May 10, 2013 - National Hispanic Leadership Agenda Is Encouraged that Senate Process to Consider Immigration Reform is Underway

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
May 10, 2013

Most Key Votes on First Day of Committee Action Consistent with NHLA Recommendations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 34 pre-eminent Hispanic organizations in the United States, was encouraged that the process is underway in the Senate Judiciary Committee to consider the bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform proposal, S. 744. During the committee’s first day marking up the legislation, most votes taken on key amendments monitored by NHLA were consistent with NHLA’s recommendations.

NHLA issued a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee members yesterday in which it made recommendations on how to vote on an initial list of 28 key amendments. The committee took action on 13 of those 28 amendments yesterday, adopting seven and rejecting six. Only one amendment that NHLA opposed was adopted by the committee. NHLA will be making recommendations on additional amendments as the committee process moves forward.

“It was a promising sign to see Republican and Democratic Senators work in a bipartisan manner on most key amendments yesterday. Latinos across the country are closely watching the Senate's deliberations on immigration reform. We encourage them to continue their cooperation to keep this bill moving forward,” said Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

NHLA will use its vote recommendations on the amendments to S. 744 as the basis for a scorecard that will grade Senators on their immigration reform record.

Earlier this year, NHLA launched Latinos United for Immigration Reform, a grassroots mobilization campaign which includes an online platform at LatinosUnited.org for the public to engage Members of Congress, over 60 town halls across the nation – of which 40 have already been held – phone banks, and dozens of meetings with congressional offices. All these efforts combined are expected to generate over 100,000 pro-immigration reform contacts directed at Congress.

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.

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

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

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