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MARCH 9, 2016

LATINO LEADERS URGE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP TO FULFILL CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES ON SCOTUS VACANCY

In Letter Sent Today NHLA Expresses Frustration with Leadership Refusal to Consider and Vote on Presidential Supreme Court Nominee

WASHINGTON, DC—In a letter sent today to Republican leaders in the United States Senate, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 40 of the nation’s most preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair, Charles Grassley to fulfill the Senate’s constitutional duty and move a Supreme Court nominee through the process to a floor vote on confirmation, once President Obama names his choice for the seat vacated by the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia.

“The Senate has one main responsibility which is to serve the American people. Their inaction bears heavy consequences and impacts the lives of everyday Americans. The Latino community is acutely aware of the need for a fully constituted Court because of current and future cases such as those coming out of Texas, where Latinos make up 38 percent of the population. Our coalition strongly urges the Senate to fulfill their constitutional obligation and to place duty before politics thereby upholding the values of this nation,” said Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

The NHLA is particularly concerned that, with the current vacancy on the Supreme Court, many critical and controversial cases that directly and significantly affect the Latino community hang in the balance. For example, The DAPA case, or Deferred Action for Parents of Americans, is scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court in April.

“The Senate’s intended dereliction of duty is the pinnacle of petty partisan politics,” stated Thomas A. Saenz, NHLA Vice President and MALDEF President and General Counsel.  “No one can reasonably deny the harm that this planned stonewalling will have on the entire nation, including millions of Latinos.”

The NHLA letter to Senate Republican leaders can be viewed here.