News (Noticias) Tagged ‘Xavier Becerra’

The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), the nation’s preeminent Latino leadership organization, congratulates U.S. Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA) on his election to serve as Vice-Chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Caucus. As Vice Chair, Rep. Becerra becomes the 5th ranking Democrat in the House, and works with the Caucus Chair to develop the Caucus’ legislative and policy agenda.

Rep. Becerra, who is a former Board member of NALEO, comes to his position with over two decades of experience in public service. Prior to his election to Congress in 1992, he served one term in the California State Assembly. Rep. Becerra has served as Assistant to the Speaker of the House and is the first Latino to serve on the House Committee on Ways and Means. As a committee member, 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 is a member and past Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and 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. Rep. Becerra also serves on the Smithsonian Institution’s Board of Regents, the panel which oversees the Smithsonian Institution’s expansive collection. He was an important leader in the fight to pass legislation establishing a federal commission to explore the viability of creating the “National Museum of the American Latino.”

“U.S. Representative Xavier Becerra brings a wealth of invaluable experience to the Democratic Caucus leadership,” said Arturo Vargas, Executive Director of NALEO. “Throughout his career, he has been a strong voice for inclusion and political access for the Latino community. His election as Caucus Vice-Chair demonstrates that Latinos continue to attain key leadership positions at every level of governance where they shape the policies that affect all Americans.”

Rep. Becerra’s election comes as the NALEO Educational Fund welcomes 60 newly elected officials to Washington, D.C. for the NALEO National Institute for Newly Elected Officials. This political “boot camp” is designed to help newly elected officials acquire the skills needed for effective governance and establish professional networks needed to succeed in public office. They have the opportunity to witness firsthand the possibilities for leadership available to them as they begin a career in public service. “

The following is a transcript of remarks as prepared for delivery by Xavier Becerra, Tuesday, August 26, 2008:

Are Democrats in the house tonight? Are you ready to work? Ready to win? You say you’re ready to work. But before any of us arrived here, men and women were already hard at work cleaning, fixing, improving. And when we leave, they will still be here, working and working.

These Americans turned on the lights for this convention, and they will be there to turn them off. They are among the millions of Americans who patrol our streets, harvest our food and care for our loved ones. They are our nation’s backbone, the bedrock of our cherished ethic of perseverance. My friends, let’s let all of America’s workers know: they are in the house tonight!

Yet after eight years of failed economic policies-policies Senator McCain has promised to continue-so many of these folks are feeling invisible and insecure. Over the past eight years, family incomes have dropped $1,000. In just the last six months, 460,000 people have lost their jobs. More than a million family homes are in foreclosure. Record deficit — record and growing debt. Republican fiscal policy — the “gift” that keeps on giving!

If that’s what Republicans mean by con-serv-atism, then we’ll have no more of the con that they’re serving! That’s why we need Barack Obama. Because he’ll take on the naysayers and the special interests. He’ll fight for the forgotten middle class.

Just as our beloved Cesar Chavez dared farmworkers to believe, “sí se puede!”… “yes, we can.” Barack Obama will say to every American that if you work your heart out every day — if you leave it all at the construction site, in the laboratory, in the classroom, at the operating table — then we’ll help you open the door to college and to the doctor’s office. We’ll help you save for the down payment or a dignified retirement. We’ll help you build a better life for your family.

I am the proud son of immigrants, a former member of Local 187 of the laborers union in California, first in my family to receive a university diploma, privileged to have served 16 years in the people’s house representing the great city of Los Angeles. And there is a saying I’ve always believed in: dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres. Tell me with whom you walk and I will tell you who you are.

Well, my friends, I know with whom I walk. I walk with those who build and drive, cook and clean, feed and bathe, protect and serve. And, my fellow Americans, in January, 2009, we will finally have a leader who walks with us — the next President of the United States, Barack Obama! “

Homepage: http://www.house.gov/baca/chc/

Wikipedia Entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Hispanic_Caucus

About: (from their site’s about page )

“The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) is comprised of 21 Members of Congress of Hispanic descent. The Caucus is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States and Puerto Rico. The CHC was founded in December 1976 as a legislative service organization of the United States House of Representatives. Today, the CHC is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed under the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives.”

Contact Information

• Phone:(202) 225-2410
• Fax:(202) 225-8671
• 1527 Longworth HOB

  Washington, DC 20515

Officers

• Chair: Joe Baca (CA43)
• 1st Vice Chair: Raul M. Grijalva (AZ07)
• 2nd Vice Chair: Charles A. Gonzalez (TX20)
• Whip: Grace F. Napolitano (CA38)

Members

• Xavier Becerra (CA31)
• Dennis Cardoza (CA18)
• Jim Costa (CA20)
• Henry Cuellar (TX28)
• Charles A. Gonzalez (TX20)
• Raul M. Grijalva (AZ07)
• Luis V. Gutierrez (IL04)
• Rubén Hinojosa (TX15)
• Robert Menendez (NJ)
• Grace F. Napolitano (CA38)
• Solomon Ortiz (TX27)
• Ed Pastor (AZ04)
• Silvestre Reyes (TX16)
• Ciro Rodriguez (TX23)
• Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA34)
• John Salazar (CO03)
• José Serrano (NY16)
• Albio Sires (NJ13)
• Hilda Solis (CA32)
• Nydia Velázquez (NY12)

MTV Tr3s programming and on-air advertising has received eight Imagen Foundation Awards for positive portrayals of young Latinos. The 23rd Annual Imagen Awards take place Thursday, August 21 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Nominated in the Best Variety or Reality Show category is “Mi TRL Awards,” an annual awards show that recognizes and honors the people and music that make “Mi TRL” the “must watch” show for U.S. Latinos and sends winners home with a shiny “Gallo” (rooster) trophy. The nominated show was packed with some of today’s hottest artists, such as RBD, Wisin y Yandel, Will Smith, Jessica Alba, Menudo, Snoop Dogg, Chris Brown, and Jaslene Gonzalez and Zuleyka Rivera performing, accepting and presenting awards, along with a surprise appearance by Diddy who opened the show to the delight of the fans who attended the awards show.

“Beyond Borders: An MTV Tr3s Immigration Forum,” a network special that gave voice to Latino youth who were ready to go beyond the politics and rhetoric of the immigration debate, was nominated for Best National Informational Programming. The historic, first-ever of its kind on network TV event, brought together artists such as Ana Ortiz, Calle 13’s Residente and Malverde; young people from Cal State L.A; and U.S. Congressman Xavier Becerra to explore solutions to the immigration crisis and discuss its impact on their families, education and everyday lives. It was hosted by journalist Gustavo Arellano.

