it meant wearing
a bulletproof vest after receiving
threats to his life. Bob stood up to
the entire political establishment in
his hometown, and led a coalition
of reformers that cleaned up the
city.
In Congress, he has fought to
make health care more affordable for New Jerseyʼs families
and to improve schools so they prepare our children for a
successful future. Now he is fighting to make college more
affordable for the next generation of leaders.
Bob believes we should honor our parents by making sure
they can retire with dignity and has introduced legislation to
make it easier for families to care for their aging loved ones.
And he has led the fight to stop the privatization of Social
Security.
After September 11, 2001, Bob earned national
recognition for his leadership in reforming the countryʼs
intelligence and public health systems and for fighting to
establish an independent commission to investigate the
terrorist attacks on our country. Today, he is working to
improve the security of our bus, rail and public transit
systems.
Elected by his colleagues in 2002 as the Chairman of
the House Democratic Caucus, Bob Menendez became
the highest-ranking Hispanic in Congressional history. He
previously served as the Vice Chairman of the Democratic
Caucus and has led key Task Forces on Education and
Homeland Security.
After being appointed by New Jersey Governor Jon
Corzine, Bob was sworn in to the Senate on January 18,
2006. He serves on the Senate Committees on Banking,
Housing and Urban Affairs; Energy and Natural Resources;
Budget; and Foreign Relations.
Bob was born in New York City on January 1, 1954. He
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Hispanic American Senators and Representatives

received his B.A. from St. Peterʼs College in Jersey City and sex offender laws, address youth and family violence,
his law degree from Rutgers University. He currently lives in enhance and enforce Coloradoʼs consumer protection laws,
Hoboken and has two children, Alicia and Robert. combat fraud against the elderly, and protect Coloradoʼs
environment.
As Attorney General Ken Salazar established the first-
KEN SALAZAR ever Colorado Attorney General Fugitive Prosecutions
Unit to apprehend and prosecute fugitive murderers, the
(D-Senator-CO) first-ever Attorney General Gang Prosecution Unit, and an
Environmental Crimes Unit.
Ken Salazar was elected to the
From 1990 to 1994 Ken Salazar served in the Cabinet
United States Senate in November
of Governor Roy Romer as the executive director of the
2004 as Coloradoʼs thirty-fifth
Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Among his
United States Senator.
accomplishments as executive director, Ken crafted reforms
A fifth generation Coloradan,
for oil, mining, and gas operations to better protect the
Ken and his family have been
environment and the public, protected Coloradoʼs interstate
farmers and ranchers in the San
water compacts, and created the Youth in Natural Resources
Luis Valley since before Colorado
program that allowed thousands of Coloradoʼs young people
became a state.
to work on and learn about Coloradoʼs natural resources.
As Coloradoʼs Senator, Ken
And he co-authored the Colorado constitutional amendment
Salazar fights for Coloradoʼs
creating Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), led the
people. He champions a strong
successful campaign for its passage, and served as its first
defense and homeland security, including military, veterans
chairman. GOCO is the most successful land conservation
and law enforcement needs; economic opportunity and
effort in modern Colorado history.
security, including energy independence; revitalizing
Ken has been a farmer and rancher in the San Luis Valley,
rural America and agriculture; affordable health care; and
a natural resources lawyer, and small business owner much
protecting Americaʼs land and water.
of his life. He and his wife have owned radio stations in
In his freshman year, Senator Salazar played a leading
Pueblo and Denver and have owned and operated a Dairy
role in many bipartisan approaches to solving problems
Queen in Westminster. Ken Salazar has also served as
important to Americans. Ken helped spearhead the “Gang
the chief legal counsel to the Governor, chairman of the
of 14” agreement between seven Republican and seven
Rio Grande Compact Commission, and practiced water,
Democratic Senators, ending the Senate impasse on judicial
environmental and public lands law for eleven years in the
appointments that threatened to destroy the Senateʼs historic
private sector.
foundations.
One of eight brothers and sisters, Ken graduated from
Salazar helped lead the successful bipartisan effort to pass
Centauri High School in Conejos County in 1973, attended
the National Energy Policy Act of 2005, an important first
St. Francis Seminary, received a political science degree
step toward energy independence. He has since helped form
from Colorado College in 1977, and graduated with a law
a bipartisan coalition of ten Senators pressing for greater use
degree from the University of Michigan in 1981. Salazar also
of renewable fuels and improved motor vehicle efficiency.
received honorary doctorates of law from Colorado College
He worked with Republicans and Democrats to
in 1993 and the University of Denver in 1999.
reauthorize the PATRIOT Act so that it provides our Nationʼs
Ken and his wife, Hope, have two daughters, Melinda and
law enforcement agencies with the tools necessary to fight
Andrea. Kenʼs older brother, John Salazar, was elected to the
terrorism while at the same time ensuring that our basic
United States Congress in November 2004 from Coloradoʼs
constitutional rights are protected. Senator Salazar has also
3rd Congressional District.
partnered with Arizona Senator John McCain to propose
a national, non-partisan commission to undertake a fresh
review of health care in America, and to develop real
solutions to our health care crisis. JOE BACA
Ken is a member of five Senate Committees: Finance, (D-43rd-CA)
Agriculture, Energy & Natural Resources, Ethics, and Aging.
Before his election to the U.S. Senate, Ken Salazar served Rep. Joe Baca has served in Congress since winning
for six years as Coloradoʼs 36th Attorney General from 1999 a special election in 1999. Rep. Baca represents the 43rd
through 2004, winning statewide elections to that office in District of California, which includes the cities of Colton,
1998 and 2002. Ken served as chairman of the Conference Fontana, Rialto, Ontario and San Bernardino, as well as the
of Western Attorneys General and received the “Profiles in areas of Bloomington and Muscoy.
Courage” award from his fellow state attorneys general in Rep. Baca serves on the House Agriculture Committee,
recognition of his dedication to preserving and promoting and he is the Chair of the Subcommittee on Departmental
the rule of law. Ken Salazar led efforts to fight crime and Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry. He also
to make Colorado communities safer, strengthen the stateʼs is a member of the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy

20 WWW.ANUARIOHISPANO.COM 2008/2009

and Poultry. He also serves on
the House Financial Services
Committee, where he is a
member of the Subcommittee on
Capital Markets, Insurance, and
Government Sponsored Enterprises,
and the Subcommittee on Financial
Institutions and Consumer Credit.
In addition, Rep. Baca serves
on the House Natural Resources
Committee and as a member of the
Water and Power Subcommittee.
In November 2006, the members of the Congressional
Hispanic Caucus (CHC) elected Congressman Joe Baca (D-
California) to serve as its next Chair. Rep. Baca will lead
the group, which includes all Democrats in the U.S. House
of Representatives and Senate of Hispanic descent, during
the 110th Congress (2007-2008). He also chairs the CHC
Corporate America, Technology, Communications and the
Arts Task Force.
Joe was born in Belen, New Mexico, the youngest of 15
children in a house where little English was spoken. His
father was a railroad laborer. When Joe was a young boy his
family moved to Barstow, California. Joe worked shining
shoes at age 10, delivered newspapers, and later worked as
a laborer for the Santa Fe Railroad until he was drafted in
1966. He served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper with both
the 101st and the 82nd Airborne Divisions from 1966-68.
Following military service, Joe earned his bachelorʼs
degree in sociology from California State University – Los
Angeles. He worked for 15 years in community relations
with General Telephone and Electric. In 1979, he was the
first Latino elected to the Board of Trustees for the San
Bernardino Valley College District. He was elected to the
State Assembly in 1992, where he became the first Latino
Speaker pro Tempore, and was elected to the State Senate in
1998.
Joe and his wife, Barbara, have four children – Joe Jr.,
Jeremy, Natalie and Jennifer.
XAVIER BECERRA
(D-13th-CA)
First elected to the House of Representatives in 1992,
Representative Xavier Becerra is Assistant to the Speaker of
the House and is the only member from Southern California
currently serving on the powerful House Committee on Ways
and Means. His committee is responsible for formulating
our nationʼs tax, Social Security, Medicare, trade and income
security laws. As Assistant to the Speaker, Rep. Becerra
wields a strong voice in House Leadership, helping to set
priorities and drive the legislative decision making process.
He has dedicated himself to promoting issues affecting
industries critical to the economic vitality of the Southern
California region such as entertainment, high technology,
health care, and stimulating free, yet fair, trade.
2008/2009 WWW.HISPANICYEARBOOK.COM
Hispanic American Senators and Representatives
The first Latino to serve on
the Ways and Means Committee,
Rep. Becerra has used his position
to increase opportunities for
working families, to improve
the Social Security program for
women and minorities, to combat
poverty among the working poor,
and to strengthen Medicare and
ensure its long-term viability.
Rep. Becerra currently serves on
the Health, Oversight, and Social
Security subcommittees. He is also a member of the House
Committee on Budget, which oversees the federal budget
process.
Rep. Becerra is a member of the Congressional Hispanic
Caucus (CHC) where he served as Chair during the 105th
Congress (1997-98). The Congressman is also a member of
the Executive Committee of the Congressional Asian Pacific
American Caucus. At the international level, he serves as
Vice Chair of the U.S.-Korea Interparliamentary Exchange,
and is Co-Chair of the Congressional Friends of Spain
Caucus.
In addition to his Congressional duties, Rep. Becerra
enjoys his service as a board member for several respected
institutions, including the Close Up Foundation, the nationʼs
largest youth civic education organization that brings more
than 25,000 students and teachers to Washington, D.C.,
annually; and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute,
which provides scholarships and internship opportunities
for the next generation of Latino leaders. Rep. Becerra also
serves on the Smithsonian Board of Regents, a distinguished
panel of 17 men and women who oversee the Smithsonian
Institutionʼs expansive collection.
Located entirely in the City of Los Angeles, Californiaʼs
31st Congressional District includes all or parts of the
neighborhoods of Atwater Village, Eagle Rock, Echo
Park, Garvanza, Glassell Park, Highland Park, Hollywood,
Jefferson Park, Koreatown, Lincoln Heights, Mid City,
Montecito Heights, Monterey Hills, Mount Washington,
New Chinatown, Pico Union, Silverlake, South Los Angeles,
Vernon and Westlake.
Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Becerra served
one term in the California Legislature as the representative
of the 59th Assembly District in Los Angeles County. He
is a former Deputy Attorney General with the California
Department of Justice. The congressman began his legal
career in 1984 working in a legal services office representing
the mentally ill.
Rep. Becerra is the son of working-class immigrants and
was the first in his family to graduate from college. In 1980,
Rep. Becerra earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from
Stanford University. He was awarded his Juris Doctorate
from Stanford Law School in 1984.
Rep. Becerra is married to Dr. Carolina Reyes. They are
the proud parents of three young daughters: Clarisa, Olivia
and Natalia. The Becerra family resides in the Los Angeles
neighborhood of Eagle Rock.
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Hispanic American Senators and Representatives

