FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 10, 2004

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-225-0100

Pelosi Receives LULAC Legislative Award

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi received the 2004 Legislative Award from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) on Tuesday evening for her outstanding leadership on the issues concerning Hispanic Americans.

In her acceptance speech, Leader Pelosi thanked the LULAC board members and affiliates for their unfailing dedication to improving the lives of Latino families. "At its founding, LULAC sought to help make the American dream a reality for the millions of Hispanics living in America," Pelosi said. "Tonight, we celebrate your success, we give thanks for your dedication, and we rededicate ourselves to your mission."

"Together, we must pursue real immigration reform that respects core values -- family unity, fairness, and economic opportunity. We do not need a temporary worker program; we need a meaningful pathway to citizenship," Pelosi said. "We must also end the national disgrace of one out of every three Latinos having no health insurance, including half of all Hispanic children. We will not heal our divisions by ignoring inequalities."

"10 million Hispanics will be registered to vote by this November," Pelosi said. "Hispanics have long been influential culturally and economically, and now you are decisive politically. As the civil rights pioneer, Willie Velázquez once said,'Su voto es su voz.'"

LULAC is the largest, oldest and one of the most successful Hispanic civil rights and service organization in the United States.

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“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi