FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2014

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 preeminent national Latino organizations, praised President Barack Obama’s announcement nominating Maria Echaveste as United States Ambassador to Mexico at the U.S. Department of State.

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.

As a Mexican-American born in Texas, Maria Echaveste meets regularly with Mexican political, business and intellectual leaders through her service on the Board of Directors of the U.S.-Mexico Foundation (a NHLA coalition member) and the Advisory Board of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center. She has been actively involved with the U.S.-Mexico Futures Forum sponsored by the Center for Latin American Studies at UC Berkeley. Echaveste has professional experience at the highest levels of government having served as Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton (1998-2001), Special Representative to Bolivia (2009), and Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor (1993-1997).

In response to the nomination announcement, NHLA leaders released the following remarks:

“Maria Echaveste is an outstanding choice to become United States Ambassador to Mexico,” said Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and President of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. “Her previous work in the Clinton Administration, coupled with her strong relationships with national stakeholders and Administration leadership, has given her an understanding of domestic and binational policy priorities that will make her an especially effective advocate for a strong U.S.–Mexico relationship.”

“The U.S. and Mexico relationship is both culturally and economically interdependent,” said Brent Wilkes, LULAC executive director. “The nomination of Maria Echaveste to be the next Ambassador to Mexico is a critical decision which LULAC supports without reservation. If confirmed, Ms. Echaveste will bring the diverse background and keen intellect that the position demands. Her background as deputy chief of staff with the Clinton Administration, and her experience as policy and program development director at the Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Law and Social Policy at the University of California's Berkeley Law School, make Ms. Echaveste uniquely qualified for the position. LULAC encourages the Senate to act without partisan delay in confirming Ms. Echaveste, who would serve as the first female U.S. Ambassador to Mexico.”

“This nomination represents a well-deserved capstone in a professional and personal history working to facilitate the bi-national relationship," stated Rebeca Vargas, U.S. Mexico Foundation President and CEO. "Within the Foundation, Ms. Echaveste was one of the founders and drivers of the Mexican American Leadership Initiative (MALI), created to provide Americans of Mexican heritage a mechanism through which to act as a bridge of understanding between U.S. society and Mexico through business and civil society partnerships. Through her work with the USMF, she has not only helped create friendship and ties between societies, but also helped both countries face joint challenges with a sense of shared responsibility and high level of commitment."

"The HNBA commends President Obama's nomination of Maria Echaveste as the next Ambassador of Mexico, where she will be the first woman to serve in that role," said Cynthia D. Mares, Hispanic National Bar Association President. "From her work at the University of California's Berkeley School of Law to her time in public service, she has provided a much-needed voice on social policy impacting Latinos. We urge Congress to move quickly on her nomination."

"Maria Echaveste represents the best of our next generation of American leaders," said Felix Sanchez, National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts Chairman and Co-founder. "Ms. Echaveste's nomination is a move in the right direction for the Obama Administration."

"Farmworker Justice has had the privilege of working with Maria Echaveste in her varied roles in government and the private sector over the years, said Bruce Goldstein, Farmworker Justice President. "She comes from a farmworker background and has never forgotten where she and her parents came from. Maria Echaveste has many skills, extraordinary experience and a great education, as well as many opportunities to choose from, but she has made sure to use those attributes to help farmworkers and their families, some of the most disadvantaged people in this country. The nation will be well-served when the Senate confirms Maria Echaveste as Ambassador to Mexico, which we encourage it to do promptly."

"I have known Maria since we were at Stanford University and worked with her her during our time in the Clinton Administration and know what a valuable and effective leader she would be to this Administration for the position as Ambassador to Mexico," said Elena Rios, MD, MSPH, National Hispanic Medical Association President & CEO.

"Maria is a great appointment and will be an informed Ambassador to Mexico," stated Al Zapanta, U.S.- Mexico Chamber of Commerce President & CEO. "The U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce with eight offices in the U.S and eight in Mexico fully supports her nomination and speedy Senate confirmation."

“Maria Echaveste would, without question, be an ideal U.S. Ambassador to Mexico," said Angelo Falcón, President, National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP), New York. "She has been one of the leading lights in the Latino community, is thoroughly informed of Mexican affairs, is bilingual and has been involved in public service at all levels of government. We couldn’t be happier to see her being nominated to this important position. She is the right person at the right time.”

“Maria is a longtime public servant who has served this country with excellence for more than 20 years,” said Juan Cartagena, President and General Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDEF. “While in public service, Maria has served in a variety of roles that have well prepared her for this important and critical position. At a time when our relationship with Mexico has taken on such great importance, it is imperative that the congress move quickly to approve this highly qualified Latina.”

"As an organization dedicated to the health and well-being of Latinas, we are thrilled that Maria Echaveste has been nominated for Ambassador to Mexico," stated Jessica González-Rojas Executive Director at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. "Maria is a longtime friend and colleague, and I have full confidence that her leadership and depth of experience make her an excellent choice for this important role. Her deep roots in the Latino community and understanding of the lived experiences of Mexican-American women and families, as well as her considerable skills, will serve her well in this role, and we urge prompt confirmation."

“The nomination of Maria Echaveste to serve as the first Latina Ambassador to Mexico deserves commendation," said Ignacio Salazar, SER-Jobs for Progress National Inc. President and CEO. "Her qualifications and proven track record representing the nation directly on United States–Mexico policy issues, including serving on Board of Directors of the United States-Mexico Foundation and the Advisory Board of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center, stand without question. We fully support Ms. Echaveste and urge the Senate to confirm her nomination."

“We commend President Obama for nominating Maria Echaveste as Ambassador to Mexico,” said Juan Carlos Areán, Senior Director of Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network. "Mrs. Echaveste’s long-held commitment to public service and extensive experience, as well as her investment in policies that strengthen communities, make her an ideal candidate to represent the values of the United States."

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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. Since creating its Latino Appointments Program in January 2013, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda has worked tirelessly to increase the representation of Latinos in the Administration. The coalition is active in calling for the inclusion of Latinos in entry-level to Cabinet-level political appointments. For more information, please visit www.latinoappointments.org and follow @NHLAgenda.

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NHLA MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS:
American GI Forum | ASPIRA Association, Inc. | Avance | Casa de Esperanza | 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 | National Alliance of Latin American & Caribbean Communities | 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