National Survey Ranks Gutierrez behind only Justice Sotomayor,
Ahead of Mayor Villaraigosa and Anchor Jorge Ramos

November 15, 2010

Media Contact: Douglas Rivlin (202) 225-8203

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Washington, DC) – Today, the Pew Hispanic Center released the results of a bilingual survey of American Latinos aimed at identifying the "most important Latino leaders" in the U.S.  Two Puerto Ricans, Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez of Illinois and Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor  topped the list ahead of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Univision anchorman Jorge Ramos.

"There are so many dynamic leaders for this young and emerging segment of American society, so I am honored and humbled to be included along with the likes of Justice Sotomayor and the others," Rep. Gutierrez said.  "I believe this may be a response, in part, to people relating to my work on behalf of one of the issues closest to my heart, Comprehensive Immigration Reform. I have dedicated myself to pushing hard for immigration reform to address the injustices of our current system.  Having a rational, secure, and generous immigration system that reunites families is key to America's economic growth and national security."

Rep. Gutierrez is an outspoken supporter of comprehensive immigration reform who led a nationwide "Familias Unidas/Families United" tour in 2009 to raise the visibility of the immigration issue and the toll that hundreds of thousands of deportations are taking on American families.  He is the principal author of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act (CIR-ASAP or H.R. 4321), a bill introduced by Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-TX), endorsed by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and co-sponsored by 103 Democrats.

Rep. Gutierrez was reelected this month to his tenth term representing Illinois' Fourth Congressional District in Chicago and recently announced that he would not be a candidate for Mayor of the City of Chicago.  He is Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, a Member of the Judiciary Committee, and Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Task Force on Immigration.

Rep. Gutierrez is also a frequent guest on national network and cable news programs, including Face The Nation (CBS), Meet The Press (NBC), This Week (ABC), Al Punto (Univision), and Enfoque (Telemundo).  He was recently awarded the Hispanic Heritage Foundation's "Leadership Award" at a Kennedy Center Ceremony in Washington in September 2010.

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