MTV Tr3s’ multiplatform music discovery initiative, “Descubre & Download” earned two nominations in the Best On-Air Advertising category for projects with newcomer Colby O’Donis and West-coast rapper Malverde.

Also earning nominations in Best On Air Advertising were three MTV Tr3s “Tu Pride” entries, “Sylvestre,” “Elan,” and “Ruben.” “Tu Pride” is a series of mini-documentaries about young Latinos growing up today with a mix of cultural influences.

“The entire MTV Tr3s familia is dedicated to the positive and uplifting portrayal of the U.S. Latino experience and we are humbled to be recognized with these nominations by the Imagen Foundation,” said Lucia Ballas-Traynor, Senior Vice President and General Manager, MTV Tr3s.

MTV Tr3s (mtvTr3s.com) is in 6.4 million Hispanic TV households and 34 million total TV households, making it the most-widely distributed TV network dedicated to superserving today’s bicultural Latino youth. MTV Tr3s programming is rooted in the fusion of American and Latino music, cultures, lifestyles and languages. Music programming is at the core of MTV Tr3s and the channel features hitmakers, emerging artists and new sounds that resonate with young U.S. Latinos. In addition to music programming, the MTV Tr3s programming slate also features lifestyle series, news, documentaries and other long-form programs that celebrate US Latino hybrid identity and culture. “

The following was released today by the Democratic National Committee:

Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA) and Eliseo Medina held a conference call today to respond to John McCain’s speech at NCLR, and call for straight talk from the GOP candidate on his promise of a third Bush term and contradictions on immigration reform.

To listen to the remarks from the conference call, click on the link below:
www.democrats.org/page/-/audio/calls/071408_conferencecall_remarks.mp3

The following are excerpts from the call:

Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA) (0:37)
“In terms of Senator McCain’s remarks to the National Council of La Raza, we were hoping to find out which face of John McCain we’d see today, and we learned that we saw both faces. This is an individual politician who has become very good at sending different signals, depending on which audience he’s addressing. At the National Council of La Raza I think he left probably more ambivalent feelings than anything else. It sounded like he might be in support of the Dream Act, but we’ve heard him say he hasn’t been for the Dream Act; to try to help young Latino and other immigrant students make it into college.

“We find that he continues to be out of touch on issues relating to the economy, and certainly with regard to Iraq. We know that on immigration he has flip-flopped too many times to count, and at the end of the day this, to me, boils down to an issue of trust. For Latino voters, the issue of who will become the person who can deliver after eight years of seeing the serenades of President Bush and the Republicans, Latinos are very anxious to see someone who will deliver on the commitments to improve their economy, their job prospects, opportunities for good schools for their kids, healthcare, and certainly opportunities to become vibrant Americans, who are former immigrants. And so what we learned today, from John McCain in his presentation to the National Council of La Raza is that we didn’t learn anything. We continue to see the two faces of John McCain, and we’re trying to figure out which one we can trust, it’s hard when you have someone who’s flip-flopping on the issues.”

Eliseo Medina, SEIU Executive Vice President (2:37)
“It seems to me that Senator McCain has had three opportunities, first with NALEO, second with LULAC, and third with NCLR to make his case of why the Latino community ought to support him for President of the United States. And I think that the Latino community more than anything else was hoping for some straight talk from the Senator, but I actually think after listening to him three times that we got the exact opposite. And it seems to me that the Senator is trying to have it both ways. First he says to our community that he appreciates our contributions to this society and that we are God’s children, but at the same time, when it comes down to actually taking action to…match his words with acts, he fails. He walked away from McCain-Kennedy, the bill he helped to introduce, and carried his name. He walked away from the DREAM Act as the Congressman said. And at the same time, while doing all of these things, he wants us to believe that he’s on our side and I think he’s having a really hard time making it clear which side he’s on.”

Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee,

Speaker Nancy Pelosi today announced that Clerk of the House Lorraine Miller has named Jaime Zapata as the new Reading Clerk for the House of Representatives, the first Hispanic to serve in that role. Zapata, who currently serves as Communications Director for the House Committee on Small Business, will begin his new duties on July 28.
As Reading Clerk for the House, Zapata will be responsible for ensuring that legislative measures debated in the House are clearly articulated to Members of Congress, the American people, and around the world.
“As Reading Clerk, Jaime will be the voice of the House of Representatives and will play an integral role in the daily operations of Congress,” Speaker Pelosi said. “One of my highest priorities as Speaker is to promote the tremendous diversity and talent of the Members and staff of the House Democratic Caucus.”
Miller was appointed by Speaker Pelosi in 2007 as the first African-American Clerk of the House, and first minority officer in the history of the House.
“Jaime will be an incredible asset to the Clerk’s office,” Miller said. “His talent and experience in communications is a perfect fit for this critical position.”
“It is a historic moment for Hispanics across the country, as they will now have a sense of pride when they tune in to C-SPAN and see someone from our community playing an integral part in the proceedings of the United States Congress,” said Congressman Joe Baca, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “I applaud Speaker Pelosi for her leadership within the Latino community, and commend her for setting an example in the U.S. House that has led to this appointment.”
Congressman Xavier Becerra, Assistant to the Speaker, said: “When Speaker Pelosi appointed Lorraine Miller, the first African American to serve as Clerk, it was a sign that Congress, at all levels, was growing more representative. The appointment of Jaime Zapata as Reading Clerk demonstrates further proof of the Speaker’s commitment to ensuring that the highly qualified staff members serving in the people’s house come from all the diverse communities represented by Congress.”
Zapata earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a master’s degree in Media and Public Affairs from the George Washington University’s Graduate School of Media and Public Affairs.
Zapata succeeds Mary “Kevie” Niland, who was recently promoted to Deputy Chief of Legislative Operations in the Clerk’s office.
SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House “

When Rep. Xavier Becerra endorsed Barack Obama back in January, even his own parents wanted to know why. “Don’t you know the Clintons?” they asked. “Didn’t they do good stuff for us in the past?”