DENNIS CARDOZA Cardoza, who has two adopted children, has been a
strong voice on behalf of adoption and foster children. In
(D-18th-CA) April of 2005, he introduced the “Military Adoption Act,”
which makes it easier for military service members to adopt
Now in his third term in
children by allowing them to take paid leave. The bill was
Congress, Dennis Cardoza has
signed into law by President Bush in December 2005.
established a reputation as an
Prior to serving in Congress, Cardoza spent six years in
effective, fiscally-responsible
the California State Assembly, where he chaired the powerful
legislator who delivers results
Rules Committee and helped forge the Moderate Democratic
for the Central Valley. Cardoza
Caucus. A broad group of organizations honored Cardoza as
represents Californias 18th
Legislator of the Year for his efforts to cut taxes, help family
Congressional District, which
farms, and promote education and childrenʼs safety.
includes Merced County and
Cardozaʼs interest in public service began in college when
portions of San Joaquin, Stanislaus,
he interned on Capitol Hill during the summer of 1979. The
Madera, and Fresno Counties.
first in his family to graduate from college, Cardoza went on
Cardoza serves as Chairman
to run a successful small business. His belief that government
of the House Agriculture Committeeʼs Subcommittee on
should do more to help small businesses and foster economic
Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, which will play a
growth inspired him to serve a term on the Atwater City
leading role in the formation of the 2007 Farm Bill. The
Council beginning in 1984.
subcommittee is critical to Central Valley farmers because
In 1994, Cardoza was appointed to the Merced City
it has jurisdiction over the crops that constitute the lionʼs
Council. His council-related duties on the Merced County
share of Central Valley agricultural production. Cardoza also
Regional Solid Waste Board, the Merced County Association
serves on the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry
of Governments, and the Atwater Redevelopment Agency
and the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy and
provided invaluable experience on dealing with a wide range
Research.
of important local and county issues.
In 2007, Cardoza joined the prestigious House Rules
Cardoza has been relentless in his efforts to establish a
Committee, which serves as the gateway for all major
University of California campus in the Central Valley. UC
legislation considered on the House floor. Having a seat at
Merced, once a dream of Valley educators, students, and
the table on this powerful committee gives the congressman
parents opened its campus doors in the fall of 2005.
a strong platform from which to advocate for the interests
The congressman has never forgotten his agricultural
and values of California ʻs Central Valley on a wide
roots. His grandparents emigrated from Portugal in the
range of important bills. The congressman also serves on
early 20th century to farm the rich Merced County soil. The
the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which
Cardoza family raised dairy cattle and grew sweet potatoes,
determines committee assignments and guides policy
almonds, watermelons, wheat, oats, and alfalfa.
priorities.
Cardoza resides near Atwater with his wife, Dr. Kathleen
Cardozaʼs centrist philosophy is highlighted in his role
McLoughlin, and their three children, Joey , Brittany Mari,
as a leading member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group
and Elaina.
of 44 moderate to conservative House Democrats who are
committed to fiscal responsibility and accountability for
taxpayer dollars.
Since taking office in 2003, Cardoza has demonstrated JIM COSTA
a commitment to reaching across the partisan divide to find (D-20th-CA)
common ground between Democrats and Republicans. He
has a strong record on national security, veteransʼ issues, and In January 2005, following a
defending Social Security. Cardoza has worked tirelessly to distinguished 24-year career as
support legislation that helps Central Valley farmers and has a member of the California state
secured millions in funding for vital infrastructure projects in Legislature, Jim Costa was sworn
the 18th district. in as Member of the U.S. House
Cardoza has been a strong and consistent advocate for of Representatives representing
reducing our nationʼs dangerous dependence on foreign oil. Californiaʼs 20th Congressional
He strongly supports investing in alternative and renewable District.
energy sources. Cardoza, who has installed solar panels The grandson of Portuguese
on his family residence in Atwater, recently introduced a immigrants who settled in the
bill that would extend and increase tax credits for solar fertile San Joaquin Valley near
installation on residential and commercial properties. In the turn of the 20th Century,
2006, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) named Congressman Costa represents a district as diverse in people
him “Solar Champion of the Year.” as it is in crops. Made up of portions of Fresno and Kern

22 WWW.ANUARIOHISPANO.COM 2008/2009
 Hispanic American Senators and Representatives

Counties and all of Kings County, the 20th Congressional of San Joaquin Memorial High School and has a Bachelorʼs
District is home to a thriving agriculture industry which Degree in Political Science from California State University,
produces much of what America eats. Fresno County is the Fresno.
nationʼs number one agriculture producing county, Kern
County ranks third and Kings County is ninth.
Raised on a dairy farm in Fresnoʼs Kearney Park area, HENRY CUELLAR
Costa is a third-generation family farmer. Costaʼs committee
assignments reflect his long-standing interest in the 20th (D-28th-TX)
Congressional Districtʼs major issues including agriculture
Congressman Cuellar was sworn
and water policy. He serves on the House Agriculture
into office in January 2005. He
Committee, where he is a member of the Subcommittees
arrived in Washington with a plan
on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry; and Conservation, Credit,
to be accessible to his constituents
Energy and Research. On the House Natural Resources
from the smallest towns to the
Committee Costa is Chairman of the Subcommittee on
largest cities and to bring home
Energy and Mineral Resources and is a member of the
more federal resources than ever
Subcommittee on Water and Power. Costa is also a member
before.
of the House Foreign Affairs Committee where he serves
Congressman Cuellar has since
on the Subcommittees on the Middle East and South Asia;
become known for his accessibility,
and Europe. Costa is a member of the fiscally-conservative
making over 250 visits to the
Blue Dog Coalition and co-founder and co-chair of the
district in the first year alone. He
Congressional Victimsʼ Rights Caucus. He is also a co-
travels home to Texas every week from Washington to meet
founder of the Congressional Water Caucus and a co-founder
with constituents and work in the district, and regularly hosts
of the Congressional Organ Donation Caucus.
an innovative system of “Community Office Hours” in every
During his first term in office, Congressman Costa
town to stay in touch with his constituents.
put together a broad-based bipartisan coalition aimed at
In his first term, Congressman Cuellar has worked hard
developing a Regional Water Plan for Central California.
to fulfill his promises of assisting constituents in receiving
He also led the negotiations between the City of Fresno
federal grant assistance. In his first year in Congress,
and the State of California that secured the final funding
he secured funding totaling more than $850 million for
necessary to complete and open the new Amtrak station in
local projects including grants, transportation funding and
Fresno. During the 109th Congress Costa continued to be an
appropriations earmarks to benefit the 28th District of Texas.
outspoken advocate for building High Speed Rail Systems
Congressman Cuellarʼs top priorities continue to include
in California and across the nation and played a leading
improving education, increasing access to affordable
role in the bipartisan effort to secure Highway 99 funding
healthcare and prescription drugs, and bringing better jobs
in the infrastructure bonds approved by California voters in
and wages to Texas.
November 2006. In addition, Costa was a principal in the
Using a bipartisan approach, Congressman Cuellar
successful bipartisan effort to secure Congressional approval
works closely with his colleagues in Congress to address
of plans to keep Fresnoʼs 144th Air National Guard Fighter
our nationʼs toughest issues. In his first term as U.S.
Wing viable well into the future. The principal author
Congressman for Texas District 28, he has been one of the
of state legislation to create the San Joaquin Valley Air
most successful Members in Congress, and by far the most
Pollution Control District, Costa continues to work with local
effective Representative of his freshman class. He has passed
and state officials to clean up the Valleyʼs air.
eleven out of eleven amendments he has introduced on the
Costaʼs legislative initiatives have including sponsoring a
House Floor- a rare accomplishment for a Member in their
bill directed at resolving the beef crisis between the United
first term. Of first year legislators, Congressman Cuellar
States and Japan, legislation to extend the Farm Bill and
ranks 1st in passing amendments, and 3rd among all House
helping draft the legislation which is a result of the Friant
Members.
Water Settlement. He also was one of the leaders in the
His amendments include: measures to protect individual
successful attempt to retain VOCA funding.
property rights from government encroachment, the
His efforts during the 109th Congress won Costa
establishment of a border security task force providing
recognition from National Organization for Victim
resources to ensure increased security, manpower, and
Assistance, which named him recipient of the Donald E.
technology along the Mexican border, designation of witness
Santarelli Public Policy Award for demonstrating outstanding
protection grants to encourage witness testimonies in border-
public policy leadership that has national impact. The
related cases, rules to extend financial aid opportunities
American Farm Bureau Federation, named him a recipient
to certificate-seeking students, action to make the student
of its “Friend of the Farm Bureau” award and Costa received
financial aid application process fast and easy, initiatives
the “Spirit of Enterprise” award by the U.S. Chamber of
to combat kidnappings along the border, and measures to
Commerce.
increase security and maintain flow of trade and commerce at
A product of Fresno County schools, Costa is a graduate

