[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 19399-19400]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE NATIONAL HISPANIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION'S 2ND 
                           ANNUAL CONFERENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 23, 2004

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the gathering of the 
National Hispanic Contractors Association at their 2nd Annual 
Conference entitled ``Framing the Future: Diversity Builds the American 
Dream''.
  The Conference will take place on September 23rd and 24th, 2004 at 
the Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center located in 
Fort Lauderdale, Florida. With more than 150,000 Hispanic contractors 
in our nation, the Association will host many of them during this 
conference.
  One of the panel discussions will focus on safety in the workforce. 
The rate of workplace

[[Page 19400]]

injuries for Hispanics is disproportionately high. Hispanic workers, 
who comprise 12 percent of the U.S. labor force, experienced 15 percent 
of the fatal occupational injuries in 2003. Eight hundred forty 
Hispanic workers died from workplace injuries in 2003. I commend the 
USHCA for discussing this important subject.
  The U.S. Hispanic Contractors Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit 
organization dedicated to providing the support necessary for the 
advancement, advocacy, and economic growth, and full participation of 
Hispanic-owned businesses in all areas of contracting and procurement 
contracts.

                          ____________________