About the Hispanic Task Force

The Senate Democratic Hispanic Task Force is co-chaired by Senators Ken Salazar (CO) and Robert Menendez (NJ). The mission of the Task Force is to increase communication between Hispanic leaders and Democratic Senators and to help ensure that the issues of greatest importance to the Hispanic community are addressed in Congress.

Each year, the Task Force hosts several events that bring together Democratic Senators and Hispanic leaders. This past year, the Co-Chairs have organized monthly policy forums on topics of interest to the Latino community such as: No Child Left Behind, small business, veteran’s affairs, and access to capital and wealth building. In addition, the Hispanic Task Force hosts a leadership summit during Hispanic Heritage Month. This year the Hispanic Task Force organized the first ever Latino Youth Summit on October 16 and 17, 2007. This two-day event featured policy discussions, a town hall, and workshops on grass roots organizing, voter registration, and civic engagement.

The purpose of the Latino Youth Summit was to give voice to the emerging leaders in our community who are shaping the public discourse on Latino priorities at the national and local levels. This historic event gave high school, undergraduate and graduate students and opportunity to dialogue with Senators on issues ranging from immigration to juvenile justice to civil rights.

In the 110th Congress, the Task Force looks forward to continuing our work with the Latino community throughout the country to address and promote policy issues of mutual importance. As the Hispanic community continues to grow in the United States, the Hispanic Task Force will ensure that issues of the Latino community are a central priority of the Democratic Caucus.