2008/2009 WWW.HISPANICYEARBOOK.COM 23
Hispanic American Senators and Representatives
inland ports.
During the first months of his tenure in the U.S. House
of Representatives, Congressman Cuellar also successfully
passed legislation to create a National Gang intelligence
center at the FBI and worked to toughen penalties on sex
offenders who break the terms of their release.
Congressman Cuellar was also the first Democrat to
support the Central America Free Trade Agreement - the
trade agreement that will create new jobs for Texas.
In the 109th Congress, he has served on the House
Agriculture and Budget Committees of the U.S. House of
Representatives. Congressman Cuellar values agriculture as a
vital economic component of the 28th District and continues
to fight to ensure that the needs of ranchers and farmers are
met. As a member of the House Budget Committee, he has
consistently fought budget cuts that threaten education, social
security, and health care funding.
As Laredoʼs former State Representative, Congressman
Cuellar was a statewide influential legislator who served in
leadership positions in the most powerful House committees
– the House Appropriations, Higher Education and Calendars
committees. At the same time, he was a national leader,
serving on several national legislative committees dealing
with state budgets, the U.S./Mexico border, and with
international trade.
Congressman Cuellar is the first Laredoan to serve the
28th District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives
in over twenty years.
Born and raised in Texas, Congressman Cuellar is acutely
aware of the issues facing his constituency which spans over
eleven counties from Zapata County to Hays County.
He began his higher education by earning an Associateʼs
Degree from Laredo Community College in his hometown.
The skills and confidence he gained there enabled him
to take the next step to Washington, DC. While there, he
washed dishes and held down other jobs as he earned a
Bachelorʼs Degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown
University where he graduated Cum Laude. Soon after
graduation, Congressman Cuellar returned to Texas to earn
degrees in International Trade at Texas A&M International
University, a law degree from the University of Texas-Austin
and a Ph.D. in Government from UT-Austin. Today, he is the
most degreed Congressman serving in the House with five
advanced degrees. Congressman Cuellar also holds a third
degree black belt in Karate.
Congressman Cuellar and his wife Imelda reside in
Laredo with their two daughters, Christy and Catie.
LINCOLN DÍAZ-BALART
(R-21st-FL)
Lincoln Diaz-Balart is a senior member of the House
Rules Committee and the Ranking Member of the
Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process.
Diaz-Balart attended public elementary schools in South
Florida and high school at the American School of Madrid,
24 WWW.ANUARIOHISPANO.COM
Spain. Subsequently, he received
a degree in international relations
from New College of Florida, in
Sarasota, and obtained a diploma
in British politics in Cambridge,
England. He received his law
degree from Cleveland, Ohioʼs
Case Western Reserve University.
Diaz-Balart practiced law
in Miami, where he worked for
“Legal Services of Greater Miami,”
providing free legal services to the
poor. He was subsequently an Assistant State Attorney in
Miami and a partner in the law firm of Fowler, White.
Lincoln Diaz-Balart was first elected to the Florida
Legislature in 1986 by the largest margin of victory of any
state representative in Florida and was chosen “best in
debate” by colleagues during his freshman term. In 1989,
Diaz-Balart successfully ran in a special election for an open
seat in the Florida Senate and was reelected in 1990.
In 1992, Diaz-Balart was elected to the United States
House of Representatives from Floridaʼs 21st Congressional
District. He served as a member of the House Foreign
Affairs Committee during his first term, working to preserve
the special U.S. - Israel relationship and striving to protect
United States national security.
In 1994, Lincoln Diaz-Balart became the first Hispanic in
U.S. history to be named to the powerful Rules Committee.
The Rules Committee decides which legislation may reach
the House Floor and what amendments may be debated.
In 1996, Lincoln Diaz-Balart drafted much of the
legislation that strengthened the U.S. embargo against the
Cuban dictatorship. Diaz-Balart was specifically responsible
for codifying the U.S. embargo, making the lifting of
sanctions contingent upon the liberation of all political
prisoners and the scheduling of free elections in Cuba.
In 1997, Diaz-Balart successfully carried out efforts to
restore SSI, also known as “disability” benefits, and food
stamps to legal immigrants who were denied aid by the
Welfare Reform Law of 1996. On May 15, 1997, Diaz-Balart
took to the Floor of the House and achieved the passage of
his amendment to continue SSI benefits to legal immigrants
by a vote of 345 to 74. Diaz-Balart was the author of the
Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief
Act of 1997, which granted legal residency to hundreds
of thousands of immigrants in the U.S. He also authored
legislation to stiffen penalties for stalking crimes against
children. This legislation established Floridaʼs “Jennifer Act”
as a national standard for state compliance.
In 1999, the respected publication, Congressional
Quarterly (CQ), honored Diaz-Balart by naming him one
of the “CQ 50” of effective and influential members of
Congress. In 2000, a nationwide poll of Hispanic voters
by the firm, Hispanic Trends, conducted for Hispanic
Magazine, placed Diaz-Balart among the 10 most influential
and credible Hispanics in the United States. As a member
of the House Rules Committee, on September 14, 2001,
Lincoln Diaz-Balart took to the floor of the House the Joint
2008/2009

Resolution authorizing the use of the United States Armed
Forces against those in Afghanistan responsible for the
attacks of September 11, 2001 against the United States.
On November 13, 2002, he took to the Floor the historic
legislation creating the “Department of Homeland Security”.
For his extraordinary work on behalf of Nicaraguan
immigrants in the United States, Lincoln Diaz-Balart
received the “Order of Ruben Dario in Great Cross Grade”
medal from the President of Nicaragua on February 23, 2003.
On April 13, 2004, due to his work on behalf of Colombian
immigrants in the United States, Lincoln Diaz-Balart
received the highest medals awarded by the Senate and the
House of Representatives of Colombia. On November 9,
2005, Lincoln Diaz-Balart was awarded the “Commander of
the Ouissam Alaouite Order” of Morocco, for his efforts to
help win the release of the final 404 Moroccan prisoners of
war, most of whom were held for more than 20 years, by the
Polisario Front in southern Algeria.
Congressman Diaz-Balart lives in Miami with his wife,
Cristina, and their two sons, Lincoln and Daniel.
MARIO DÍAZ-BALART
(R-25th-FL)
After serving 14 effective years
in the Florida State Legislature,
Mario Diaz-Balart was elected to
the U.S. House of Representatives
in 2002 to represent Floridaʼs 25th
Congressional District, which
includes part of Miami-Dade,
Collier and Monroe Counties. He
is now serving his third term.
Diaz-Balart is a member
of the Budget Committee, the
Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee, and the Science and Technology Committee. He
is an Assistant Whip and Vice Chair of the Congressional
Hispanic Conference. He is also the founder and co
chairman of the Everglades Caucus, a group dedicated to
Everglades restoration and conservation. In his first term
Diaz-Balart authored two amendments to protect Everglades
restoration funding, which were successfully passed. He
continues to actively work toward securing additional
funding under the Water and Recourses Development Act
(WRDA).
Diaz-Balart is a strong proponent of improving
transportation and as a member of the Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee has helped deliver millions of
federal dollars for the I-75 widening project and Miami-Dade
Transit.
Public safety is also a priority for Diaz-Balart. Since
his arrival in Washington, Diaz-Balart has been a strong
proponent of promoting hurricane preparedness and ensuring
federal relief for Florida in the aftermaths of Hurricanes
2008/2009 WWW.HISPANICYEARBOOK.COM
Hispanic American Senators and Representatives
Katrina, Wilma and Rita. Most recently, in 2007, Diaz-
Balart launched the Protecting Families Online initiative, to
help parents and families protect themselves against online
predators and ID theft.
As a member of the Budget Committee, Diaz-Balart is
pushing for a responsible federal budget that keeps taxes low
on hard-working families. And when he came to Congress,
he was a founding member of the Washington Waste
Watchers, a group dedicated to combating government waste,
fraud and abuse. This Congress, Diaz-Balart introduced the
Tax Relief for Families Act (H.R. 411), which would make
permanent the state and local sales tax deduction, the child
tax credit, the marriage penalty relief, the college deduction
and the school teacher expense deduction and would repeal
the death tax.
Diaz-Balart began his political career in 1988 in the
Florida House of Representatives, and in 1992 he was
elected to the Florida Senate where he served as Vice
Chair of the Rules Committee and chaired several other
committees including the Combined Appropriations/Ways
and Means/Finance and Tax Committee, the Criminal Justice
Appropriations, Banking and Insurance Committee, and
Children and Families Committee. In 2000, Diaz-Balart
returned to the Florida House where he served as Chair of the
Congressional Redistricting Committee and Vice-Chair of
the Procedural and Redistricting Council.
Diaz-Balart was born in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on September
25, 1961. He attended the University of South Florida in
Tampa where he studied Political Science before beginning
his public service career as an aide to then City of Miami
Mayor in 1985. The Congressman lives in Miami, FL with
his wife and son.
LUIS J. FORTUÑO
(R-PR)
Representative Luis G. Fortuño
was sworn in to his first term in
the U.S. House of Representatives,
as the first Republican elected to
Congress representing Puerto Rico,
on January 4, 2005. In the 110th
Congress, Rep. Fortuño serves
on the House Natural Resources
Committee and is Ranking
Member of the Subcommittee on
Insular Affairs; this is a rarity for a
Member who has served only two
years to be awarded this distinction. On the House Education
and Labor Committee, he serves on the Subcommittees on
Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education
and Healthy Families and Communities. He has earned
the privilege of serving on the House Foreign Affairs
Committee and is assigned to the Subcommittees on Western
Hemisphere and Europe.
25
Hispanic American Senators and Representatives
In addition to his Committee assignments, Rep. Fortuño
plays an active role in a number of caucuses and other
influential groups. He was unanimously elected as Chairman
of the Congressional Hispanic Conference, which serves
to promote the conservative agenda nationwide among the
Hispanic community. He is a founding Co-Chair of the
Congressional Friends of Spain Caucus, which strengthens
the relationship between the United States and Spain and
focuses on political, cultural, economic, commercial, and
educational relations between the two countries.
Rep. Fortuño was recently appointed to the House
Republican Policy Committee. In addition, he was tapped
again to serve on the National Republican Congressional
Committee (NRCC) Executive Committee, which serves a
critical purpose to strengthen fundraising efforts and increase
member participation in the upcoming 2008 electoral cycle.
Rep. Fortuño will play a significant role in advising the
NRCC on Hispanic outreach and other GOP fundraising
efforts.
Before coming to Congress, Rep. Fortuño was a partner at
the San Juan law firm of Correa, Collazo, Herrero, Jiménez
& Fortuño specializing in corporate finance and real estate
law. He entered public service in 1993 after being appointed
by the Governor as Executive Director of the Puerto Rico
Tourism Company and President of the Hotel Development
Corporation. In 1994, he became Puerto Ricoʼs first
Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and
Commerce.
As Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce,
Rep. Fortuño was tasked with the development and
implementation of large-scale reforms of Puerto Ricoʼs tax,
labor, corporate and commercial codes, aimed at facilitating
business growth and job creation, reducing bureaucracy, and
tax reform. Some of these initiatives included the adoption
of the Uniform Commercial Code, the revamping of the
General Corporations Law, an aggressive investment package
to jumpstart the tourism industry, and the largest tax cut in
Puerto Ricoʼs history. At the time of Rep. Fortuñoʼs departure
from public service, Puerto Ricoʼs unemployment rate had
reached its lowest level in over a generation.
Born in 1960, Rep. Fortuño was raised in San Juan,
Puerto Rico. He earned a bachelorʼs degree from the School
of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and obtained
his Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Virginia Law
School. He is married to attorney Lucé Vela and has three
children.
CHARLES A. GONZALEZ
(D-20th-TX)
Charles A. Gonzalez is currently in his fifth term in the
United States Congress as the Representative from the 20th
Congressional District of Texas.
Congressman Gonzalez is a member of the New
Democrats and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. As a
Freshman in the 106th Congress, Congressman Gonzalez
26 WWW.ANUARIOHISPANO.COM
was elected Vice President of his
class. Since 1999, Congressman
Gonzalez has served as a
Texas Regional Whip for the
Democratic Caucus and as Chair
of the Hispanic Caucus Civil
Rights Task Force.
It was through the Civil
Rights Task Force that
Congressman Gonzalez
took a lead role in the 2000
decennial census, encouraging
all Americans to complete and return their census forms.
Recognizing his leadership on the census for the Hispanic
Caucus, the House Democratic Leadership selected
Congressman Gonzalez to also Co-Chair the Democratic
Caucus Census Task Force.
Congressman Gonzalez is currently a member of the
House Energy and Commerce Committee where he serves
on the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the
Internet, the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality,
the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer
Protection, and the Subcommittee on Environment and
Hazardous Materials.
As a Member of several Congressional Task Forces,
including Education, Defense, Financial Services, Business
and Economic Development, and Telecommunications, as
well as the 21st Century Health Care Caucus, the Homeland
Security Caucus, the Port Security Caucus, the Air Force
Caucus, the Infrastructure and Transportation Caucus and
the Missing and Exploited Children Caucus, Congressman
Gonzalez is better able to focus his efforts on the issues that
matter most to his constituents in San Antonio.
Charles Gonzalez is a San Antonio native. A graduate of
Thomas A. Edison High School in San Antonio, Gonzalez
received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from
the University of Texas at Austin and then received a Juris
Doctorate degree from St. Maryʼs School of Law in San
Antonio.
As a sitting judge, Gonzalez was recognized as one of
the highest rated trial judges. Credited with introducing the
latest technological advances into the courtroom and for
streamlining court dockets, Judge Gonzalez acknowledged
the problematic backlog of domestic violence cases and
proposed a system of courts to exclusively handle domestic
violence cases. A recognized ardent mediator, Judge
Gonzalez was also instrumental in further streamlining the
dockets by utilizing mediation as an alternative to costly
litigation. In the fall of 1997, Gonzalez resigned his seat on
the bench to seek the office of United States Congressman
for the 20th district of Texas.
During his career, Charles Gonzalez has been involved in
many civic activities in San Antonio. He has served on the
boards of the Arthritis Foundation, Literacy Council, YMCA
Metroboard, Camp Fire Girls, March of Dimes, and Easter
Seals. He also assumed leadership roles in local, state, and
national organizations that promote professionalism and
2008/2009

