CHC provides eyes, ears, voice with nationwide listening tour

By Jamie Christianson

Geared towards addressing national and international issues affecting Hispanics in the United States and Puerto Rico, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) is committed to serve as a voice about the impact policies have on the Hispanic community through the stages of a legislative process.

The organization plays a major role with providing a forum for the Hispanic Members of Congress to come together and form a compiled legislative agenda. As the CHC draws priority on all issues governing the Hispanic community, committee members branch off into small task force groups which focus on their expertise and in developing a legislation of precedence within all fields.

Feb. 24 earmarked the opening date of the CHC’s national listening tour throughout the United States. The tour functions as an opportunity for families to speak out about their personal experiences and current views of the nation’s immigration system. Members of the committee have been traveling nationwide to various churches and community centers nationwide where families have been offering their testimonials.

“Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and I held a community meeting in New York City to hear from those who feared they could be separated from a family member, friend or loved one,” said Congresswoman Nydia Velzquez, Chair of the CHC. “Many of the people we met relayed their stories and frustration of dealing with a broken immigration system. We can no longer wait to take action that will help keep families in our communities together, and ensure a safe and secure nation.”

The listening tour, tagged as the Family Unity campaign, is encompassed by families who have been negatively affected by the broken immigration system or whose family lives are currently at the stake. The campaign involves reaching out to families at community meetings, prayer vigils and assembling rallies for thousands of U.S. citizens.

“As a nation, as citizens, we cannot wait any longer for fair and just immigration reform,” said Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez, Chair of the CHC’s Immigration Task Force. “Across America, parents and children, husbands and wives are being torn apart by a system that values quotas over family values and which undermines our economic security in a time of crisis. It is for this reason that US citizens in each of these cities are joining this campaign and standing up for real, lasting change.”

Stops for Family Unity include Providence, R.I.; Atlanta, Ga.; Chicago and Milwaukee, Wis. The tour caps off on April 2 in Philadelphia.

Following the compiled feedback from thousands, the organization will then proceed with addressing the pending issues to President Barack Obama. Discussions will be focused on the vital need to restore the nation’s broken immigration system. The CHC hopes to gain the support and approval of the President as they will share their plan and agenda for moving forward on immigration reform. The CHC was founded in December 1976 as a legislative service organization of the US House of Representatives. Currently, the CHC functions as a Congressional Member organization, directed by the Rules of the US House of Representatives.