Becerra, a Democrat from California, says the reaction he got from home underscores the challenge Obama faces now: how to win over Hispanic voters who voted for Hillary Rodham Clinton in the primaries and now hold the keys to victory in states such as Florida, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico. “*

The National Hispanic Media Coalition joins citizens across the country today in congratulating Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA-31) for the passage of bill H.R.512. The bill, sponsored by Becerra and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, in the House of Representatives, establishes a commission to study the feasibility of a National Museum of the American Latino and brings the nation one step closer to realizing the full vision of President Lyndon B. Johnson and others in recognizing Latino contributions to America’s past, present and future. “*

Azteca America, the fastest-growing Hispanic television network in the United States, is proud to feature Texas Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz on the Monday, April 21 broadcast of “Issues: Caras y Voces” (Issues: Faces and Voices), hosted by veteran Latino journalist Armando Guzman.

Congressman Ortiz is involved with numerous issues that affect the Hispanic population of the U.S. He is a supporter of border security and comprehensive immigration reform, but is an opponent of building a wall along the Mexican border. Rep. Ortiz, along with 13 other senior members of Congress, recently signed onto an amicus brief to the Supreme Court arguing that the Homeland Security Department’s decision to waive over 30 laws to proceed with the border wall was unconstitutional.

In addition to his interest in the Hispanic community, as a senior member of Congress and Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Ortiz has great knowledge of the state of the military and of current Iraq/Afghanistan operations. Congressman Ortiz is also one of the most influential supporters of the Merida Initiative, which proposes to send financial support to Mexico to combat the narcotics trade.

“Issues: Caras y Voces” features top leaders that impact the Hispanic community through one-on-one interviews conducted by Armando Guzman. Covering the White House and the Capitol for almost two decades, Mr. Guzman is one of the most respected correspondents in Washington. The interview forum airs every Monday evening during Noticiero Azteca America, the network news broadcast of Azteca America.

Past guests of “Issues: Caras y Voces” include: New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL), Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, Congressman Jose E. Serrano (D-NY), Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), NIDA Director Nora Volkow, ACS President Elmer Huerta, Mexican Consul Enrique Escorza, California State Senator Gil Cedillo and former Senator George McGovern.

Don’t miss “Issues: Caras y Voces” Mondays during the evening, and nightly transmissions of Noticiero Azteca America at 5:30 pm EST and PST / 4:30 pm CST; and 11:00 pm EST and PST / 10:00 pm CST.

Webcast repetitions are available at
www.aztecaamerica.com/corporate and
www.fundacionaztecaamerica.org .

The forum is also broadcast in Mexico on Proyecto 40.”

Azteca America, the fastest-growing Hispanic television network in the United States, is proud to present M.A.T.T. (Mexicans and Americans Thinking Together) on the February 25 broadcast of “Issues: Caras y Voces” (Issues: Faces and Voices), hosted by veteran Latino journalist Armando Guzman.

M.A.T.T.’s charter is to become “the voice of reason influencing policy to improve US/Mexico relations,” with a mission to “encourage Mexicans and Americans to come together to bridge the gaps in understanding and quality of life so that we may truly prosper together.” The February 25 segment features the group’s CEO, Lionel Sosa.

Mr. Sosa was the founder of the precursor to Bromley Communications, the largest Hispanic advertising agency in the U.S., and has served as a Hispanic media consultant in six Republican presidential campaigns since 1980.

“Issues: Caras y Voces” features top leaders that impact the Hispanic community through one-on-one interviews conducted by Armando Guzman. Covering the White House and the Capitol for almost two decades, Mr. Guzman is one of the most respected correspondents in Washington. The interview forum airs every Monday evening during Noticiero Azteca America, the network news broadcast of Azteca America.

Past guests of “Issues: Caras y Voces” include: New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL), Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, Congressman Jose E. Serrano (D-NY), Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), NIDA Director Nora Volkow, ACS President Elmer Huerta, Mexican Consul Enrique Escorza and Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO).

Don’t Miss “Issues: Caras y Voces” Mondays during the evening and nightly transmissions of Noticiero Azteca America at 5:30 pm EST and PST / 4:30 pm CST; and 11:00 pm EST and PST / 10:00 pm CST.

Webcast repetitions are available at
www.aztecaamerica.com/corporate and
www.fundacionaztecaamerica.org.

The forum is also broadcast in Mexico on Proyecto 40.

About Azteca America and Grupo Salinas

Azteca America is the fastest-growing Hispanic network in the United States. The network is a wholly owned subsidiary of TV Azteca S.A. de C.V., one of the two largest producers of Spanish-language television content in the world. Azteca America currently has presence in 62 markets throughout the United States.

Azteca America and TV Azteca are companies of Grupo Salinas, a group of dynamic, fast-growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating shareholder value, building the Mexican middle class, and improving society through excellence. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas, Grupo Salinas also includes Grupo Elektra, Banco Azteca, Afore Azteca, Seguros Azteca, Grupo Iusacell and Azteca Internet.

For more information, Visit: www.aztecaamerica.com/corporate

Azteca America is a Grupo Salinas Company.
Visit: www.gruposalinas.com

Grupo Salinas Media Contact:
Daniel McCosh
011 (5255) 1720-0059

Azteca America, the fastest-growing Hispanic television network in the United States, is proud to have hosted Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO), on this week’s broadcast of “Issues: Caras y Voces” (Issues: Faces and Voices), hosted by veteran Latino journalist Armando Guzman.

Senator Salazar, one of three Latino senators currently in office, is a fifth generation Colorado farmer and rancher. Despite pride in his Hispanic heritage, he is emphatic that he represents national interests in security, energy independence, agriculture, health care and the environment, and has often reached across the aisle to achieve his legislative goals.

“I am a Senator for Mexican-Americans, for Latinos, for Afro-Americans, for White women, men. I am a Senator for everyone,” he said.

“We all have aspirations for ourselves and our children. We have dreams for our nation and our world. We must unite, with this unification there is much power.”

“Issues: Caras y Voces” features top leaders that impact the Hispanic community through one-on-one interviews conducted by Armando Guzman. Covering the White House and the Capitol for almost two decades, Mr. Guzman is one of the most respected correspondents in Washington. The interview forum airs every Monday evening during Noticiero Azteca America, the network news broadcast of Azteca America.

Past guests of “Issues: Caras y Voces” include: New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL), Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, Congressman Jose E. Serrano (D-NY), Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), NIDA Director Nora Volkow, ACS President Elmer Huerta and Mexican Consul Enrique Escorza.

Don’t Miss “Issues: Caras y Voces” Mondays during the evening and nightly transmissions of Noticiero Azteca America at 5:30 pm EST and PST / 4:30 pm CST; and 11:00 pm EST and PST / 10:00 pm CST.

