| September 19, 2002 |
Congresswoman Kay Granger (TX-12) welcomed nine Fort Worth area leaders to the National Hispanic Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. on September 18 and 19, 2002. The two-day conference provided a forum for more than 350 Hispanic participants from across the country to discuss a range of policy issues with members of the United States Congress and the Bush Administration.
"This summit provided an excellent opportunity for Hispanic leaders from our community to meet and learn from their counterparts from across the country. Summit attendees spoke with our nation’s leaders and exchanged ideas on the most pressing issues affecting our families, our communities and our nation," said Congresswoman Granger.
Along with Congresswoman Granger, Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott (MS) welcomed the delegates to the event at an evening reception. During the summit, Senator Pete Domenici (NM) and Representatives Henry Bonilla (TX-23), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18) updated the attendees on Congress' fall agenda.
Several members of President Bush's cabinet addressed the summit. The list included: Housing Secretary Mel Martinez, Education Secretary Rod Paige, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr.
Additionally, U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin spoke about creating financial security, Surgeon General Richard Carmona discussed leadership, and Hector Barreto, director of the Small Business Administration, briefed participants on economic security.
Local leaders who attended the summit include:
John Avila, Jr., President/CEO of Thomas Byrne, Inc.
Mayor Oscar Trevino, Mayor of the City of North Richland Hills
Mary Louise Garcia, President, The Garcia Group
Joe Cordova, Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Fort Worth
Leonardo De La Garza, Chancellor, Tarrant County College
Ralph Mendoza, Chief of Police, Fort Worth Police Department
Rosa Navejar, President, Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Jesse Martinez, Fort Worth Independent School District
Father Stephen Jasso, All Saints Catholic Church
Congresswoman Granger nominated the nine area leaders to attend the Hispanic Leadership Summit, and is proud to have such a large and distinguished group accept her invitation.
"The summit created a meaningful dialogue about protecting our homeland, educating our children, providing quality health care and creating opportunities for success," said Representative Granger. "I know these nine leaders from the Fort Worth area contributed a great deal to this event. I was proud to nominate them and pleased they were able to attend."