adherence to high ethical standards by members of the legal
profession.
Charles A. Gonzalez is one of eight children of the late
Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez and Bertha Gonzalez. His
father served as United States Congressman representing the
20th District from 1961-1998.
Charles is married to Belinda Trevino. He has one son,
Leo Gonzalez.
RAÚL M. GRIJALVA
(D-7th-AZ)
In his third term as a Member
of Congress, Representative
Raúl M. Grijalva remains
committed to the needs of his
constituents in Congressional
District 7.
Raúl has gained a solid
base of enthusiastic supporters
because of his exceptional
record of public service within
his district. From 1974 to 1986,
Raúl served on the Tucson
Unified School District Governing Board and became known
as an advocate for teacher and employee rights, civil rights,
and public education. Raúl continued to work towards the
improvement of these conditions when he was elected in
1988 to the Pima County Board of Supervisors, where he
served until 2002.
As the U.S. Representative of the newly created
Congressional District 7 of Arizona, education, employee
rights and the environment remain among his top policy
concerns.
As a member of the Committee on Education and Labor,
Congressman Grijalva will be making the reform and full
funding of No Child Left Behind his top educational priority
for the 110th Congress.
Raúl is also a member of the Committee on Natural
Resources, where he has been appointed Chairman of the
National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee.
The Subcommittee oversees 600, 000 million acres of federal
land. Within weeks of attaining the position, he denounced
the proposal to sell our public lands laid out in the 2008
federal budget. In his new role as Chairman, he will play
a major role in seeking funding for the backlog of funds
needed to address the maintenance funding shortfall for our
public lands. He will be working with the full committee to
address reform of the General Mining Law of 1872, passage
of needed wilderness protection throughout the west and
oversight of the operations of our national parks, forests and
public lands systems.
His commitment to an improved environment and policy
to protect it is also seen through by his leadership in several
key Congressional caucuses, including Co-Chair of the
Congressional National Landscape Conservation System, and
2008/2009 WWW.HISPANICYEARBOOK.COM
Hispanic American Senators and Representatives
the Environment Task Force Caucus, which he chaired from
2003 to 2006.
In the 110th Congress, Raúl also serves on the Committee
on Small Business, where he helps to empower small
business owners and entrepreneurs. Raúl also plays several
leadership roles throughout Congress; he serves as 1st Vice
Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Co-Chair of
the Congressional Progressive Caucus and was recently
appointed Senior Whip for the Majority Whipʼs Operation.
Raúl was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona.
Raúl and his wife, Ramona, have three daughters: Adelita,
Raquel and Marisa, and one granddaughter: Adelina.
LUIS V. GUTIERREZ
(D-4th-IL)
During his eight terms in
the U.S. House, Congressman
Luis V. Gutierrez has worked
to establish himself as an
effective legislator and energetic
spokesman on behalf of his
constituents in Illinoisʼ Fourth
District. At the same time,
Gutierrezʼ tireless leadership
championing the causes of
the Latino and immigrant
communities has led to greater
responsibilities within the U.S. Congress and has earned him
widespread acclaim throughout the country.
During his first term in office in 1992, he led the fight
to increase citizenship education and English language
proficiency programs for newly-arrived immigrants. In
Chicago, he has held citizenship workshops offering
comprehensive assistance to prospective citizens. His
workshops have helped more than 40,000 people take the
first steps toward citizenship.
Gutierrez serves as chairman of the Financial Services
Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary
Policy, Trade and Technology, and was recently named to
the Judiciary Committee, where he sits on the Immigration,
Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International
Law Subcommittee.
As a senior member of the Financial Services Committee,
Rep. Gutierrez has spearheaded efforts to bring more
minorities into the banking system. He also has played
a prominent role in cracking down on predatory lenders,
including flagrant abuses in payday lending to the military,
and is leading efforts to make the costs of remittance
services more transparent and to increase competition in
the marketplace. An amendment offered by Congressman
Gutierrez in the Financial Services Committee to cap the
interest on payday loans made to military families and
provide them with other basic protections against abusive
lenders, was signed into law in 2006. Mr. Gutierrez is now
seeking to extend those same protections to all Americans,
27
Hispanic American Senators and Representatives
not just the military and their families.
As a former member of the Veteransʼ Affairs Committee,
Gutierrez increased funding for research for veterans,
including tens of millions of dollars for prosthetics programs,
and is a strong advocate for ensuring that Illinois veterans
receive ample health benefits for their service; and he created
a new program to help women veterans receive treatment for
sexual abuse that occurred while they were in the military.
Gutierrez was born in Chicago on December 10, 1953.
He graduated from Northeastern Illinois University in 1975
and worked as a teacher, social worker, community activist
and city official until his 1986 election as Alderman from
the cityʼs 26th ward. In the Chicago City Council, he led the
fight for affordable housing, tougher ethics rules, and a law
to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. He and
his wife Soraida have two daughters, Omaira and Jessica and
a grandson, Luisito.
RUBÉN HINOJOSA
(D-15th-TX)
Congressman Rubén
Hinojosa (D-TX) was elected
to Congress in 1996 and is
currently serving his sixth term
as the representative of the
15th District of Texas. The 15th
Congressional District stretches
from the Rio Grande Valley
to historic Goliad County and
the Coastal Bend region. Much
of the region is rural, however
Hidalgo and Cameron Counties
are part of the third fastest
growing metropolitan statistical area in the country.
In Congress, Rubén Hinojosa is regarded as a champion
for the disadvantaged and has distinguished himself as
a strong advocate for education, housing and economic
development. His primary goal in Congress has been to
reduce the chronic unemployment rate in regions of the
district. By focusing on developing a highly educated, well-
trained workforce, modernizing the local infrastructure
including roads and highways, and creating new job
opportunities, Congressman Hinojosa has been instrumental
in bringing unemployment rates to record lows.
Congressman Hinojosa serves on three House committees:
1) Committee on Education and Labor, 2) Committee on
Financial Services and 3) Committee on Foreign Affairs.
As a senior member of the Education and the Workforce
Committee, Congressman Hinojosa is widely recognized as a
champion for investing in human capital through education.
He is a powerful voice for the aspirations of communities
traditionally left behind in Americaʼs education system:
low-income families, minorities, students with disabilities,
English language learners, and the children of migrant and
seasonal farm workers. He is also committed to making
28 WWW.ANUARIOHISPANO.COM
sure that every child graduates prepared and able to afford a
college education.
In January 2007, Congressman Hinojosa was appointed
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education.
Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness. As incoming chair,
Congressman Hinojosa helped guide into law the historic
College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, which
represents the single largest increase in student financial aid
since the GI Bill. Congressman Hinojosaʼs leadership has
also enabled the passage of an unprecedented number of
measures in the 110th Congress that boost the achievement
of Hispanics in higher education. His successful initiatives
include a landmark $510 million investment in minority
institutions and a program to support graduate degree
attainment at Hispanic- Serving Institutions (HSIs).
On the House Financial Services Committee,
Congressman Hinojosa is widely recognized as a leader on
issues affecting the underserved, from banking to housing.
In the 110th Congress, Congressman Hinojosa was
appointed to the House Foreign Affairs Committee where
he has been appointed to the Subcommittee on Europe
and the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global
Environment.
GRACE NAPOLITANO
(D-38th-CA)
Grace Flores Napolitano
was first elected to Congress in
1998. She is currently serving
her fifth term representing
Californiaʼs 38th District.
Her Los Angeles County-
based district covers several
cities and communities in the
Southeast and San Gabriel
Valley areas including Norwalk,
Pomona, Santa Fe Springs, the
City of Industry, Montebello,
Pico Rivera, Avocado Heights,
La Puente, Hacienda Heights, West Puente Valley and parts
of East Los Angeles, Whittier, Rowland Heights, South San
Gabriel, Valinda, and other unincorporated areas.
Napolitano is the Ranking Member of the Water
and Power Subcommittee. She is an avid promoter of
conservation, water recycling, desalination, and sound
groundwater management and storage to address Southern
Californiaʼs need for adequate water quality and supply.
She is proud of her legislative efforts on a number of fronts
– implementation of CALFED, a water management plan
for the State of California, protection of the fragile ecosystem
in the Bay-Delta and promotion of the use of advanced
technologies. Her legislative effort to begin removal of a
huge uranium tailings pile at the banks of the Colorado in
Moab, stands out as a major accomplishment. This pile has
posed a danger to the health of more than 25 million people
2008/2009

