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October 12, 2016

National Latino Leaders Unite to Discuss Key Issues at White House Policy Summit

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, October 12, the White House hosted the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of the nation's 40 preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, for a policy summit on issues critical to the nation’s Latino community. NHLA leaders and others led a discussion with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, Domestic Policy Council Director Cecilia Muñoz, other government officials, policy analysts and advocates on issues including criminal justice reform, economic opportunity, education, immigration, and health.

The summit covered key issues identified by NHLA in the 2016 Hispanic Public Policy Agenda, the coalition’s most comprehensive compilation to date of the policy concerns and priorities of the nation's Latino community. The policy agenda, originally released in February of this year, contains recommendations for presidential candidates and policymakers. Coinciding with NHLA’s 25th anniversary, NHLA leaders have been rolling out the 2016 Hispanic Public Policy Agenda at an unprecedented level, with events in Congress, at both major parties’ conventions, at the White House today, and as the basis of NHLA’s Presidential Engagement campaign.

At today's summit, White House staff spoke about the Obama Administration’s efforts to address the issues raised in NHLA’s Public Policy Agenda and highlighted a new report released today by the President's Council of Economic Advisers on the economic status of Latinos.

“At this pivotal time in American politics, the work of the leading Latino coalition in the nation is more important than ever in order to ensure the priorities of the Latino community are heard. By 2050, Latinos will number more than 100 million and make up more than a quarter of the country's entire population, so today’s policies will greatly affect tomorrow’s Latino community, and the nation as a whole,” said Hector Sanchez, Chair of NHLA and Executive Director of the Labor Council For Latin American Advancement. “We thank President Obama for hosting this key gathering to help address the profound challenges Latinos continue to face, including wealth gaps, health disparities and the harsh realities of a flawed criminal justice system.”

"Today's summit is a strong recognition of the importance of the Latino community to the future success of the United States," stated Thomas A. Saenz, NHLA Vice Chair and MALDEF President and General Counsel. "NHLA's public policy agenda, identifying Latino policy priorities, is an agenda for the betterment of all of United States society, and an opportunity for the next Administration to build upon progress made and to take on new challenges to create a thriving tomorrow."

“On the heels of the release of the most gender and LGBTQ inclusive NHLA policy agenda in history, I am proud to participate in today's summit to discuss how the gains made by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) impact the Latinx community and to outline a vision for the work ahead. In order for the law to be fully realized, we must lift up the voices of those who remain excluded from the health care system, and dismantle barriers to accessing care in this country. For those who are undocumented, LGBTQ, have low incomes, limited English-proficiency and those who live at multiple intersections, we continue to strive to ensure access to high-quality, affordable and linguistically inclusive care. I am grateful for the opportunity to raise these issues and continue to fight for health, dignity and justice for all," said Jessica González-Rojas, Executive Director, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.

“Many farmworkers -- people who labor on farms and ranches to feed us -- and their family members continue to experience serious challenges regarding their wages, occupational safety, access to health information and health care, and immigration status. We appreciate the opportunity to discuss with the Obama Administration the progress that has been made in helping farmworkers overcome such challenges and the many additional steps needed to bring a greater measure of justice to our agricultural and food systems," said Bruce Goldstein, President, Farmworker Justice.

This is a historic moment in our country and for the Latino community. Our collective power and influence is now undeniable with 27 million eligible Latino voters, and issues such as immigration at the center of our national discourse. We are grateful for the opportunity to have this conversation at the White House so that together, we can move and shape policy issues that are central to the well-being of our community and entire nation," said Jose Calderon, President of the Hispanic Federation.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

| Michael Torra | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 425-0582 |
| Brenda Arredondo | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (915) 373-1483 |

ABOUT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP AGENDA

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda is composed of 40 of the leading national and regional Latino civil rights and public policy organizations and other elected officials, and prominent Latinos Americans. NHLA coalition members represent the diversity of the Latino community – Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Latino Americans. NHLA’s mission calls for unity among Latinos around the country to provide the Latino community with greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s affairs. NHLA brings together Latino 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.

NHLA MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

Alianza Americas | American GI Forum | ASPIRA Association, Inc. | Avance | Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network | Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute | Cuban American National Council | Farmworker Justice | Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities | Hispanic Federation | Hispanic National Bar Association | Inter-University Program for Latino Research | Labor Council for Latin American Advancement | Latino Justice PRLDEF | League of United Latin American Citizens | MANA, A National Latina Organization | Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund | NALEO Educational Fund | National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives | National Association of Hispanic Publications | National Association of Latino Independent Producers | National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. | National Council of La Raza | National Hispana Leadership Institute | National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators | National Hispanic Council on Aging | National Hispanic Environmental Council | National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts | National Hispanic Media Coalition | National Hispanic Medical Association | National Institute for Latino Policy | National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health | National Puerto Rican Coalition, Inc. | Presente.org | SER – Jobs for Progress National, Inc. | Southwest Voter Registration Education Project | United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | United States Hispanic Leadership Institute | United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce | U.S.-Mexico Foundation