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Congressional Hispanic Caucus#Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute

{{short description|American group of legislators}}

{{About|the caucus for Hispanic Democratic members of Congress|its Republican counterpart|Congressional Hispanic Conference}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}

{{Infobox political party

| logo = Congressional Hispanic Caucus meeting at White House 2009.jpg

| caption = Hispanic Caucus meeting at the White House in 2009

| foundation = {{Start date and age|1976|12}}{{Cite web |title=About the Congressional Hispanic Caucus |url=https://congressionalhispaniccaucus-castro.house.gov/about |publisher=United States House of Representatives}}

| headquarters = Washington, D.C.

| leader1_title = Chair

| leader1_name = Adriano Espaillat

| founder = {{collapsible list

|titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;

|title = 5 founding members

|Herman Badillo
(from New York's 21st district)

|Baltasar Corrada del Río
(from Puerto Rico At-Large)

|Kika de la Garza
(from Texas's 15th district)

|Henry B. González
(from Texas's 20th district)

|Edward R. Roybal
(from California's 25th district)

| bullets = on

}}

| national = Democratic Party

| seats1_title = Seats in the House

| seats1 = {{composition bar|37|435|hex=#A9A9A9}} (plus 1 non-voting)

| seats2_title = Seats in the House Democratic Caucus

| seats2 = {{composition bar|37|215|hex=#3333FF}} (plus 1 non-voting)

| seats3_title = Seats in the Senate

| seats3 = {{composition bar|4|100|hex=#A9A9A9}}

| website = {{official website}}

| name = Congressional Hispanic Caucus

}}

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) is an organization of 42 Democratic members of the United States Congress of Hispanic and Latino descent.{{Cite web |title=Congressional Hispanic Caucus |url=https://congressionalhispaniccaucus-castro.house.gov/ |access-date=January 7, 2019 |archive-date=January 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108045801/https://congressionalhispaniccaucus-castro.house.gov/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news |last=Bernal |first=Rafael |date=January 2, 2019 |title=Hispanic Caucus boasts record membership in new Congress |work=The Hill |url=https://thehill.com/latino/423600-hispanic-caucus-boasts-record-membership-in-new-congress/ |access-date=January 7, 2019}} The Caucus focuses on issues affecting Hispanics and Latinos in the United States. The CHC was founded in December 1976 as a legislative service organization of the United States House of Representatives. The CHC is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed under the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives.

As of the 118th Congress, the CHC is composed entirely of Democrats, although at its founding it was a bipartisan organization. Hispanic Republican members of Congress formed the Congressional Hispanic Conference in 2003 after leaving in the late 1990s over policy differences. The CHC has refused to admit Republican members in recent years, denying admission to Carlos Curbelo in 2017 and Mayra Flores in 2022.

Purpose

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus aims to address national and international issues that directly impact the Hispanic community. The function of the CHC is to serve as a forum for the Hispanic Members of Congress to coalesce around a collective legislative agenda. In addition to covering legislative action, the CHC also monitors executive and judicial issues at the federal level.{{Cite web |date=2013-06-26 |title=About the Congressional Hispanic Caucus |url=https://chc.house.gov/about |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=Congressional Hispanic Caucus |language=en}}

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, a Mexican American from Nevada, Senator Ben Ray Luján, a Mexican American from New Mexico, and Senator Alex Padilla, a Mexican American from California, are the current members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus from the Senate. The remaining 38 members are from the House.

History

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) was organized in 1976 by five Hispanic Congressmen: Herman Badillo (NY), Baltasar Corrada del Río (PR), Kika de la Garza (TX), Henry B. Gonzalez (TX) and Edward Roybal (CA), to serve as a legislative organization through which legislative action, as well as executive and judicial actions, could be monitored to ensure the needs of Hispanics were being met. It was staffed by Raquel Marquez Frankel, who had grown up in Silver City and Albuquerque, New Mexico, and had become, in 1947, the first Latina to attend the University of New Mexico School of Law.{{Cite web |year=2010 |title=60 for 60: Shaping Law in New Mexico Since 1950 |url=https://lawschool.unm.edu/alumni/60for60/index.html#:~:text=The%2060%20for%2060%20book,out%20into%20the%20legal%20profession |editor=Nancy Harbert}} The goal was to work in conjunction with other groups, both inside and outside Congress, to strengthen Federal commitment to Hispanics and heighten the community's awareness of the operation and function of the American political system.