Webcast repetitions are available at www.aztecaamerica.com/corporate and www.fundacionaztecaamerica.org/.

The forum is also broadcast in Mexico on Proyecto 40.”

Phone banks have been busy today as supporters of Barack Obama have been calling voters all over the state, urging them to vote for their candidate tomorrow. Los Angeles Congressman Xavier Becerra has been personally placing calls to voters to encourage them to vote for Obama. “*

*From: http://www.knx1070.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Azteca America, the fastest-growing Hispanic television network in the United States, is proud to have featured the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute on this week’s broadcast of “Issues: Caras y Voces” (Issues: Faces and Voices), hosted by veteran Latino journalist Armando Guzman.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) was established in 1978 by Congressman Edward Roybal, Congressman E. “Kika” de la Garza and Congressman Baltasar Corrada to help increase opportunities for Hispanics to participate in and contribute to the American policy making process. Today, the organization’s charter is to develop the next generation of Hispanic leaders on local, state and federal levels.

“What we do is make sure that Latinos also have opportunities and that the door (to policy making) is open,” said Esther Aguilera, President and CEO of the CHCI, adding that she sees the current generation of future Latino leaders as being better prepared than their predecessors.

The CHCI currently operates on an annual budget of over $4 million with programs that benefit more than 50,000 Hispanic students, parents and educators.

“Issues: Caras y Voces” features top leaders that impact the Hispanic community through one-on-one interviews conducted by Armando Guzman. Covering the White House and the Capitol for almost two decades, Mr. Guzman is one of the most respected correspondents in Washington. The interview forum airs every Monday evening during Noticiero Azteca America, the network news broadcast of Azteca America.

Past guests of “Issues: Caras y Voces” include: New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL), Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, Congressman Jose E. Serrano (D-NY), Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), NIDA Director Nora Volkow, ACS President Elmer Huerta and Mexican Consul Enrique Escorza.

Don’t Miss “Issues: Caras y Voces” Mondays during the evening and nightly transmissions of Noticiero Azteca America at 5:30 pm EST and PST / 4:30 pm CST; and 11:00 pm EST and PST / 10:00 pm CST.

Webcast repetitions are available at www.aztecaamerica.com/corporate and www.fundacionaztecaamerica.org/.

The forum is also broadcast in Mexico on Proyecto 40.”

Azteca America, the fastest-growing Hispanic television network in the United States, is proud to have hosted the head of Mexican Consular Services in Washington, Enrique Escorza, on this week’s broadcast of “Issues: Caras y Voces” (Issues: Faces and Voices), hosted by veteran Latino journalist Armando Guzman.

The request for documents by Mexican nationals residing in the United States has increased sharply as anti-immigration policies are on the rise. To meet demand, many Mexican consular offices, including that of Washington DC, have mobile units that go onsite to areas with high Mexican concentration to provide documentation and other services to residents.

Despite increased demand, the consular office in Washington DC has reduced the time for processing passports by 25%. The office is one of the most efficient consular offices in the United States, generating about 2 million dollars’ worth of services with a staff of nine people.

“Issues: Caras y Voces” features top leaders that impact the Hispanic community through one-on-one interviews conducted by Armando Guzman. Covering the White House and the Capitol for almost two decades, Mr. Guzman is one of the most respected correspondents in Washington. The interview forum airs every Monday evening during Noticiero Azteca America, the network news broadcast of Azteca America.

Past guests of “Issues: Caras y Voces” include: New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL), Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, Congressman Jose E. Serrano (D-NY), Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), NIDA Director Nora Volkow and ACS President Elmer Huerta.

Don’t Miss “Issues: Caras y Voces” Mondays during the transmission of Noticiero Azteca America, at 11:00 pm EST PST / 10:00 pm CST.

Webcast repetitions are available at www.aztecaamerica.com/corporate and www.fundacionaztecaamerica.org/.

The forum is also broadcast in Mexico on Proyecto 40.”

Azteca America, the fastest-growing Hispanic television network in the United States, is proud to present Dr. Elmer E. Huerta on the Dec. 17 transmission of “Issues: Caras y Voces” (Issues: Faces and Voices), a political forum hosted by veteran Latino journalist Armando Guzman.

Dr. Huerta is the first Latino to assume the presidency of the American Cancer Society. Born in Peru, he studied medicine at the University of San Marcos and Johns Hopkins University. He is founder and director of the Cancer Preventorium at the Washington Cancer Institute in the Washington Hospital Center, the only cancer prevention/screening service specifically designed for Latinos in the metro Washington, DC area.

“Issues: Caras y Voces” features top leaders that impact the Hispanic community through one-on-one interviews conducted by Armando Guzman. Covering the White House and the Capitol for almost two decades, Mr. Guzman is one of the most respected correspondents in Washington. The interview forum airs every Monday evening during Noticiero Azteca America, the network news broadcast of Azteca America.

Past guests of “Issues: Caras y Voces” include: New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL), Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, Congressman Jose E. Serrano (D-NY), Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and NIDA Director Nora Volkow.

Don’t Miss “Issues: Caras y Voces” Mondays during the transmission of Noticiero Azteca America, at 11:00 pm EST and PST/ 10:00 pm CST.

Webcast repetitions are available at www.aztecaamerica.com/corporate and www.fundacionaztecaamerica.org/.

The forum is also broadcast in Mexico on Proyecto 40.”

Azteca America, the fastest-growing Hispanic television network in the United States, is proud to have hosted National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Director Nora Volkow on this Monday’s broadcast of “Issues: Caras y Voces”, a political forum hosted by veteran Latino journalist Armando Guzman.

Dr. Volkow, who has been the NIDA director since 2003, is a pioneer in demonstrating that drug addiction is a disease of the human brain. As a research psychiatrist and scientist, she has used brain imaging to investigate the toxic effects of drugs and their addictive properties.

During the segment, Dr. Volkow presented a computer enhanced video showing the harmful effects of cocaine on the brain due to the rapid dialation and constriction of blood vessels.

Dr. Volkow was born in Mexico, and earned her medical degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City, where she received the Premio Robins award for best medical student of her class. Her psychiatric residency was at New York University, where she earned the Laughlin Fellowship Award as one of the 10 Outstanding Psychiatric Residents in the USA. She was recently named one of 20 people to watch by Newsweek magazine in its “Who’s Next in 2007″ special report.