living in Southern California and six other states who rely on
the Colorado River for drinking water.
Serving her third term on the International Relations
Committee, Napolitano is committed to forging stronger
relationships with other nations and reducing the threats
posed by terrorists. While she sees two-way trade as
mutually beneficial, she also recognizes that trade is an
important tool for fostering democracy, raising living
standards and reducing global instability and military
conflicts.
A firm believer that manufacturing “matters,” the
Congresswoman has initiated a Manufacturing Task Force
in the 38th district comprised of various small and mid-sized
companies. The task force meets to examine key issues and
work on strategies that will foster more manufacturing jobs
and create a positive climate for manufacturing retention and
growth.
Napolitano established a 38th district Health Task
Force composed of health providers, educators and experts
throughout the local area. The Task Force helps keep the
Congresswoman apprised of key health issues facing her
constituents and works with the Congresswoman to devise
programs and projects to improve health care and health
outcomes for the local area. Currently the Congresswoman
and the Task Force are pursuing funding options for a
proposal to train more nursing professionals at both the entry
level (CNAs and LVNs) and RNs with advanced degrees.
The Congresswoman was born and raised in the border
community of Brownsville, Texas. After high school, she
married and moved with her husband to California where
they raised 5 children. Always a working mother, Napolitano
made her way up through the ranks of Ford Motor Company.
After retirement, she focused full-time on civic pursuits in
her adopted hometown of Norwalk where she has resided for
more than 40 years.
Grace is married to Frank Napolitano. They reside in
Norwalk, California and take great pride in their five grown
children, fourteen grandchildren and one great grandson.
DEVIN NUNES
(R-21st-CA)
Rep. Devin Nunes – a Congressman from the
agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley of California
– was sworn into office in January 2003. Nunes is a third
generation family farmer, whose family emigrated from
Portugalʼs Azores islands. He is proud of his cultural heritage
and has worked to maintain strong ties between Portugal and
the United States throughout his Congressional career.
Nunes grew up in Tulare County on the family farm,
where he learned the value of a hard dayʼs work as well as
the importance of staying informed with the forces that shape
public policy.
After graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where
he received a bachelorʼs degree in agricultural business and a
masterʼs degree in agriculture, Nunes returned to work on the
2008/2009 WWW.HISPANICYEARBOOK.COM
Hispanic American Senators and Representatives
family farm.
In 2001, he was appointed
by President George W. Bush
to serve as California State
Director for the United States
Department of Agriculture,
Rural Development. He also
continued his service on the
COS Board of Trustees.
When congressional
boundaries were redrawn in
2002, Nunes was afforded a
unique opportunity to represent
his home town in Congress as
well as the two most productive agricultural regions in the
United States.
Devin and his wife, Elizabeth, a school teacher, live in
Visalia.
Nunes currently serves on the powerful Ways and Means
Committee, which has jurisdiction over taxes, healthcare,
Social Security, trade and other important federal programs.
The 21st Congressional District is the largest agriculture
district in the United States, both in terms of cash value and
crop diversity. While on the Agriculture Committee, Nunes
focused on policies that affected agricultural trade. He also
participated in reviews concerning major farm policies,
including crop insurance and food security.
During his tenure in Congress, Nunes has spearheaded
many local efforts to bring attention to these challenges. In
2005, he introduced H.R. 99, which designated State Route
99 as a Congressional High Priority Corridor. The bill also
provided federal authorization for SR 99 to become part of
the national interstate system. The bill became law as part of
H.R. 3 in August of 2005.
In 2006, Nunes distinguished himself in the Republican
conference as a leader on energy issues. His legislation,
the American Made Energy Freedom Act, received bi-
partisan praise and has become an important part of the
national energy debate. The bill, which proposes the largest
investment in alternative fuel in history, represents Nunesʼ
view that we must use all of our domestic resources to
achieve energy independence.
SOLOMON P. ORTIZ
(D-27th-TX)
The child of a migrant family, Congressman Solomon P.
Ortiz was born in Robstown, Texas.
When he was a young man, he had a host of odd jobs,
including one as a shoe-shine boy and another as a “printerʼs
devil” at The Robstown Record. (They were called printerʼs
devils because they applied the ink to the letter press and
came away very dirty.) Even at a young age, he was most
impressed with the law enforcement officers who befriended
him then. Through them, Ortiz became fascinated with the
law and law enforcement as he grew older.
29
Hispanic American Senators and Representatives

He was elected to Congress ED PASTOR

in 1982 and has since served
South Texas in the U.S. Congress.
(D-4th-AR)
He has enduring memories of
Ed Pastor was born on
his familyʼs life from his early
June 28, 1943 to Enrique
childhood, an experience that often
and Margarita Pastor in the
leads him to view the questions
small mining community of
of poverty, budget and health care
Claypool, Arizona. As the
before Congress through a prism
oldest of three children, Ed was
of personal experience. He is a
the first member of his family
Democrat, conservative on social
to attend college; graduating
issues and progressive on fiscal
from Arizona State University
policy.
in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts
Ortiz received his basic training at Fort Hood, Texas and
degree in Chemistry.
was sent overseas to Verdun and Vitry Le Francois, France
With a solid education
for his tour of duty. During an inspection one day during
and a commitment to giving back to his community, Ed
Ortizʼ duty in Verdun, France, the officer inspecting his
Pastor became a teacher at North High School where he
barracks found books on investigative procedures and police
taught chemistry and later went on to serve as the Deputy
techniques.
Director of the Guadalupe Organization Inc., a non-profit,
In the 1982 redistricting of Congressional District
community-based organization. Ed Pastorʼs work with
boundaries, a three judge Federal Panel created the 27th
students, families, and seniors motivated him to enroll in the
District of Texas, a new seat along the Gulf Coast of South
College of Law at ASU where he received his Juris Doctorate
Texas.
in 1974.
Ortiz ran for Congress on a platform of bringing jobs to
Following law school, Ed joined Governor Raul Castroʼs
South Texas and increasing the focus on access to education
staff where he enforced the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to
for South Texans, who live in an area of the country with
ensure that every worker had an equal opportunity to work in
traditionally high unemployment rates. He represents a
a discrimination-free environment. In 1976, Ed Pastor was
district with diverse demographics and a variety of industry
elected to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors where
including: petrochemicals, shrimping and Gulf fishing,
he served three terms before resigning in May of 1991 to run
tourism, oil rigging, water transport, agriculture and service
for the Congressional seat vacated by the late Mo Udall. In
industries, as well as a large military complex.
the fall of 1991, Ed Pastor was elected to Congress to serve
In Congress, Ortiz turned his love of law enforcement
the people of what was then Arizonaʼs Second Congressional
into a love of law-making. He was assigned to the House
District.
Armed Services Committee and the House Merchant Marine
Since his election, Congressman Pastor has served
and Fisheries Committee (today, the House Resources
on the House Appropriations Committee, the Committee
Committee). Four military bases in the Coastal Bend area
on Standards of Official Conduct, the Education and
and the historic tug of war over water (and other natural
Labor Committee, and the Committee on Small Business.
resources in the American west) make these committee
Currently in the 110th Congress, Ed serves on the House
assignments uniquely suited to South Texas.
Appropriations Committee and sits on three subcommittees:
Members of Congress, who are players in the policy-
the Subcommittee of Energy and Water Development,
making apparatus in the House of Representatives, learn
the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban
early that nobody can know everything about all the issues,
Development, and Related Agencies, and the Subcommittee
so they find a specialty in a particular arena. He is currently
on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. Ed also
the Ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services
serves on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee
Committeeʼs Subcommittee on Readiness.
and is one of eight Chief Deputy Whips in the Democratic
Ortiz has emerged in the past decade as an ambassador-
Leadership.
without-portfolio, leading trade delegations repeatedly to
Ed Pastor also serves on the Board of Directors of
the Pacific Rim to rustle up opportunities for industry to re-
Neighborhood Housing Services of America, National
locate to South Texas - a move to bring jobs to the area.
Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials,
Ortiz remains one of the hardest-working Members of
National Job Corps Alumni Association, Kids Voting
Congress, as a senior member of 2 important committees, co-
Arizona, and serves as Honorary Director to Timber Trails
chair of the Border Caucus, co-chair of both the House Depot
Childrenʼs Project, Inc.
Caucus and Naval Mine Warfare Caucus, and as Dean of the
Ed is married to Verma Mendez Pastor. The couple has
Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Texas House Democrats.
raised two daughters, Yvonne and Laura, and are the proud
grandparents of Alexis, Frank, and Eduardo.

30 WWW.ANUARIOHISPANO.COM 2008/2009

CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ
(D-23rd-TX)
Congressman Rodriguez
serves on the House Committee
on Appropriations where he
sits on the Homeland Security
and Transportation, Housing &
Urban Development & Related
Agencies Subcommittees.
He also serves on the House
Committee on Veteransʼ
Affairs in the Subcommittees
on Disability Assistance
& Memorial Affairs and
Oversight & Investigations. Congressman Rodriguezʼs
leadership is further exemplified in his involvement with the
Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) where he serves as
the Chair of the Taskforce on Veterans Affairs.
A firm believer in the importance and power of education,
Congressman Rodriguez began his career in public service
as a board member of the Harlandale Independent School
District in 1974. At this time he was working as a social
worker with the Bexar County Department of Mental Health
& Mental Retardation, but later became a trainer for the
Intercultural Development Research Association. He served
in this capacity until he decided to launch his legislative
career in the Texas State Legislature and began teaching for
his alma mater, Our Lady of the Lake University, in 1987.
While in the Texas House of Representatives,
Representative Rodriguez drew from his experience as
a social worker and educator to fight to increase Texas
high school graduation rates. As a state Representative,
Congressman Rodriguez drafted the landmark Texas law
guaranteeing acceptance of the top ten percent of Texas high
school graduates to any public four-year Texas university. He
was also responsible for the development of the “dual-credit”
program, which allows high school students to earn college
credit for advanced courses.
The 23rd Congressional District is the largest district in
the state, covering most of West Texas from San Antonio to
El Paso. It includes portions of Bexar (San Antonio), El Paso
and Sutton counties, as well as Brewster, Dimmit, Maverick,
Presidio, Zavala, Crockett, Culberson, Edwards, Hudspeth,
Jeff Davis, Kinney, Medina, Pecos, Reeves, Terrell, Uvalde
and Val Verde Counties.
Congressman Rodriguez was born in Piedras Negras,
Coahuila, Mexico raised and educated in San Antonio, Texas.
He graduated from Harlandale High School, received his
B.A. at St. Maryʼs University, and earned his MSW from Our
Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.
Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez and his wife, Carolina
Peña, have been married for thirty-one years. Their daughter
Xochil is currently in law school.
2008/2009 WWW.HISPANICYEARBOOK.COM
Hispanic American Senators and Representatives
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN
(R-18th-FL)
Since her election in 1989
to the United States Congress,
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has
proudly represented Floridaʼs
18th Congressional District
in the United States House
of Representatives. Forced to
flee with her family from the
oppressive communist regime
of Fidel Castro, Representative
Ros-Lehtinen became the first
Hispanic woman and first
Cuban-American elected to Congress and a powerful voice
for the South Florida community.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has been a strong leader in the United
States Congress, fighting to advance the needs of South
Florida and ensuring that the nation continues to prosper.
Addressing the needs of the unique community in South
Florida, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen has worked so that
the pristine environment is maintained for future generations
to appreciate. She has consistently led the fight in opposing
offshore drilling in the waters surrounding Florida, ensuring
that the beautiful ecology is maintained for the enjoyment of
all members of the community. In the 110th Congress, Ms
Ros-Lehtinen voted in favor of H.R. 6 the CLEAN Energy
Act, which included provisions to protect Floridaʼs coast line
from the damaging effect of offshore drilling.
In addition to preventing offshore drilling, Ileana has
fought to secure in excess of $27 million to provide for the
dredging of the Miami River, ensuring that the river remains
a vibrant natural resource. A further $4.5 million has been
dedicated in the 2008 Budget. This important work removes
contaminated materials from the river, protecting coral reefs
and other important marine life in Biscayne Bay.
Ensuring that the economy of South Florida continues
to grow and provide economic opportunities for all is one
of Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinenʼs key interests. The
Congresswoman has been a tireless advocate in working to
get Transport Safety Administration screeners located at the
Florida Keys Marathon Airport, a feature which will allow
commercial flights to resume, bringing important investment
through tourism and trade into the Florida Keys.
Representative Ros-Lehtinen has been a strong advocate
of programs that address the serious problem of violence
against women. As a co-sponsor of H.R. 2876, which
reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act, Ileana sent
a strong message to the community that violence against
women is unacceptable, and ensured that programs to address
this problem continued to be funded into the future.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is the Ranking Member on the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Whilst serving in this
role, Ileana has been a tireless advocate for the advancement
of human rights across the globe, as well as continuing
to be a strong voice in opposition to Castroʼs communist
31
Hispanic American Senators and Representatives
regime in Cuba. This marks a long involvement in foreign
affairs, having previously served as a senior member on
the International Relations Committee, and as Chair of the
Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia, the
Subcommittee on Africa, the Subcommittee on International
Operations and Human Rights and as Vice-Chair on the
Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.
LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD
(D-34th-CA)
Congresswoman
Lucille Roybal-Allard, the
representative of Californiaʼs
34th Congressional District,
is a political pioneer. After
serving three terms in the
California State Assembly,
she became the first Mexican-
American woman elected to
Congress in 1992.
Known as a respected
consensus builder,
Congresswoman Roybal-Allard served as chair of the
California Democratic Congressional Delegation in 1997 and
1998. In assuming this position, she became the first woman
to serve at the delegationʼs helm and the first member to
achieve this role through election rather than seniority.
The congresswoman serves on three subcommittees.
On the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education
Subcommittee, she oversees funding for public schools,
workforce training programs, health research and
preventative health programs. On the Homeland Security
Subcommittee, the congresswoman oversees funding for
immigration processing, border and port security, as well
as a wide variety of area emergency preparedness efforts,
including providing police and firefighters with the training
and equipment they need to respond quickly and effectively
to emergencies. On the Transportation, Housing and
Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee,
the congresswoman oversees federal funding for critical
federal transportation projects, including improvements to
the regionʼs bus systems, railroads and freeways, as well
as federal housing initiatives to increase homeownership,
support community development and increase access to
affordable housing.
The congresswoman is the sponsor of several measures
to improve the health and wellbeing of women and children.
They include: “The STOP (Sober Truth on Preventing)
Underage Drinking Act” - signed into law in December – that
coordinates all federal programs and research initiatives on
underage drinking and funds a national media campaign to
educate parents about its dangers; the “SAFE Act” to help
victims of domestic violence retain their employment and
financial independence; the “Newborn Screening Saves
Lives Act” to train doctors and nurses in newborn screening
32 WWW.ANUARIOHISPANO.COM
and to educate parents about appropriate follow-up care;
the “Childrenʼs Act for Responsible Employment (CARE)”
to address abusive and exploitive child labor practices in
agriculture in the United States; and “The American Dream
Act” to help immigrant students attend college in the United
States and qualify for in-state tuition.
In recognition of her ongoing work to help families
and communities, the congresswoman is the recipient of
numerous awards, including: The Century Councilʼs 2006
Silver-Plate Award, SADDʼs 2005 National Outstanding
Contribution Award, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions
of Americaʼs 2005 Congressional Leadership Award and
MADDʼs 2004 Congressional Excellence Award for her
work on underage drinking; the Los Angeles Commission
for Womenʼs 2005 Presidentʼs Award and the Los
Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Womenʼs 1989
Humanitarian Award for her efforts to help survivors of
domestic violence; the National Association of Community
Health Centersʼ 2005 Distinguished Community Health
Defender award, the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy
Babies Coalitionʼs 2004 Special Impact Award and the
March of Dimeʼs 2003 Leadership Award for her work on
behalf of children and the uninsured; the Skid Row Housing
Trustʼs 2006 Friend of the Homeless Award and Enterprise
Community Partners, Inc.ʼs 2006 Champion of Affordable
Housing and Community Development Award; the 1989 and
2003 Tonantzin Award from La Cooperativa Compesina de
California for her work on behalf of farmworkers; and the
Sierra Club of Californiaʼs 1992 Environmental Achievement
Award.
Born and raised in Boyle Heights, the congresswoman is
the eldest daughter of Lucille Beserra Roybal and the late
Honorable Edward R. Roybal, who served as a Member of
Congress for 30 years. The 1965 graduate of the California
State University at Los Angeles is married to Edward
T. Allard, III. Together, they have four children and six
grandchildren.
SILVESTRE REYES
(D-16th-TX)
Congressman Silvestre
Reyes, now in his sixth term,
became the first Hispanic to
represent the 16th District of
Texas in the U.S. House of
Representatives in 1996.
The 16th District of Texas
includes the City of El Paso
and surrounding communities
and lies within the El Paso
County boundary. It is located
at the westernmost tip of Texas
along the Rio Grande River
and across from El Pasoʼs sister city of Ciudad Juárez,
Chihuahua, Mexico. El Paso and Ciudad Juárez comprise the
2008/2009
 Hispanic American Senators and Representatives

