[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10713]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LA RAZA DURING ITS 2012 ANNUAL 
                    CONFERENCE IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 28, 2012

  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, today I urge my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) during its 2012 
annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
  The National Council of La Raza became a national organization in 
1972. NCLR has grown and evolved over the course of its history to 
become the most authoritative voice on Hispanic issues today. Latinos 
are strengthened through participation in NCLR and in the political 
process through its various civic engagement projects. NCLR also works 
to strengthen emerging community-based organizations in areas where 
there is a growing Latino population.
  Now in its 44th year, NCLR is busy building communities as an 
industry leader in homeownership counseling, operating programs in 40 
sites throughout the country. Its Charter School Development Initiative 
has helped create more than 40 new schools and strengthen more than 45 
others, and its Institute for Hispanic Health develops and implements 
health education and prevention programs and conducts health advocacy 
activities in partnership with its network of affiliates.
  NCLR's education component is dedicated to increasing educational 
opportunities, improving achievement, supporting college-readiness, and 
promoting equity in outcomes for Latinos. The efforts of the education 
team build the capacity and strengthen the quality of the community-
based education sector and inform the broader public education system.
  NCLR's economic and workforce advocacy seeks to ensure the Latino 
community's ability to contribute to and share in the nation's economic 
opportunities by promoting policies that boost Hispanic employment in 
good jobs, provide safe and fair workplaces, bridge Latino workers' 
education and skills gaps, and offer a secure retirement.
  With the Raza Development Fund, NCLR's community development lending 
arm is one of the nation's largest and most successful community 
development banks. It has approved more than 117 loans totaling $54.6 
million, leveraging more than $267 million in financing to community-
based housing projects, schools, health clinics, and day care centers.
  More recently, in efforts to provide NCLR's affiliates with more 
direct access to elected officials in Washington, DC, earlier this year 
NCLR held its first annual NCLR National Advocacy Day. The event 
convened affiliate members from 22 states who were briefed on the most 
important issues facing Latinos at the national level, including 
education, economic mobility, health, and immigration, and who met with 
Members of Congress to educate them about the needs of the community.
  As the Representative for Nevada's First Congressional District, it 
gives me immense pride to recognize the National Council of La Raza 
(NCLR) and the role they play in educating and training our community 
members, developing community leaders and fighting for equal rights and 
fair representation throughout the United States. I am especially 
pleased to welcome NCLR's members and the tens of thousands of 
attendees for its 2012 annual conference to Las Vegas, Nevada. I ask 
that my colleagues join me in recognizing the great work of NCLR and 
wish them a most successful 2012 conference.

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