FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2014

If Confirmed, Echaveste Would be First Woman to Serve in Prestigious Post

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 preeminent national Latino organizations, today sent a letter to leaders of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urging the Committee’s support in scheduling a hearing on the nomination of Ms. Maria Echaveste to become the United States Ambassador to Mexico.

Nominated this past September, Echaveste’s nomination has yet to be considered in committee. In its letter, NHLA leadership highlights Echaveste’s strong qualifications for the post, including her service in the public and private sectors, role as Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton, and her successful efforts in co-founding the U.S.-Mexico Foundation’s Mexican American Leadership Initiative.

NHLA has long been a proud supporter of Echaveste. In a January 2013 letter urging the President to appoint more Latinos to his Administration, the NHLA recommended Echaveste as one of several Latinos who have served both in the private and public sectors and are highly qualified to serve in top posts in the Obama Administration.

The full text of today's letter can be read here.

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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. In 2013, NHLA launched the Latinos United for Immigration Reform campaign. For more information, please visit www.nationalhispanicleadership.org and LatinosUnited.org and follow @NHLAgenda.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

| Carmen Orozco-Acosta | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (512) 787-6508 |

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