largest border community in the United States. JOHN T. SALAZAR

After serving his country in Vietnam, Reyes decided
to devote his life to public service. In 1969, he began his
(D-13th-CO)
career with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
John Salazar is dedicated
(INS) in the U.S. Border Patrol. After serving as an agent,
to defending rural values and
immigration inspector, and instructor at the Border Patrol
ensuring that the government
Academy, he was named Assistant Regional Commissioner
keeps its promises to the
in Dallas, Texas for five years, where he had direct
people. Now in his second term,
responsibility for administering a budget program exceeding
John comes to Congress after
$100 million for a 13-state area.
serving in the Colorado State
Reyes was then promoted to Sector Chief of the U.S.
Assembly, where he gained
Border Patrol first in McAllen and subsequently in El
recognition for protecting rural
Paso from 1984 to 1995. Reyes quickly became known
water and leading the fight to
as one of our governmentʼs strongest and most effective
defeat Referendum A.
innovators in border management. In McAllen and El
A potato seed farmer and
Paso, Reyes initiated forward-thinking programs such as
cattle rancher, John is one of
“Operation Hold the Line,” the Border Patrolʼs Canine
only a handful of active farmers in Congress, giving him a
Program, and the Border Patrolʼs National Anti-Drug School
firsthand perspective on the issues that matter to Americaʼs
Education Program. “Hold the Line” continues as part of
heartland. His appointment to the Agriculture Committee
the Department of Homeland Securityʼs Bureau of Customs
allows him to defend rural values and make sure that the
and Border Protection (formerly the INS) strategy for the
interests of family farmers are protected.
entire Southwest border and earned Reyes recognition from
Raised on a farm where he shared a bedroom with five
the White House, Congress, the Department of Justice
siblings, with no running water or electricity, John Salazar
and the INS, as well as numerous local, state, national and
understands what it means to count your pennies and work
international organizations.
with a tight budget. He is an outspoken advocate for fiscal
Known as “Silver” to his friends, Reyes retired in
responsibility and will work to reduce the deficit, making
December 1995 after 26 1⁄2 years with the Border Patrol to
sure that money is spent wisely and where it matters most.
run for Congress.
The only veteran from the Colorado delegation, John
In December 2006, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi selected
Salazar serves on the House Committee on Veteransʼ Affairs.
Reyes to be Chairman of the, a committee on which
John is committed to directing resources towards meeting the
Reyes has served since 2001. The committee drafts the
promises our nation has made to veterans, servicemen, and
laws that govern, authorizes the funding for, and provides
their families. Congressman Salazar believes it is morally
Congressional oversight of the 16 agencies that comprise the
wrong to deny promised benefits to families who have lost
U.S. intelligence community, which includes components
their loved ones during the war.
of the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Justice,
John Salazar is the only Coloradan with a seat on the
State and Energy.
powerful Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,
Reyes arrived in Washington in 1997 with a plan to
where he can make sure that rural Colorado receives its fair
provide leadership on border issues, improve and enhance
share of federal tax dollars. In his first term, John Salazar
education in El Paso, protect veteransʼ benefits, and support
obtained approval for a record $52.5 million for highway
our nationʼs defense by enhancing El Pasoʼs regional military
development in the Third Congressional District.
facilities of Fort Bliss, White Sands Missile Range and
John Salazar is also leading the fight in Congress
Holloman Air Force Base. Reyes works closely with his
to protect Social Security. In the 109th Congress, John
colleagues - Democrats and Republicans alike - and has
introduced legislation to keep the Social Security Trust Fund
“played a leadership role in border security and immigration
intact, by guaranteeing that payroll contributions are used
issues and is generally credited with spearheading El Pasoʼs
only for paying out Social Security benefits. The Salazar
wildly successful community-wide effort to bring 20,000
legislation would make sure that the government keeps its
additional troops to Fort Bliss.” (El Paso Inc, 11/26/06)
promise to seniors and future retirees.
Members of the House of Representatives and Senators
John and his wife, Mary Lou, have been married for
alike consistently seek out his opinion when developing
twenty-eight years. The couple has three sons: Jesus, Esteban
border security and immigration legislation. Reyes
and Miguel and one grandson: Charlie.
has played a leadership role over the past ten years in
the developing the annual U.S.-Mexico Border Issues
Conference in Washington, DC, as well as the annual Border
Security Conference at the University of Texas-El Paso,
which explores policy and technological initiatives to keep
our community, our nation and our economy safe.

2008/2009 WWW.HISPANICYEARBOOK.COM 33
Hispanic American Senators and Representatives
LINDA SÁNCHEZ
(D-39th-CA)
Congresswoman Linda
Sánchez was sworn into
Congress on January 7th, 2003,
and is currently serving her
third term in the U.S. House of
Representatives. She represents
the 39th Congressional District
of California, which includes
the communities of Artesia,
Cerritos, Florence, Hawaiian
Gardens, Lakewood, La
Mirada, Long Beach, Lynwood,
Paramount, South Gate, Watts,
Whittier, and Willowbrook.
Congresswoman Sánchez is the first Latina in history to
serve on the Judiciary Committee. She is the first woman
to serve as Chair of the Subcommittee on Commercial and
Administrative Law, and she also sits on the Subcommittee
on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and
International Law. The Judiciary Committee considers civil
and criminal judicial reform, civil liberties, constitutional
amendments, and immigration and naturalization. It also has
jurisdiction over the U.S. Department of Justice as well as
federal aid to local law enforcement.
A co-founder of the Labor and Working Families Caucus,
Congresswoman Sánchez serves on the House Committee on
Education and Labor. She is a member of the Subcommittee
on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education,
which will lead efforts this year to improve high quality
public schools by revising the No Child Left Behind Act.
She will also work on the nationʼs retirement security crisis
on the Subcommittee on Health, Labor, Employment and
Pensions.
Congresswoman Sánchez also serves on the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs. She is a member of the
Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, which will focus on
rebuilding international relationships in Central and South
America, a region that has seen a recent surge in anti-U.S.
sentiment. She also sits on the Subcommittee on Europe,
which is focused on restoring strong strategic relationships
with allies across Europe.
Sánchez is a strong advocate for Californiaʼs working
families. She is committed to reducing crime, making
schools safe, providing quality education and affordable
health care, improving our economy by creating new
opportunities, and decreasing unemployment. Since coming
to Congress, she has brought back more than $20 million in
federal investments in her district. In the 109th Congress, the
House of Representatives passed her bill to develop systems
that will improve the local water quality supply and prevent
ocean pollution.
The sixth of seven children, Sánchez was born in the City
of Orange to immigrant parents from Mexico. She attended
the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a
34 WWW.ANUARIOHISPANO.COM
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Literature with an emphasis in
Bilingual Education. After working her way through school
as a bilingual aide and ESL instructor, she earned her law
degree from U.C.L.A.
After law school, she worked in a private practice
before going to work for the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 441 and the National
Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). Prior to coming
to Congress, Sánchez served as the Executive Secretary-
Treasurer for the Orange County Central Labor Council,
AFL-CIO. Congresswoman Sánchez is still an active and
card-carrying member of IBEW Local 441.
Sánchezʼ service in the U.S. House of Representatives
is historic as she proudly works with her sister Loretta,
Congresswoman from the 47th District of California. They
are the first sisters and the first women of any relation to ever
serve in Congress. Sánchez resides in Lakewood with her
dogs Baloo, Pip and Chavo.
LORETTA SANCHEZ
(D-47th-CA)
Congresswoman Loretta
Sanchez represents the
California 47th Congressional
District of California, which
encompasses the cities of
Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa
Ana and some of Fullerton
in Orange County. She began
her congressional career in
November 1996, and is serving
her sixth term in the House of
Representatives.
Born and raised in the
district she serves, she is acutely aware of the issues facing
her constituency.
Since entering Congress in 1996, Loretta Sanchez has
brought millions of dollars in federal funding back home to
Orange County for local projects including: transportation
improvements, crime prevention, community centers, flood
prevention, environmental preservation and much more.
She has worked hard to improve the infrastructure and
quality of life for this fast-growing suburban county through
various transportation, education, environmental, and crime
reduction projects.
Loretta is a businesswoman. Prior to her work in
Congress, she was a financial manager at the Orange County
Transportation Authority. She eventually started her own
consulting business in Santa Ana, assisting public agencies
and private firms with financial matters, including cost-
benefit analysis, strategic planning and capital acquisition.
She received industry recognition when the State of
California selected her to independently review the financial
status of Orange Countyʼs first toll road to save about $300
2008/2009

