Congressional Hispanic Conference

Forming a Republican Coalition

In 2002, feeling there was significant need for another Hispanic congressional group, newly elected Florida Representative Mario Diaz-Balart began to organize a coalition for Hispanic Republicans to counter what they perceived as Democratic dominance over Hispanic political affairs. On March 17, 2003, in an open letter published in the Wall Street Journal, Diaz-Balart announced the formation of the Congressional Hispanic Conference.

Another impetus in forming the conference centered on the debate surrounding the appointment of conservative lawyer Miguel Estrada to the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals. Diaz-Balart decried what he perceived as Hispanic Democratic efforts to frustrate the nomination of Estrada, a selection seen by some at the time as a possible fast track to the U.S. Supreme Court. Joining Diaz-Balart in the new group were his brother Lincoln, as well as Bonilla, Ros-Lehtinen, and newly elected colleague Devin Nunes, a California congressman of Portuguese descent.

Two more Portuguese American congressmen, Richard Pombo of California and Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania, soon joined the conference. Like its Democratic counterpart, the conference also allows members from the Senate. Mel Martinez, the first Cuban American U.S. senator, joined the group right after his 2004 election. The conference is also open to non-Hispanic “associate” members who represent districts with significant Hispanic populations or generally approve of the conference's public policy goals.

Creating a Cohesive Legislative Agenda

The Congressional Hispanic Conference seeks to emphasize both national and international issues that have a significant impact on Hispanic communities in the United States. The Congressional Hispanic Conference is intended as a forum for congressional members to collaborate in the creation of a cohesive legislative agenda. The CHC's priorities include support of the war against terrorism, the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas [Page 570](FTAA), tax relief to families and the over 2 million Hispanic- and Portuguese-owned small businesses, and support for faith-based initiatives. The CHC emphasizes that small businesses play a vital role in the American economy and have been responsible for the creation of 64 percent of all new jobs in the past 15 years. The CHC aims to foster small businesses and supports an environment in which they can create jobs and grow the economy.

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