As of 2023, the CHC is composed entirely of Democrats, although at its founding it was a bipartisan organization. The Republican members left in the late 1990s over policy differences and, in 2003, formed their own group, the Congressional Hispanic Conference. In 2017, the Caucus declined to admit Rep. Carlos Curbelo, who would have been the only Republican member. In 2022, Rep. Mayra Flores, a Republican, was denied membership as well.

Chairs

{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|* 1978–1981: Edward R. Roybal (CA-25) (D)

Current leadership

  • Chair: Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) (D){{Cite web |title=Congressional Hispanic Caucus - Congratulations to the 119th Congress CHC leadership team! {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/congressional.hispanic.caucus/photos/congratulations-to-the-119th-congress-chc-leadership-team/1019914800181718/?_rdr |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}
  • Deputy Chair: Darren Soto (FL-9) (D)
  • Vice Chair of Diversity & Inclusion: Joaquin Castro (TX-20) (D)
  • Vice Chair of Member Engagement: Andrea Salinas (OR-6) (D)
  • Vice Chair of Communications: Norma Torres (CA-35) (D)
  • Vice Chair of Policy: Rob Menendez (NJ-8) (D)
  • Whip: Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) (D)
  • Freshman Representative: Gil Cisneros (CA-31) (D)

Current membership (119th Congress)

File:Congressional Hispanic Caucus in the 118th Congress.svg]]

= United States Senate =

Arizona:

California:

Nevada:

New Mexico:

= United States House of Representatives =

California:

Florida:

Illinois:

Massachusetts:

New Jersey:

New Mexico:

New York:

Oregon:

Puerto Rico:

Texas:

Washington:

Sources{{Cite web|title=Members|url=https://chc.house.gov/members|url-status=live|access-date=|publisher=Congressional Hispanic Caucus|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231204720/https://chc.house.gov/members |archive-date=December 31, 2019 }}{{Cite web |last=Echeverria |first=Marisa Guerra Echeverria and Audrey Pachuta, Audrey Pachuta, Marisa Guerra |date=2024-11-15 |title=The Congressional Hispanic Caucus welcomes new members; addresses Latino voter concerns |url=https://medillonthehill.medill.northwestern.edu/2024/11/the-congressional-hispanic-caucus-welcomes-new-members-addresses-latino-voter-concerns/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Medill on the Hill |language=en-US}}

Controversies

{{Criticism section|date=January 2019}}

= Joe Baca's tenure as chairman =

{{see also|Joe Baca}}

On January 31, 2007, a story on the Politico.com website reported that Rep. Joe Baca had called Rep. Loretta Sanchez a "whore" in a conversation with Speaker of the California Assembly Fabian Núñez, prompting Sanchez to resign from the CHC. Rep. Baca has denied this charge,{{Cite news |title=Sanchez Accuses Democrat of Calling Her a 'Whore,' Resigns from Hispanic Group |work=Politico |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2007/01/sanchez-accuses-democrat-of-calling-her-a-whore-resigns-from-hispanic-group-002572}} but two other CHC members, Linda Sánchez (Loretta's sister) and Hilda Solis, expressed support for Loretta Sanchez.{{Cite news |title=Two More Reps. Complain About Treatment of Women in Hispanic Caucus |work=Politico |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2007/02/two-more-reps-complain-about-treatment-of-women-in-hispanic-caucus-002583}} In the case of Solis, Baca called her "a kiss-up to Speaker Nancy Pelosi," for which he apologized to Solis both privately and publicly.{{Cite news |title=Women Call for Change in Caucus |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/21/AR2007022101772.html}}

A year prior to the "whore" incident, the CHC's political action committee gave $3,000 to Baca's children's campaigns for state offices in California. Although Baca recused himself from the decision to make the contributions, six members of the caucus criticized the decision, saying that CHC's PAC should support only federal candidates. Consequently, on November 15, 2006, when Joe Baca was elected chair of the CHC, Solis and the Sanchez sisters challenged his election, saying that the voting should have been done by a secret ballot.

