Congressional Hispanic Caucus

Congressional Hispanic Caucus
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Name	Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Formation	December 1976
Founder	Herman Badillo, Kika de la Garza, Edward Roybal
Type	Congressional caucus
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Membership	38 (117th Congress)
Chairperson	Nanette Barragán

Congressional Hispanic Caucus. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is an organization of members in the United States Congress who are of Hispanic and Latino descent. Founded in the 94th United States Congress, it serves as a legislative service organization dedicated to advancing national and economic issues important to the Hispanic community. The caucus works to ensure the perspectives of Hispanic Americans are represented in national policy debates and legislative processes.

History and formation

The caucus was formally established in December 1976 by founding members including Herman Badillo of New York, Kika de la Garza of Texas, and Edward Roybal of California. Its creation followed earlier efforts at Hispanic congressional organization, such as the Spanish-Speaking Congressional Caucus formed during the 92nd United States Congress. The impetus for its formation stemmed from a desire to present a unified voice on issues affecting communities with origins in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and other Latin American nations. Early legislative efforts focused on bilingual education, immigration reform, and increasing federal appointments of Hispanic Americans during the Jimmy Carter administration. The caucus gained formal recognition within the United States House of Representatives and has since been a consistent presence through subsequent congresses, including the 101st United States Congress and the 117th United States Congress.

Membership and leadership

Membership is open to all members of Congress who are of Hispanic or Latino heritage, primarily within the Democratic Party. Notable chairs have included Henry B. González, Lucille Roybal-Allard, and Raúl Grijalva. The current chair is Nanette Barragán of California. The caucus also includes vice-chairs and a whip to coordinate legislative strategy. While historically composed of Democrats, the caucus has at times included members from the Republican Party, such as Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Díaz-Balart. Associate membership is offered to non-Hispanic members of Congress who support the caucus's objectives. The size of the caucus has grown significantly, reflecting the increasing number of Hispanic members elected from states like Florida, Texas, and Arizona.

Legislative priorities and policy positions

The caucus advocates for a wide range of policies centered on economic mobility, civil rights, and immigration. Key legislative priorities have included comprehensive immigration reform, such as support for the DREAM Act and protections for DACA recipients. It has pushed for expansions to the Affordable Care Act and increased funding for Hispanic-serving institutions like UTEP and Florida International University. Other stances include advocating for voting rights protections in response to laws like the Voting Rights Act of 1965, promoting environmental justice in communities affected by pollution, and supporting labor union rights and a higher federal minimum wage. The caucus frequently releases unified policy statements and principles on major legislation.

Activities and influence

The caucus conducts regular briefings, issues policy reports, and meets with senior administration officials, including presidents from Bill Clinton to Joe Biden. It hosts an annual Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute leadership conference in Washington, D.C., which includes a prominent gala. The group leverages its collective voting power to influence legislation, often negotiating directly with House Speakers like Nancy Pelosi and Kevin McCarthy. It plays a key role in the confirmation processes for presidential nominees, such as those to the Supreme Court of the United States. The caucus also engages in public advocacy through media appearances and collaborations with entities like the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

Relationship with other organizations

The caucus maintains close ties with external advocacy groups, including the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and UnidosUS. It coordinates with the Congressional Hispanic Conference, which is its Republican counterpart, on certain bipartisan issues. The caucus also works alongside other Congressional caucuses like the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus under the umbrella of the Tri-Caucus. Its affiliated nonprofit, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, operates separately to develop leadership programs. Internationally, the caucus has engaged with leaders from countries like Colombia and Spain on issues of mutual concern.

Category:Congressional caucuses of the United States House of Representatives Category:Hispanic and Latino American organizations in the United States Category:Organizations established in 1976