million in financing costs.
Loretta attended Chapman University, in Orange,
California, where she was selected in January 2002 to serve
as the universityʼs first Latina member of the Board of
Trustees. She received her bachelorʼs degree in economics
in 1982 (voted “Business Student of the Year”), and then
entered American University in Washington, D.C. to obtain
her masterʼs in business administration with an emphasis on
finance, which she received in 1984
Congresswoman Sanchez was selected by Democratic
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to serve as Chairwoman
of the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global
Counterterrorism were she works to improve the nationʼs
homeland security policy by strengthening and allocating
federal funding to protect against potential terrorist plots.
The Committee provides oversight to the Department of
Homeland Security to assure it is working effectively and
quickly. The Committee has legislative jurisdiction over
matters relating to the Homeland Security Act and plays a
central role in fighting the war on terrorism.
While serving on the Homeland Security Committee,
Congresswoman Sanchez took a leave of absence from the
House Committee on Education and the Workforce, which
oversees education and labor issues. During her tenure
on the Committee, she has protected parental involvement
initiatives and successfully saved national gender equity in
education program. She is also the author of legislation to
facilitate tax-free bonds to encourage school construction
across the country.
Congresswoman Sanchez is a member of the Blue
Dog Democrats, the New Democratic Coalition, and the
Congressional Human Rights Caucus. She also is a member
of the Womenʼs Congressional Caucus, the Older Americans
Caucus, the Law Enforcement Caucus, and the Congressional
Sportsmanʼs Caucus. She serves on various boards. She is
past president of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs,
a member of the Los Amigos of Orange County, the Rotary
Club of Anaheim, and the Anaheim Assistance League.
JOSÉ SERRANO
(D-16th-NY)
U.S. Representative José E. Serrano represents the
Sixteenth Congressional District of New York in the Bronx
. He is the only Congressman from New York City on the
exclusive House Appropriations Committee and serves
as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Services
and General Government. This prestigious chairmanship
allows Congressman Serrano to lead the subcommittee,
which oversees the budgets of multiple agencies, including
the Treasury Department including the IRS; the FDIC;
the District of Columbia; the Judicial branch, and other
agencies. Congressman Serrano is also Senior Whip for the
Majority Whip operation, a position through which he helps
develop strategies to marshal support for party positions and
legislation. He is an active member of the Congressional
2008/2009 WWW.HISPANICYEARBOOK.COM
Hispanic American Senators and Representatives
Hispanic Caucus and served as
Chair of the Caucus from 1993-
94. He is now the most senior
Member of Congress of Puerto
Rican descent.
Early in his tenure in
the House, Serrano quickly
established a legislative record
that reflected, and continues to
reflect, his core political values
of equal opportunity and fair
treatment for all citizens. In
particular, Serrano believes that government should work
to ensure that the prosperity of our country is shared by the
neediest and most vulnerable members of our society- the
poor, the elderly, the disabled, and children- in the form
of participation in government, educational opportunities,
access to housing and affordable health care. As a member
of the Committee on Education and Labor in his first term,
Serrano authored legislation, signed into law in November
1990, to provide funding for successful school drop-out
prevention programs.
In 1995, when the House Republicans became the
majority and reduced the Appropriations Committee
in size, Serrano was appointed to the House Judiciary
Committee, in which he served on the Subcommittee on
the Constitution. The Democratic Caucus re-appointed him
to the Appropriations Committee in March of 1996, and
he resigned from the Judiciary Committee to return to that
committee.
As an appropriator, Serrano has managed to secure
millions of dollars in federal funding for his Bronx
Congressional District. He has directed funding to countless
local initiatives, including environmental projects,
improvements to Bronx parks, educational programs for
disadvantaged students and displaced workers and funding
for various local charitable organizations, whose goals
range from providing access to the arts to developing small
businesses.
Perhaps the most notable of all these projects have
involved the environmental restoration of the Bronx River.
Serrano has been a tireless advocate for the urban river since
taking office, and was an early supporter of naming the river
an American Heritage River. Through the appropriations
process, furthermore, Serrano has been able to secure
millions in funding, as well as technical and managerial
assistance from various federal agencies, for Bronx River
environmental studies and cleanup projects since fiscal
year 1999. In recognition of his long record of successful
advocacy on behalf of the river, the Bronx community
named Congressman Serrano the Honorary Chairman of
the Bronx River Golden Ball in 2003. In 2006, herring were
reintroduced to the river in 2006--a species that had been
gone from the river for more than 350 years. In early 2007,
a beaver was found living in the Bronx River, marking the
return of a species that had been not been seen in New York
City in more than 200 years.
35
Hispanic American Senators and Representatives
ALBIO SIRES
(D-13th-NJ)
Congressman Albio Sires,
elected to serve the 13th
Congressional District of New
Jersey in the United States
House of Representatives,
served two terms as New
Jersey Speaker of the General
Assembly from 2002 to 2006.
Mr. Sires was serving his fourth
term as an Assemblyman for
the 33rd District in New Jersey
and had been the Mayor of
the Town of West New York in Hudson County since 1995,
before being elected to Congress. Albio Sires is the first
legislator of Hispanic origin to be named Assembly Speaker,
and the first Cuban in the Nation.
As Assembly Speaker, Albio Sires led the legislative effort
to create the Office of Lieutenant Governor. He was the lead
Assembly Sponsor of the state law that raised the minimum
wage from $5.15 in 2005 to $7.15 in October 2006. Mr. Sires
also helped New Jerseyʼs economy by expanding job training
programs, increasing job opportunities for low-income
workers, and giving tax credits to businesses that create jobs
in the community.
As Speaker, Mr. Sires also created the Assembly
Committee on Homeland Security and State Preparedness,
wrote the law to overhaul New Jerseyʼs Department of
Motor Vehicles so that terrorists cannot obtain access to fake
driverʼs licenses, helped local communities with the cost of
homeland security, improved coordination in the event of a
terrorist attack and increased homeland security funding for
the state police. He also sponsored some of the toughest anti-
gun laws in the state, and as Mayor of West New York, he
put more police on the streets and cut crime.
Mr. Sires created the STARS I and STARS II program,
which offers full county and state college tuition scholarships
to thousands of students and increases tuition aid grants to
families. As Assembly Speaker, he led the fight to increase
funding for public education by $760 million. He also
increased funding for after-school programs that get kids off
the streets and away from gangs.
As Mayor of West New York, Mr. Sires created more
affordable housing units than any municipality in the State of
New Jersey by fostering public-private partnerships and the
use of targeted tax incentives. As Speaker, Mr. Sires created
a State funded Section 8 program to offset federal cuts in
affordable housing funding.
Mr. Sires was born in 1951 in the Cuban town of Bejucal,
where he grew up in the waning years of pre-Communist
Cuba. His family fled Cuba in January 1962 with the help of
relatives in America.
Mr. Sires earned his undergraduate degree from St.
Peterʼs College, where he received a four-year basketball
scholarship. He attained a masterʼs degree at Middlebury
36 WWW.ANUARIOHISPANO.COM
College, Vermont. He also studied Spanish in Madrid, Spain.
Mr. Siresʼ wife, Adrienne, is a school administrator. He
has a stepdaughter, Tara Kole.
HILDA L. SOLIS
(D-32nd-CA)
First elected in 2000,
Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis
is serving her fourth term in
Congress representing Californiaʼs
32nd Congressional District,
which includes Azusa, Baldwin
Park, Covina, Duarte, El Monte,
Irwindale, Rosemead, South El
Monte, and West Covina and
portions of Monterey Park and East
Los Angeles. Solisʼ priorities in
Congress include expanding access
to affordable health care, protecting the environment, and
improving the lives of working families.
Solis in March 2007 was named a member of the newly
created House Select Committee on Energy Independence
and Global Warming. Solis also serves as Co-Vice Chair
of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. She is
a Senior Whip, as well as a Regional Whip for Southern
California. Solis is also Chair of the Congressional Hispanic
Caucus Task Force on Health and the Environment, under
which she spearheads annual summits across the country
about racial and ethnic health disparities.
In 2007, Solis was appointed to the Commission
on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the Helsinki
Commission), as well as the Mexico – United States
Interparliamentary Group. In June 2007, Solis was elected
Vice Chair of the Helsinki Commissionʼs General Committee
on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions.
She is the only U.S. elected official to serve on this
Committee.
A former Co-Chair of the bi-partisan Congressional
Caucus for Womenʼs Issues, Solis is an outspoken advocate
for issues of importance to women and families. She has
been a leader in efforts to end the murders of women in
Guatemala and the U.S. border town of Ciudad Juárez,
Mexico, and played a key role in the reauthorization of the
Violence Against Women Act in 2006.
A nationally recognized leader on the environment, Solis
became the first woman to receive the John F. Kennedy
Profile in Courage Award in 2000 for her pioneering work on
environmental justice issues. Her California environmental
justice legislation, enacted in 1999, was the first of its kind in
the nation to become law.
Solis graduated from California State Polytechnic
University, Pomona, and earned a Master of Public
Administration from the University of Southern California.
She worked in the Carter White House Office of Hispanic
Affairs and was later appointed as a management analyst
2008/2009

with the Office of Management and Budget in the Civil
Rights Division.
Solis is a lifetime resident of the San Gabriel Valley
and currently resides in the city of El Monte with her
husband Sam, a small business owner. Her parents and
six siblings continue to be a great source of inspiration to
Congresswoman Solis.
NYDIA M. VELÁZQUEZ
(D-12th-NY)
Congresswoman Nydia M.
Velázquez has made history
several times during her tenure in
Congress. In 1992, she was the first
Puerto Rican woman elected to the
U.S. House of Representatives. In
February of 1998, she was named
Ranking Democratic Member
of the House Small Business
Committee, making her the first
Hispanic woman to serve as Chair
or Ranking Member of a full
committee in the history of the House.
Given her achievements, her roots are humble. She was
born in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico - a small town of sugar-cane
fields - in 1953, and was one of nine children. Velázquez
started school early, skipped several grades, and became the
first person in her family to receive a college diploma. At
the age of 16, she entered the University of Puerto Rico in
Rio Piedras. She graduated magna cum laude in 1974 with
2008/2009 WWW.HISPANICYEARBOOK.COM
Hispanic American Senators and Representatives
a degree in political science. After earning a masterʼs on
scholarship from N.Y.U., Congresswoman Velázquez taught
Puerto Rican studies at C.U.N.Yʼs Hunter College in 1981.
But her passion for politics soon took hold. In 1983,
Velázquez was appointed Special Assistant to Congressman
Edolphus Towns (D-Brooklyn). One year later, she became
the first Latina appointed to serve on the New York City
Council.
By 1986, Velázquez served as the Director of the
Department of Puerto Rican Community Affairs in the U.S.
During that time, she initiated one of the most successful
Latino empowerment programs in the nationʼs history -
“Atrevete” (Dare to Go for It!).
As the Ranking Member of the House Small Business
Committee, which oversees federal programs and contracts
totaling $200 billion annually, Congresswoman Velázquez
has been a vocal advocate of American small business
and entrepreneurship. She has established numerous small
business legislative priorities, encompassing the areas
of tax regulations, access to capital, federal contracting
opportunities, trade, technology, health care and pension
reform, among others. Congresswoman Velázquez was
recently named as the inaugural “Woman of the Year” by
Hispanic Business Magazine in recognition of her national
influence in both the political and business sectors and for
her longtime support of minority enterprise.
Although her work on the Small Business Committee
and the House Financial Services Committee (where she
is second in seniority on its Subcommittee on Housing and
Community Opportunity) keeps her busy, Representative
Velázquez can often be found close to home, working for the
residents of her district.
37