On Monday, April 2, 2007, Congresswoman Linda Sánchez closed her offices in honor of César Estrada Chávez Day, a state holiday in California (which fell on a Saturday that year). CHC chair Baca made the following comment on Sánchez's decision to close the office: "I believe the best way to observe César Estrada Chávez Day is not by taking the day off from work or school."{{Cite news |title=Rep. Baca wags finger at Sanchez for closing office for César Chávez Day |work=The Hill |url=http://thehill.com/in-the-know/rep.-baca-wags-finger-at-sanchez-for-closing-office-for-cesar-chavez-day-2007-04-03.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070410012519/http://thehill.com/in-the-know/rep.-baca-wags-finger-at-sanchez-for-closing-office-for-cesar-chavez-day-2007-04-03.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 10, 2007}} On April 12, Linda Sánchez announced that she had suspended her membership in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, citing "a need for structural reforms to ensure that the caucus is more equitable and inclusive of all its members." She specifically stated that her decision "was not based on personal animus directed at Baca."{{Cite news |title=Linda Sanchez Leaves Hispanic Caucus |work=Politico |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2007/04/linda-sanchez-leaves-hispanic-caucus-003514}}

= Other controversies =

On June 30, 2013, Congressman Filemon Vela Jr. resigned from the CHC, citing opposition to the Senate immigration bill which the CHC endorsed, saying: "Opponents of serious immigration reform are extracting a pound of flesh in this process by conditioning a pathway to citizenship on the construction of more ineffective border fence."{{Cite news |title=Filemon Vela explains his resignation from Congressional Hispanic Caucus, says immigration foes are "extracting a pound of flesh" as price of reform |work=The Houston Chronicle |url=http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2013/07/filemon-vela-jr-explains-his-resignation-from-congressional-hispanic-caucus-says-immigration-foes-are-extracting-a-pound-of-flesh-as-price-of-reform/#13746101=0}}{{Cite news |title=Rep. Filemon Vela quits Congressional Hispanic Caucus to protest lawmakers' acceptance of border "militarization" |work=The Houston Chronicle |url=http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2013/07/rep-filemon-vela-quits-congressional-hispanic-caucus-to-protest-lawmakers-acceptance-of-border-militarization}}

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has received support over the years from Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego and Azteca America.{{Cite web |title=Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Announces New Partnership with Fundacion Azteca America and Grupo Salinas for International Fellowship Program in Mexico |publisher=WECT |location=Wilmington, N.C. |url=http://www.wect.com/story/8283095/congressional-hispanic-caucus-institute-announces-new-partnership-with-fundacion-azteca-america-and-grupo-salinas-for-international-fellowship |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402120229/http://www.wect.com/story/8283095/congressional-hispanic-caucus-institute-announces-new-partnership-with-fundacion-azteca-america-and-grupo-salinas-for-international-fellowship |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=March 7, 2015}} Andres Ramirez, a Nevada political consultant, and Kevin de León, the President Pro Tempore of the California State Senate, have worked together to route money from Azteca America to various caucus groups and political campaigns, as Pliego is a known rival to Carlos Slim, whom both de Leon and Ramirez have attacked through the use of phony groups such as "Two Countries One Voice". Ramirez has appeared at functions for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.{{Cite web |date=December 4, 2014 |title=Cato Financial Times: Did Andres Ramirez of Nevada violate Nevada State Ethics Laws in creating Two Countries One Voice on behalf of deLeon and Mercury Public Affairs? |url=http://www.catocalifornia.blogspot.com/2014/12/did-andres-ramirez-of-nevada-violate.html |access-date=January 24, 2018 |publisher=Catocalifornia.blogspot.com}} The effort to recruit past students and fellows involved in programs of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has caused some political bloggers to speculate over the effort by California State Senator de Leon and his colleague California State Senator Jim Beall to use their legislative staffs, some of whom have been involved in programs of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, to take over several local groups of California Democratic Party State Central Committee delegations for the purpose of establishing control for de Leon and his allies.{{Cite web |title=A look inside San Jose politics and culture |url=http://www.sanjoseinside.com |access-date=January 24, 2018 |work=San Jose Inside}}

