LATINO VOTERS’ DECISIVE ROLE IN HISTORIC ELECTIONS ARE FOLLOWED BY HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, CONGRESS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) President and General Counsel John Trasviña congratulated President-elect and Vice President-elect Barack Obama and Joseph Biden. The Latino community played a major part in the election outcomes of key states, including Florida, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada, and participated at historically high levels throughout the nation. Trasviña also congratulated Representatives-elect Benjamin Lujan of New Mexico and Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico, the new Latino Members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Latinos must be a major part of the new Administration and needed changes in national policy. Latinos serve the nation in innumerable ways. We have the talent and expertise to help the new Administration advance policies that reflect the nation’s needs and contribute to the national advancement. We urge President-elect Obama to appoint Latinos and Latinas in significant positions at all levels of the new Administration as well as to the federal judiciary,” stated MALDEF President and General Counsel John Trasviña.

“Latinos voters showed concern with the economy, the quality of our public education system, our broken immigration system, and other critical issues that require decisive action,” added MALDEF Washington, D.C. Regional Counsel Peter Zamora. “Congress and the new President must act quickly on Latino voters’ concerns and move to fix the economy, reform and reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act, pass comprehensive immigration reform, and engage the Latino electorate on a range of issues.”

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), chaired by MALDEF, will lead efforts to encourage and support Latino applicants for positions in the new Administration. The NHLA has presented Latino policy priorities outlined in the NHLA 2008 Hispanic Public Policy Agenda to both major parties during their Democratic and Republican National Conventions this past summer. In addition, it will work closely with Latinos interested in serving the Administration to assist with their candidacies.