The Foreign Service Journal, October 2015

54 OCTOBER 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS AFSA ON THE HILL Advocating Diversity: Hispanics in the Foreign Service Hispanics comprise more than 17 percent of the U.S. popula- tion. And although the number of Hispanics in the Foreign Service (roughly 5 percent at State and 2.5 percent at USAID) is a long way off from that mark, the American Foreign Service Association is working with multiple partners to close that gap. According to the Associa- tion for Diplomatic Studies and Training, the advent of the Alliance for Progress—a presi- dential initiative established in 1961 to strengthen economic cooperation between the United States and Latin Amer- ican countries—prompted an influx of Hispanics into the Foreign Service. Four years later, Joseph John Jova became the first Hispanic, career-Foreign Service ambassador and represented the United States in Honduras. He later became ambassador to the Organiza- tion of American States and to Mexico. Today, the Service benefits from a cadre of distinguished career diplomats of Hispanic heritage, such as retired Ambassadors John Negro- ponte and Lino Gutierrez and active-duty Ambassador Liliana Ayalde. The rise in the number of Hispanics in the Foreign Ser- vice has also been bolstered by allies on Capitol Hill. To commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month, AFSAwould like to highlight some of the congressional groups and educational initiatives dedi- cated to the advancement of Hispanics whose members strive to make significant contributions to U.S. foreign policy. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, foun ded in 1976, serves as a forum for the Hispanic members of Congress to coalesce around a collective legislative agenda. Its focus is to advance issues—domestic and interna- tional—affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Recently, AFSAworked with the office of CHC mem- ber and former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), to secure language in support of addi- tional resources for recruit- ment and retention of under- represented communities in S. 1635, the Department of State Operations Authorization and Embassy Security Act, Fiscal Year 2016. The bill passed the SFRC unanimously, and a floor vote is now pending. AFSA is also working with CHC member Representative Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.), who serves on the House Appro- priations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, toward the same goal. In addition, educational programs have been invalu- able in identifying and devel- oping the next generation of Hispanic leaders. In 1978, a small group of Hispanic mem- bers of Congress established the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. CHCI is founded on three cornerstones: educational attainment, leadership devel- opment and access to a pow- erful professional network. The institute benefits more than 1,700 young Latinos each year through its fellowships, congressional internships and scholarships. And in 2003, the Congres- sional Hispanic Leadership Institute was founded by members of Congress to promote the advancement of Hispanic and Portuguese Americans through educa- tional partnerships, leadership programs, academic seminars and other events. Today, many members of the Foreign Service have passed through these pro- grams, and still other alumni remain on the Hill and have proven to be valuable allies. If you participated in CHCI or CHLI, please share your experience with us at advocacy@afsa.org. n —Javier Cuebas, Director of Advocacy • There are 38 Hispanics in the 114th Congress. • Hispanics make up 7 percent of Congress. • Thirty-four Hispanics serve in the House (25 Democrats, 9 Republicans). • Four Hispanics serve in the Senate (3 Republicans, 1 Democrat). • Nine of the Hispanic members of Congress are women. • Representatives Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) and Loretta Sánchez (D-Calif.) are sisters. • Twenty-six Hispanics form the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. They are all Democrats. (Source: Congressional Research Service) FACTOIDS ON HISPANICS IN THE 114TH CONGRESS