Congressional Hispanic Conference | |
|---|---|
| Chair | Tony Gonzales |
| Founded | 2003; 22 years ago (2003) |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| National affiliation | Republican Party |
| Seats in theHouse | 15 / 435 (plus 3 non-voting) |
| Seats in theHouse Republican Conference | 15 / 219 (plus 3 non-voting) |
| Seats in theSenate | 2 / 100 |
TheCongressional Hispanic Conference (CHC) is aRepublican sponsored caucus in theUnited States Congress. Currently with 20 members, the CHC was formed in 2003, with the stated goal of promoting policy outcomes of importance to Americans ofHispanic orLusitanic descent.[1]
The impetus behind the Conference's creation was the debate surrounding the nomination of conservative lawyerMiguel Estrada to theDC Circuit Court of Appeals and ideological differences in theCongressional Hispanic Caucus, which was predominantly populated byDemocratic members of Congress.[2][3]
As of 2024, the Conference has 15 members in the House and 2 members in the Senate, as well as 3 non-voting members.
In the mid to late 1990s, the Republican members of theCongressional Hispanic Caucus – Mexican-AmericanHenry Bonilla of Texas and Cuban-AmericansIleana Ros-Lehtinen andLincoln Díaz-Balart of Florida – left the Caucus in protest over its support for improved relations withCuba.[4] While Ros-Lehtinen remained an active member of the CHC's public outreach arm, theCongressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, the Caucus has since been composed solely of Democratic and Democratic-caucusing independent legislators.[5][6]
Feeling there was "significant need" for a "new Hispanic conference" newly elected Florida congressmanMario Díaz-Balart began to organize in 2002 acaucus for Hispanic Republicans to counter what they felt was Democratic dominance over Hispanic political affairs. On March 17, 2003, Díaz-Balart revealed the formation of the Conference in an open letter published inThe Wall Street Journal.[2] Joined by Bonilla, Ros-Lehtinen, his brother Lincoln, and newly elected colleagueDevin Nunes, aCalifornia congressman of Portuguese (Azorean) descent, Díaz-Balart decried what he perceived as Hispanic Democratic efforts to derail the nomination of Estrada, a selection seen by some at the time as a possible fast track to theU.S. Supreme Court.[4][7] The group was officially announced at a press conference two days later. They were soon joined by two morePortuguese American congressmen,Richard Pombo of California andPatrick Toomey of Pennsylvania.[8]
At its inception, the Conference supported the following: PresidentGeorge W. Bush and American troops in the war against terrorism; theFree Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA); tax relief to families and the over two million Hispanic- and Lusitanic-owned small businesses; support forfaith based initiatives; and, educational choice for all.
Like their Democratic counterpart, the Conference allows members from theSenate.Mel Martinez, the first Cuban-American U.S. Senator, joined the group shortly after his election in 2004. Additionally, the Conference is open to non-Hispanic "associate" members who represent districts with significant Hispanic populations or generally support its goals with regards to public policy.[9][10] In 2003, Conference members also formed theCongressional Hispanic Leadership Institute as an equivalent to the Democratic CHC-affiliated CHCI.
In the 2006 and 2008 elections, the Conference suffered the loss of nearly half of their members to electoral defeat, attempts at higher office or resignations. Past chairLuis Fortuño left Congress after being electedGovernor of Puerto Rico. After the2010 midterm elections, six new Hispanic Republicans were elected to Congress: SenatorMarco Rubio of Florida, RepresentativesDavid Rivera of Florida,Raúl Labrador ofIdaho,Francisco Canseco andBill Flores of Texas, andJaime Herrera Beutler ofWashington, as well as Portuguese American SenatorPat Toomey of Pennsylvania, who was a member of the conference when he served in the House.
Officers for the119th Congress are as follows.[11]
| Start | End | Chair(s) | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2005 | Mario Díaz-Balart | FL |
| 2005 | 2007 | Ileana Ros-Lehtinen | FL |
| 2007 | 2009 | Luis Fortuño | PR |
| 2009 | 2025 | Mario Díaz-Balart | FL |
| 2023 | present | Tony Gonzales | TX |
