Azteca America and University of Denver Latino Center Present State of Latinos Report on Capitol Hill to Obama and McCain Representatives

Azteca America and University of Denver Latino Center Present State of Latinos Report on Capitol Hill to Obama and McCain Representatives

Both candidates pledged immigration reform through recorded messages

Senator Obama pledged support for the Dream Act to support immigrant public education

Senator McCain promised education, employment and Business opportunities for Latinos

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Azteca America, a Grupo Salinas Company, and the University of Denver Latino Center presented yesterday evening on Capitol Hill a report entitled "The State of Latinos 2008: Defining an Agenda for the Future."

The report calls for a presidential commission on Latino issues to increase Latino access to vital educational, health, economic and civic opportunities. The report also concludes that a lack of immigration reform widens disparities and limits the future progress of the Latino community and the nation.

Representing Senator McCain were California Senator Abel Maldonado and Marco Gonzales, a former aide to Senator Pete Domenici and private practice attorney. Also present was Leslie Sanchez, an independent Republican strategist.

Surrogates for Senator Obama were members of his National Latino Advisory Council Congressman Charlie Gonzalez (TX) and former Attorney General of New Mexico and current Chair of MALDEF Patricia Madrid, as well as Los Angeles City Council President and national co-chair of the Obama for President campaign Eric Garcetti.

During opening remarks, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair and Congressmember Joe Baca (CA) commended the State of Latinos project for uniting national Latino organizations, adding that only through unity will the community advance.

Azteca America and Fundacion Azteca America Chairman Luis J. Echarte pledge continued support for the Latino agenda recommendations, "We will concentrate on pushing the findings of this white paper to be put into action and to ensure that the promises made during the current political cycle become concrete policy."

Also in attendance were: Congressmember Grace Napolitano (CA) and Congressmember Raul Grijalva (AZ), Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, Service Employees International Union Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina, NALEO Executive Director Arturo Vargas, LCLAA Executive Director Gabriela Lemus, Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute Executive Director Octavio Hinojosa, NDN Vice President Andres Ramirez, Republican National Hispanic Assembly Chairman Danny Vargas and Voto Latino Executive Director Maria Teresa Petersen, among other distinguished guests.

The report focuses on five issues of importance to the Latino community: education, health care, the economy, immigration and the Latino vote. Latinos face major challenges in gaining access to these important services. The report advocates collaboration among the nation's Latino organizations under the umbrella of a presidential commission as the most effective way to ensure change.

The topics covered are of vital importance to the nation as a whole. However, the efforts take on special significance due to the high and growing number of Latinos in U.S. public schools, and their overrepresentation in high school dropout rates. Cultural and communication barriers for public services such as health care are very costly to the nation in the near and long term. Although the state of the economy affects citizens across the nation, the predominance of the housing downturn among current economic woes is especially difficult for the Latino community, given its ties to the construction industry.

Full text of the report available at http://www.fundacionaztecaamerica.org/ or www.du.edu/newsroom/releases/media/agendalatina.pdf.

About DU and DULCCES

The University of Denver (www.du.edu), the oldest private university in the Rocky Mountain region, enrolls approximately 11,117 students in its undergraduate and graduate programs. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Denver as a Research University with high research activity. The Latino Center for Community Engagement and Scholarship is an interdisciplinary group of faculty members who engage in scholarship, research and service for the benefit of the Latino community.

About Fundacion Azteca America

Fundacion Azteca America is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for members of the Hispanic community currently in the U.S. Fundacion Azteca America, Fundacion Azteca, Azteca America and TV Azteca are companies of Mexican conglomerate Grupo Salinas. For more information, visit www.fundacionaztecaamerica.org.

About Grupo Salinas

Grupo Salinas (www.gruposalinas.com) is a group of dynamic, fast-growing and technologically advanced companies focused on creating shareholder value, contributing to building the middle class of the countries where it operates, and improving society through excellence. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies TV Azteca (www.irtvazteca.com), Azteca America (www.aztecaamerica.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx), and Grupo Iusacell (www.iusacell.com). Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. However, member companies share a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance.

Fundacion Azteca America Contact:

Daniel McCosh
011 52 55 1720 0059
dmccosh@gruposalinas.com

Source: Azteca America; Fundacion Azteca America; Grupo Salinas; University of Denver

Source: Azteca America; Fundacion Azteca America; Grupo Salinas; U. of Denver

CONTACT: Daniel McCosh, Fundacion Azteca America, +011-52-55-1720-0059,
dmccosh@gruposalinas.com

Web site: http://www.aztecaamerica.com/
http://www.gruposalinas.com/
http://www.fundacionaztecaamerica.org/
http://www.du.edu/

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