“Issues: Caras y Voces” features top leaders that impact the Hispanic community through one-on-one interviews conducted by Armando Guzman. Covering the White House and the Capitol for almost two decades, Mr. Guzman is one of the most respected correspondents in Washington. The interview forum airs every Monday evening during Noticiero Azteca America, the network news broadcast of Azteca America.

Past guests of “Issues: Caras y Voces” include: New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL), Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, Congressman Jose E. Serrano (D-NY) and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ).

Don’t Miss “Issues: Caras y Voces” Mondays during the transmission of Noticiero Azteca America, at 11:00 pm EST and PST / 10:00 pm CST. Webcast repetitions are available at www.aztecaamerica.com/coporate and at

Azteca America, the fastest-growing Hispanic television network in the United States, is proud to have hosted Senator Bob Menendez on this Monday’s broadcast of “Issues: Caras y Voces”, a political forum hosted by veteran Latino journalist Armando Guzman.

Senator Menendez (D-NJ) is the first member of a minority to represent New Jersey in the U.S. Senate, and the sixth Hispanic to serve in the Senate. He is a staunch supporter of small businesses and immigrant rights.

He spoke out strongly against the current trend of aggressive immigration raids, where immigration officials often arrest undocumented residents at gunpoint in the early hours of the morning.

“Being in this country without documents is and always has been a civil violation. But not a criminal one,” said Senator Menendez. “There can be a fine and other consequences. But using immigration police forces and other (law enforcement) forces to grab families that are undocumented, and have no crimes … in their files. It’s unbelievable that we are using United States forces and resources in this way.”

“Issues: Caras y Voces” features top leaders that impact the Hispanic community through one-on-one interviews conducted by Armando Guzman. Covering the White House and the Capitol for almost two decades, Mr. Guzman is one of the most respected correspondents in Washington. The interview forum airs every Monday evening during Noticiero Azteca America, the network news broadcast of Azteca America.

Past guests of “Issues: Caras y Voces” include: New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL), Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and Congressman Jose E. Serrano (D-NY) .

Don’t Miss “Issues: Caras y Voces” Mondays during the transmission of Noticiero Azteca America, at 11:00 pm EST and PST / 10:00 pm CST.

Webcast repetitions are available at www.aztecaamerica.com/coporate and at www.fundacionaztecaamerica.org/.

The forum is also broadcast in Mexico on Proyecto 40.”*

Sallie Mae , the nation’s leading saving and paying for college company, has been recognized as the official student loan partner of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), a nonprofit organization that works to identify, inspire, promote and prepare Latino role models through national leadership, cultural, educational and workforce programs.

(Logo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030617/SLMLOGO-a )

“Sallie Mae has clearly accepted a leadership role in education and has made a point to provide a vision as well as opportunities for Latinos to attend college,” said Jose Antonio Tijerino, president and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. “Thanks to their support, our foundation is able to provide educational funding for young Latino leaders and position them as role models for their peers to provide inspiration and a path to success in the classroom and community.”

Sallie Mae, along with more than 35 leading national Hispanic organizations, will take part in HHF’s annual celebration on Oct. 11 in Washington, D.C. The event will honor the 2007 recipients for their leadership and the impact achieved in their respective fields. Sallie Mae will present the Hispanic Heritage Award in the education category to U.S. Representatives Xavier Becerra (D-CA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) for their work in advocating the Latino Museum Bill in Congress. The bill serves as the foundation to establish the American Latino Museum, which is designed to bring focus on the artistic, cultural and historical contributions of Latinos in the United States.

“Sallie Mae is proud to support the work of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, as it believes as we do that everyone should have the chance to grow into a dream,” said C.E. Andrews, CEO, Sallie Mae. “Making education accessible and affordable for all students at all times of their lives has been our mission since 1972. Today, this commitment has served more than 21 million students.”

As part of the HHF event, Sallie Mae also sponsored a breakfast for the parents of the National Youth Award recipients on the morning of Oct. 11 on Capitol Hill. That gathering provided parents and others in attendance with information on how to pay for college and what steps can be taken to better ensure students graduate.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, for every 100 Hispanic children entering kindergarten, 63 will graduate from high school and only 11 will obtain a bachelor’s degree by the age of 29. Sallie Mae is committed to reversing this trend with programs and initiatives focusing on the educational needs of Hispanic students and families. In addition to scholarship programs, Sallie Mae’s Hispanic efforts include:

— Sallie Mae Hispanic, an effort that provides Solutions for Hispanic
Serving Institutions, as well as outreach and support to Hispanic
communities.
— SallieMae.com in Español, which gives Hispanic families access to
information and resources on financing a college education, in their
native language.
— Spanish content on CollegeAnswer.com, Sallie Mae’s early outreach Web
site. The site helps Hispanic families with all of their planning and
paying for college needs — not only with information about how to
finance a college education, but also with assistance in selecting
colleges, applying for admissions, searching for scholarships and
applying for financial aid.
— Dedicated outreach hotline for Hispanic families in which Sallie Mae
representatives answer in Spanish and assist families with every aspect
of the college process.
— 2Futuro, a college financing and outreach program for Spanish and
English speaking families. Developed with USA Funds, the nation’s
leading student loan guarantor, 2Futuro specifically addresses the
needs of the 45 million Hispanics in this country today and the
colleges and universities serving them.

Sallie Mae also sponsors The Sallie Mae Fund, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase access to higher education, particularly among low-income and minority families and first-generation college students. In response to research showing that low awareness about scholarships and other forms of financial aid prevents many Latino young adults from pursuing a higher education, The Sallie Mae Fund launched the Paying for College Bus Tour. This coast-to-coast education campaign conducts free workshops and distributes materials in Spanish and English to high school students and their families in major Hispanic population centers. Now in its fourth year, the Bus Tour has provided more than 500 workshops in 33 states, reaching 100,000 people.

This year, The Sallie Mae Fund awarded $2.5 million in scholarships to college students with financial need, including the “First in My Family” Scholarship Program for Hispanic-American students who are the first in their family to pursue higher education. It also supported “Latino College Dollars,” a national directory of 300 scholarships available to Hispanic students.

SLM Corporation , commonly known as Sallie Mae, is the nation’s leading provider of saving- and paying-for-college programs. The company manages $160 billion in education loans and serves nearly 10 million student and parent customers. Through its Upromise affiliates, the company also manages $19 billion in 529 college-savings plans, and 8 million members have joined Upromise to help save for college with rewards on purchases at nearly 70,000 places. Sallie Mae and its subsidiaries offer debt management services as well as business and technical products to a range of business clients, including higher education institutions, student loan guarantors and state and federal agencies. More information is available at www.salliemae.com. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.

The Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable organization sponsored by Sallie Mae, achieves its mission-to increase access to a postsecondary education for America’s students-by supporting programs and initiatives that help open doors to higher education, prepare families for their investment, and bridge the gap when no one else can. For more information, visit www.salliemaefund.org.

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) identifies, inspires, promotes and prepares Latino role models through national leadership, cultural, educational and workforce programs. HHF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with all sponsorships facilitating its year-round programs, including the Hispanic Heritage Awards, Youth Awards, LOFT (Latinos on Fast Track) Network, Speakers Bureau, and HispanicHeritage.org. Additional information is available on the Web at www.hispanicheritage.org or by calling Esther Rege 202/210-8469.

“MTV Tr3s is giving voice to Latino youth who are ready to go beyond the politics and rhetoric of the immigration debate when it broadcasts “Beyond Borders: An MTV Tr3s Immigration Forum,” a historic, first-ever of its kind on network TV event, on Saturday, September 29th at 6 PM. The 30-minute televised forum brings together artists, young people and expert panelists from the worlds of music, politics, academia, media and pop culture to explore solutions to the immigration crisis and discuss its impact on their families, education and everyday lives.

“The immigration debate has ignited the passions of young people across the country but the issues are particularly personal for our audience,” said Lily Neumeyer, Vice President of Programming and Production for MTV Tr3s. “This forum was designed to elicit real solutions young people have for an issue that impacts them directly and indirectly.”

Hosted by prominent Latino journalist Gustavo Arellano, “Beyond Borders: An MTV Tr3s Immigration Forum” features panelists Residente of the Latin Grammy winning group Calle 13, U.S. Congressman Xavier Becerra, Voto Latino representatives “Ugly Betty” actress Ana Ortiz and West Coast rapper Malverde, and a representative from National Council of La Raza. The Forum is broadcast from Cal State L.A., site of the first Chicano Studies program in the country.

The Forum also allows the MTV Tr3s viewing audience a chance to be a part of the discussion, adding their thoughts to the discussion by submitting their questions online at mtv3voces.com or by texting 22444 to submit their comments and questions. Viewer-generated content will appear during the show as an on-screen crawl.

Calle 13’s “Pal Norte” (Going North), the Grammy-nominated single from the duo’s chart-topping current album, with Latin hip-hop outfit ORISHAS, is the theme song for “Beyond Borders: An MTV Tr3s Immigration Forum.” The song has been called “a biting indictment of immigration policy in the Americas” that “highlights the harsh realities that immigrants are faced with when coming to the U.S.”

According to a poll conducted over mtv3voces.com, 60% of respondents feel that immigration is the most important issue affecting Latino youth and 76% of respondents said that a Presidential candidate’s position on immigration would define their vote.

Forum host Arellano reinforced that there are many sides to the immigration issues facing students, however the Forum set out to explore potential solutions.

“Out of nearly three million students who will graduate from U.S. high schools this year, a group of around 65,000 will not have the opportunity to go to college. Not because they lack the motivation but because of the status passed on to them by their parents,” said Arellano. “One possible solution that is explored in “Beyond Borders’ is a piece of legislation called the DREAM Act that strives to help young undocumented immigrants gain legal status and pursue higher education.”

Lily Neumeyer is Executive Producer of “Beyond Borders: An MTV Tr3s Immigration Forum;” Ryan Kroft is Supervising Producer; Vanessa Whitewolf is Producer; Dave Diomedi is Director.

The premiere broadcast of the “Beyond Borders” Forum on September 29th at 6 PM directly follows the premiere broadcast of the latest installment of MTV’s award-winning “True Life” series, “True Life: I Live on the Border,” which will be simulcast on MTV and MTV Tr3s at 5 PM. “True Life: I Live on The Border,” documents the journey of three young people caught up in the struggle where two different worlds intersect. From those who have physically climbed barbed wire fenced in an attempt to find a better life, to others who patrol the border with armed weapons in hand, everyone living on the border has a story to tell. Two of the people featured in the documentary, a member of the Minutemen and an undocumented high school student, are participants in the Forum and give their perspective on how the topic affects young people’s lives.

“Beyond Borders: An MTV Tr3s Immigration Forum” is also part of MTV’s renewed Emmy-Award winning campaign, “Choose or Lose.” First launched in 1992, “Choose or Lose” has consistently re-invented political activism, connecting with young people on their terms and breaking down the barriers between American youth and those running for office. The campaign has fueled several of the largest youth voter turnouts in US history, including in 2004, when it helped inspire nearly 22 million 18-30 year olds to register and vote.

MTV Tr3s is in 6.2 million Hispanic TV households and 31.9 million total TV households, making it the most-widely distributed TV network dedicated to superserving today’s bicultural Latino youth. MTV Tr3s’ programming is rooted in the fusion of American and Latino music, cultures, lifestyles and languages. Music programming is at the core of MTV Tr3s and the channel features hitmakers, emerging artists and new sounds that resonate with young U.S. Latinos. In addition to music programming, MTV Tr3s programming slate also features lifestyle series, news, documentaries and other long-form programs that celebrate US Latino hybrid identity and culture.

Voto Latino inspires the next generation of Americans to register and vote through youth-targeted media that leverages the inspirational power of the Latino community’s artists of screen and stage. Voto Latino received the 2006 Gold Promax Award for its Public Service Announcements and received an Imagen Award nomination. Voto Latino launched the first national voter registration campaign use text messaging in an effort to incorporate the latest technology with civic participation. Both Ana Ortiz and Malverde are members of Voto Latino’s Artist Coalition. “

MEDIA ADVISORY

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST AT 5 PM

Residente of Calle 13, Malverde and U.S. Congressman Xavier Becerra are Among Students, Politicians, Activists and Artists Who Gather for

“Beyond Borders: An MTV Tr3́s Immigration Forum”

WHAT: An historic, solution-focused immigration forum for young people, the first-ever of its kind on network television

WHY: The immigration debate has ignited the passions of young people across the country, inspiring protests, lobbying, marches and school walkouts. For young Latinos in particular, the issues and questions are personal:

* Will their families get to remain in the country?
* Will they get to finish school here?
* Will their friends be deported?