In November 2017, the caucus refused to admit Republican congressman Carlos Curbelo, who would have been the only Republican in the caucus.{{Cite news |last=Alex Daugherty |date=November 16, 2017 |title=Hispanic caucus tells Cuban American he can't join the club — he's too Republican |work=Miami Herald |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article184983023.html}} In October 2022, it also denied admission to Republican congresswoman Mayra Flores, who was the first Mexican-born congresswoman.{{Cite news |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2022/10/26/mayra-flores-congressional-hispanic-caucus/|title=Republican Mayra Flores rejected from all-Democratic Hispanic caucus|first=Matthew|last=Choi|date=October 26, 2022|website=The Texas Tribune}}

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute

In October 1981, the House Committee on House Administration drafted new regulations stipulating that fundraising activities were to be moved off all government premises. Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus decided to maintain a legislative support organization on Capitol Hill, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and moved the non-profit, fundraising organization, today known as the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Inc. to a new residence.{{Cite web |date=December 6, 2017 |title=Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute |url=http://www.chci.org/ |access-date=January 24, 2018}}

CHC BOLD PAC

The CHC BOLD PAC (officially the Committee for Hispanic Causes-BOLD PAC and sometimes referred to as simply BOLD PAC) is the Congressional Hispanic Caucus' political arm, endorsing Democratic and especially Hispanic candidates.{{cite web|url=https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/committee-for-hispanic-causes-bold-pac/C00365536/summary/2020|title=PAC Profile: Committee for Hispanic Causes |publisher=BOLD PAC|access-date=October 22, 2021|website=Open Secrets}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/25/politics/kamala-harris-senate-seat-california-democrats/index.html|title=Democratic fight emerges ahead of appointment to fill Kamala Harris' Senate seat|date=November 25, 2020|access-date=October 22, 2021|author-link1=Manu Raju|last1=Raju|first1=Manu|last2=Rogers|first2=Alex|publisher=CNN}} Ruben Gallego was the chair of the group until 2023,{{cite web|url=https://www.rollcall.com/2021/10/07/democrats-push-to-pressure-sinema-wont-distract-from-kellys-2022-senate-race/|title=Democrats: Push to pressure Sinema won't distract from Kelly's 2022 Senate race|date=October 7, 2021|access-date=October 22, 2021|last=Bowman|first=Bridget|website=Roll Call}} the current chair is Linda Sánchez.{{Cite web |last= |title=Linda Sánchez is the new chair of BOLD PAC, the campaign arm of the Hispanic Caucus. She'll be the first woman to lead the organization. |url=https://www.politico.com/minutes/congress/03-1-2023/new-bold-pac-chair/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=Politico |language=en}} The group raised $8.7 million during the 2018 election cycle.{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/20/democrats-pac-elect-women-congress-829991|title=Democratic lawmakers launch PAC to elect more women to Congress|date=September 20, 2018|access-date=October 22, 2021|last=Severns|first=Maggie|website=Politico}}

Gallery

{{Gallery

|width=215

|File:CHCcirca1984.JPG|alt1=Caucus members in the mid-1980s|Caucus members in the mid-1980s

|File:Hispanic Caucus.jpg|alt2=Nydia Velázquez with Members of the Hispanic Caucus|The four Puerto Rican members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus during the Obama Administration

|File:1128 16th Street NW.jpg|alt3=Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute offices in Washington, D.C.|Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute offices in Washington, D.C.}}

See also

{{Portal|United States|Politics|Latino and Hispanic American}}

{{Commons category}}

References

{{reflist|30em}}

External links

  • {{official website}}
  • {{Cite web |title=Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute |url=http://www.chci.org}}

{{CHC Members}}

{{CHC Chairs}}

{{USCongress}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1976 establishments in Washington, D.C.

Category:Organizations established in 1976

Category:2006 controversies in the United States

Category:2007 controversies in the United States

Category:2013 controversies in the United States

Category:2017 controversies in the United States

Category:2022 controversies in the United States

Hispanic

Congressional Hispanic Caucus

Category:Politics and race in the United States