Biography

Rep. Joe Baca has represented California’s Inland Empire in the House of Representatives since winning a special election in 1999. He serves on the House Agriculture Committee, and is Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture. He also serves on the House Financial Services Committee.

Rep. Baca served as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) during the 110th Congress (2007-2008).  During this time, he successfully blocked harmful English-only and anti-immigrant amendments offered in the House.  He also guided the CHC in its efforts to ensure the contributions of Latino and Native America veterans were recognized in the PBS documentary “The War.”  In addition, Rep. Baca used his leadership position to pass record breaking funding levels for food stamps and nutrition programs to feed over 44 million hungry Americans; and helped secure new funding for minority serving institutions, including over $200 million in new grant funding.  He currently chairs the CHC Corporate America Task Force.

Rep. Baca continues to advocate in Congress on issues that impact the poor and underserved, including nutrition, housing, health, veterans’ affairs, and issues affecting the Hispanic and Native American communities. He has used his experience in Congress to help secure over $154 million in federal appropriations assistance for education, public safety, transportation, and water projects.  Congressman Baca is also the primary sponsor of the PROUD Act, legislation that puts responsible immigrant high school graduates on an expedited path to U.S. Citizenship. 

Personal History
Joe was born in Belen, New Mexico, the youngest of 15 children in a house where little English was spoken. Joe worked shining shoes at age 10 and later worked as a laborer for the Santa Fe Railroad. He served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper with both the 101st and the 82nd Airborne Divisions from 1966-68.  Following military service, Joe earned his associates degree from Barstow Community College and his bachelor’s degree in sociology from California State University, Los Angeles. In 1979, he became the first Latino elected to the Board of Trustees for the San Bernardino Valley College District. He was elected to the State Assembly in 1992, where he became the first Latino Speaker pro Tempore, and was elected to the State Senate in 1998.

Joe and his wife, Barbara, began their own business, Interstate World Travel, in 1989. They have four children – Rialto City Councilman Joe Baca Jr., Jeremy, Natalie and Jennifer.

Awards
Rep. Baca has received many honors for his public service. Recent awards include the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute Edward R. Roybal/Henry B. Gonzalez award for Public Service, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President’s Achievement Award, the National Farmers Union Presidential Award for Leadership, the Walter Kaitz Foundation Diversity Advocate Award, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Coalition of Minority Employees Award of Excellence.  He has been listed as one of the top 100 most influential Hispanic leaders in America by Latino Leaders Magazine.  He also has two local parks named after him: the Joe Baca Senior Field at the Empire Center in Fontana and the Joe Baca Field at the Rialto Boys and Girls Club. In addition, the “Joe Baca Middle School” at 1640 S. Lilac Avenue in Rialto, California, is expected to open its doors in 2013.