Young people are ready to go beyond the politics, rhetoric and debate. They want a solución.

WHO: Latin Grammy winner Calle 13’s Residente, West Coast rapper Malverde, Congressman Xavier Becerra, representatives from National Council of La Raza and students from Cal State LA

WHEN: Friday, September 21st

5 PM – 6 PM: Screening of MTV’s “True Life: I Live on the Border”
6 PM – 6:30 PM: Interviews with artists, students and MTV Tr3́s executives
7 PM – 9 PM: Taping of “Beyond Borders: An MTV Tr3́s Immigration Forum,” hosted by journalist Gustavo Arellano

WHERE: Intimate Theatre, located at The Harriet & Charles Luckman Fine Arts Complex, California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032-8116. Directions: www.luckmanarts.org/howtogethere.php Parking is available directly across from the Luckman Theatre.

MORE: “Beyond Borders: An MTV Tr3́s Immigration Forum” premieres on Saturday, September 29th at 6 PM and directly follows the premiere broadcast of the latest installment of MTV’s award-wining “True Life” series, “True Life: I Live on the Border,” which will be simulcast on MTV and MTV Tr3́s at 5 PM. Two of the people featured in the documentary, including a member of the Minutemen, will also be in attendance at the forum to give their perspective on how the topic affects young people’s lives.

“Beyond Borders: An MTV Tr3́s Immigration Forum” is also part of MTV’s renewed Emmy-Award winning campaign, “Choose or Lose.” First launched in 1992, “Choose or Lose” has consistently re-invented political activism, connecting with young people on their terms and breaking down the barriers between American youth and those running for office. The campaign has fueled several of the largest youth voter turnouts in US history, including in 2004, when it helped inspire nearly 22 million 18-30 year olds to register and vote.

PRESS CREDENTIALS: Please contact Emma Carrasco at 305 962 2325 or ejcarrasco@yahoo.com to schedule media interviews and request press passes.

“The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) today announced the 2007 Hispanic Heritage Awards recipients, who will be celebrated at the recently-renovated Renaissance Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, October 11, 2007. Hosted by Judy Reyes, star of NBC’s Scrubs, the Awards will honor groups and individuals for their leadership, pride, and impact made in their respective fields. A star-studded roster of diverse celebrity presenters and entertainers will complete the festive and emotional program (please click http://www.HHAceremony.com for a short video introduction).

“This year’s program is about bringing the Hispanic community together – with all of our similarities and differences – sharing our talents, our dreams, and our cultures,” said Dr. Pedro Jose (Joe) Greer, Jr., HHF Chairman of the Board. “We are thrilled to “unite’ the honorees, presenters and performers, our committed sponsors, and dedicated community leaders for a very special evening celebrating our diversity and solidarity.”

The following is a list of the 2007 Hispanic Heritage Awards Honorees in five categories:

– Rosario Dawson for Vision – an ethnic mix of Puerto Rican/Dominican/African American/Cuban/Irish, Rosario Dawson, who is best known for her roles in Sin City, Kids, and Rent, is being honored for her tireless work as co-founder and executive director of VotoLatino, an organization that leads the effort to increase voter registration among young Hispanics.

– Dr. Inés Cifuentes for Math and Science – Named the 2006 National Hispanic Scientist of the Year, she was the first female graduate of the Columbia University doctorate program in Seismology. Dr. Cifuentes has been recognized for improving science programs in public schools and assisting Central American Refugees in the Washington, DC area. She currently works at the American Geophysical Union.

– U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Xavier Becerra (D-CA) for Education – These two congressional members will be recognized for their leadership in pushing a bill to establish the American Latino Museum through Congress in an effort to educate Americans about the rich Hispanic culture and contributions to America.

– Cast of Love in the Time of Cholera for the Arts – For the first time, the award will honor a work of art rather than an individual. Accepting the award will be the producer, director and cast of the movie, which brings the Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel to life. Honorees include: Producer Scott Steindorff, Director Mike Newell and Actors Benjamin Bratt, John Leguizamo, Hector Elizondo, Oscar-nominee Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Laura Harring.

– Tony Pérez, for Sports – Born in Cuba, Tony Perez was a seven-time All-Star as a first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. After retirement, he helped lead the Florida Marlins win the World Series in 1997 as a member of its coaching staff. Today, he is still with the Marlins and has been inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.

Confirmed presenters include (in alphabetical order): Academy Award nominee Adriana Barazza (Babel); Shelbie Bruce (Spanglish); Former Miss USA and Neutrogena spokesperson Susie Castillo (Underdog); Kate Del Castillo (La Misma Luna); Broadway performer Mandy Gonzalez (Aida, Lennon); Actor Nicholas Gonzalez (El Camino del Diablo, Resurrection Blvd.); Academy Award winner Rita Moreno (West Side Story, CANE), Edgar Ramirez (The Bourne Ultimatum), Actor Wilmer Valderrama (That 70’s Show, Handy Manny), and more. The evening’s dynamic performances will include: Los Amigos Invisibles, Fanny Lu, and a special performance as the grand finale which will be announced later. Past Hispanic Heritage Youth Award Recipient for the Arts Jairo Alvarado will direct the 2007 Hispanic Heritage Awards which will be broadcast for the first time via broadband and through Sprint Nextel’s Power View on October 26, 2007.

In recognition of the Arts Honorees, the Hispanic Heritage Awards celebration will be launched on Wednesday, October 10 with a special pre-release screening of Love in the Time of Cholera. The screening will include a star-studded red-carpet event at Washington, D.C.’s Uptown Theater presented by Stone Village Pictures, New Line Cinema and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. This is the first public screening in the United States, and will be introduced by director Mike Newell and HHF President and CEO Jose Antonio Tijerino.

The Hispanic Heritage Awards are sponsored by a host of dedicated supporters including: Medallion sponsors, AstraZeneca, Dentyne, ExxonMobil, and Sallie Mae (Official Student Loan Partner); Official Insurance Company Allianz Life; Official Hispanic Heritage Awards Airline American Airlines; and Official Car Volvo. NBC Universal and Telemundo are Gold Sponsor and additionally the program is supported by People en Espanol, the U.S. Navy, Southwest Airlines, Goldman Sachs, New Line Cinema, Renaissance Hotel Washington, DC, Sprint/Nextel, Stone Village Pictures, HSBC, Lockheed Martin, Pfizer, ALMA Magazine, Catalina Magazine, Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, Latino Leaders Magazine, Fannie Mae, Home Builders Institute, Home Depot, Pulte Homes, and Staples Foundation for Learning. To join the prestigious list of sponsors and participate in the 2007 Hispanic Heritage Awards, please call 202.861.9797 or e-mail Scott@HispanicHeritage.org.

Eight National Hispanic Heritage Youth Award recipients also will be recognized on stage for their accomplishments in the classroom and community. These students were selected as high school seniors in the spring from a pool of 13,000 applicants from across the country. They include: Nicolas Frank Altemose of Temecula, California for Academic Excellence; Fabian Alejandro Poliak of Apopka, Florida for Business; Natassia Rodriguez of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for Community Service; Haydee Cruz of Phoenix, Arizona for Education; Keone David Hon of Kailua Kona, Hawaii for Engineering and Mathematics; Daniel Lage of Coral Gables, Florida for Healthcare; Christopher Stephan Oroza of Coppell, Texas for Journalism; and Ilona Catalina Juan of Homestead, Florida for Sports. In addition to the students, one teacher, Dora Arredondo-Maron of Los Gatos, California will be recognized with the National Hispanic Heritage Teacher Award, presented by Staples Foundation for Learning. This is the first ever award of its kind – recognizing a teacher her impact on Hispanic students.

The Youth Awards are sponsored by Chase and MasterCard International, National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA), Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages, Southwest Airlines (Official Airline of the Youth Awards), ExxonMobil, GlaxoSmithKline, NBC Universal and Telemundo, SUBWAY Restaurants, Allianz Life and HP (Official Computer Partner of the Youth Awards).

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization which identifies, inspires, promotes and prepares Latino leaders through national leadership, educational, and workforce programs. The Hispanic Heritage Awards, which began as a small White House ceremony commemorating the creation of Hispanic Heritage Month, has become the most recognizable and celebrated Hispanic honor and event in America, and serves as a culmination of the Foundation’s year-round programs. For more information please visit http://www.HispanicHeritage.org. “

“A day after unveiling his comprehensive Cuba policy, Presidential Candidate Chris Dodd - fluent in Spanish from his service in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic - again displayed his leadership, firm grasp of the issues at hand and proven experience at the first ever Spanish language presidential forum. Dodd, long considered an expert on Latin American affairs, illustrated his broad appeal to the community by highlighting his strong commitment to the issues most important to Latinos.

“We’re allowing Hugo Chavez to win a public relations battle in Latin America because we don’t invest enough and care enough about people who are suffering in this part of the world. We have 1.6 billion dollars for all of Latin America. We’ll spend 500 billion dollars in Iraq for a nation of twenty-five million people. A fraction of that could make a difference in Latin America,” said Dodd, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs.

“We can have these health care plans, but we need leadership in this country that knows how to get it done. We can all talk about these ideas, but no one party is going to decide these issues. It’s going to take political leadership that can build these coalitions as I have done over my 26 years in the Senate, bringing people together - Republicans and Democrats to get a national universal health care system in America - Americans deserve no less than that,” said Dodd, the author of the landmark Family and Medical Leave Act which has prevented millions of Americans from choosing between the job they need and the family they love. Dodd recently put forward a health care plan that would provide affordable, universal health care coverage to all Americans within 4 years.

“The question is whether or not we’re going to sit on the sidelines or be a part of this transition in Cuba. Fifty years of this policy, of the embargo, has basically left the same man in power, the same repressive politics, an economy that is failing the country. He’s been using that as an excuse for his own failures. As President of the United States I would begin to unravel that embargo. I would lift travel restrictions so Cuban Americans can go visit their families. We need to engage in a constructive and positive way, this is hurting us and countries throughout the Americas. Our ability to engage the rest of the hemisphere is directly related to our ability to engage intelligently in this transition. It takes new bold leadership to do this. We need to understand that the hopes and aspirations of the Cuban people are as important as anything to us,” said Dodd, who yesterday unveiled his comprehensive Cuba policy.

“Chris Dodd once again showed that he has the depth of understanding and experience on the issues that the next President will need,” said Dodd’s Campaign Manager Sheryl Cohen. “His vision for America reflects his experience, his ability to connect with the American people and his understanding of our most complex issues. We’re looking forward to building off the momentum generated tonight to continue to spread our message.”

“Chris Dodd’s commitment to the Latino community and his proven track record of success set him apart,” said Dodd Campaign Co-Chair Xavier Becerra, a former chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “From putting forward a truly universal health care plan to being the only candidate to call for free community college for all, Senator Dodd’s bold policies make him the best candidate to turn this country around after the failures of the Bush-Cheney administration.”

“Today, the National Council of La Raza NCLR, the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., praised the members of the U.S. House of Representatives who voted to pass the “Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act” CHAMP Act, H.R. 3162. The bill contains numerous provisions that would expand Latino children’s access to the Children’s Health Insurance Program CHIP, including a long overdue restoration of health coverage access to legal immigrant children and pregnant women.

“We are grateful that the bill maximizes coverage for children, including legal immigrants. Though an anti-immigrant amendment attempted to mischaracterize the immigrant issue in the debate, we are glad to see that fairness prevailed,” said Janet Murguí, NCLR President and CEO. “We have every expectation that final legislation, when reconciled with the Senate bill, will include these important provisions.”

The legal immigrant provisions, which have long had bipartisan support, survived an attack on immigrants which is part of a recent backlash against Latino priorities, including those affecting legal immigrants and U.S. citizens.

“We thank the many members of Congress, including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, particularly Representatives Hilda Solis D-CA and Xavier Becerra D-CA, for recognizing the unfairness of leaving legal immigrant children and pregnant women behind,” praised Murguí. “With the passage of the CHAMP Act, they demonstrated their commitment to ensure equal health access opportunities for all of America’s children.””

“Responding to the need to increase the Latino presence in foreign policy fields, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the nation’s premier Hispanic youth leadership development and educational organization, today announced the launch of a pilot International Public Policy Fellowship Program. The program partners with the Congressional Friends of Spain Caucus as well as Spain’s Universia and Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. It will enable two young Latino professionals to explore the connection between domestic and international policy, working with leading business, media, government and non-governmental institutions in Madrid, Spain.

“International relations will impact today’s youth more than any prior generation,” said Congressional Friends of Spain Caucus Co-Chair, Hon. Luis Fortuno (PR). “It is essential that we prepare Latino youth — the nation’s fastest-growing