NHLA Latino Appointments Program

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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
September 28, 2015

 

LATINO LEADERS TO BOEHNER: LEAVE A BIPARTISAN LEGACY, BRING IMMIGRATION REFORM TO A VOTE

Speaker can improve his legacy by advancing immigration reform before retiring

Washington, D.C. – The leaders of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 40 of the nation's preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, call on House Speaker John Boehner to advance immigration reform legislation, which stalled in the 113th Congress, before he retires from Congress. 

“Speaker Boehner’s track record on addressing the priorities of the Latino community has not been good, but he now has the chance to change that as he no longer needs to cater to the political fringe in party. He can allow a vote on comprehensive immigration reform to go forward and leave the House knowing he has reopened a vital national dialogue with one of his final acts as Speaker,” said Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.  

“Speaker Boehner leaves with enough unfinished business to choke a horse,” stated Thomas A. Saenz, NHLA Vice Chair and President and General Counsel of MALDEF.  “His continued failure to move immigration reform risks turning a do-nothing reputation into a Know-Nothing reputation, redolent of the mid-nineteenth century nativist political party.”

"One can only hope that Speaker Boehner will embrace the wisdom of the beloved and recently departed New York Yankees legend Yogi Berra, who imparted on us that 'it ain't over till it's over.' Act now, Mr. Boehner, to advance the cause of broad and progressive immigration reform, and ensure you can leave at least some legacy of note for our community and nation," stated Jose Calderon, President of the Hispanic Federation.

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Established in 1991, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) brings together Hispanic leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit www.nationalhispanicleadership.org  and follow @NHLAgenda. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: 

| Teresa Acuña | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 508-6917 |

| Estuardo Rodriguez | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202)463-4806 |

 

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