post conference summary - board of hispanic caucus chairs
TRANSCRIPT
Post Conference Summary
6th Annual Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs Conference
October 13 – 16, 2011
The BHCC Conference in Review The BHCC recently concluded their 6th Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. This summit welcomed the largest attendance of legislative members in BHCC history with more than 45 Hispanic legislative leaders attending the event. The BHCC was honored to bring together some of the nation’s most influential Hispanic state legislators to discuss a myriad of salient issues related to the Latino community and the national policy dialogue. The conference program included the traditional policy agenda that covered a wide-array of critical national and state policy issues; however, this year’s conference added a completely new element to the usual program with the inaugural Latina State Legislative Caucus (LSLC) Leadership Summit on the first day of the conference. This was a uniquely innovative and ground-breaking event that aimed to highlight the issues facing the contemporary Latina legislator and foster Latina leadership in our society. The conference concluded with a Sunday legislative member meeting in which the members present discussed plans for next year’s BHCC activities. Attendees also voted on two motions: one to adopt a resolution regarding the importance of sound Latina infant nutrition awareness and education and another motion to adopt a BHCC sponsored letter speaking against the State of Alabama’s recently passed immigration measures. Once finalized, both will be distributed to members and uploaded to the website.
BHCC Chair, Senator Ross Romero (UT)
The Inaugural LSLC Leadership Summit October 13, 2011
On the morning of the first official day of the conference, the BHCC presented the inaugural Latina State Legislative Caucus (LSLC) Leadership Summit. The LSLC is a new sub-organization of the BHCC created following the 5th Annual BHCC Conference that is exclusively for Latina state legislative leaders. The event was a half-day program that featured a networking luncheon for the Latina legislators, presentations and keynote addresses from both public- and private- sector female leadership. Topics during the summit included professional communication strategies and approaches for Latina private- and public-sector success, along with many personal stories and anecdotes from the speakers that truly encapsulated what it means to be a minority female attempting to advance professionally in our world. This intimate gathering also benefited from a Dressing for Success workshop sponsored by LATINA Style Magazine and Macy’s. The audience consisted of Latina state legislative leaders from across the country, Latina representatives from the BHCC’s corporate sponsors and a select group of local Las Vegas Latina college students representing the future of Latina leadership in the area. This collaborative format allowed for great dialogue that helped elucidate issues exclusively related to Latinas, as well as lay out a road map for the journey ahead. The group plans to hold a Latina leadership summit every year with their sights set on making the event even stronger in the future.
Featured Speakers: Punam Mathur – Vice President of Human Resources, NV Energy Lulu Flores – Political Activist and former President of the National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC), Robert Bard - President and CEO of LATINA Style Magazine and Lupita Colmenero - Associate Publisher and Co-Founder of El Hispano News.
Inaugural LSLC Leadership Summit Attendees Front Row: LSLC Conference Co-Chairs
Back Row: LSLC Legislative Members
Environmental Regulations and the Future of American Energy - Regulatory standards and private sector impact In this session, members and speakers discussed the intricate balance of federal versus state regulations over energy matters and how to facilitate differences between the two. Speakers and members discussed how best to navigate the controversial interplay between the states and federal government when attempting to create a business environment that is conducive to sufficiently meeting our energy needs while maintaining the necessary environmental protections. Also explored were how these regulatory measures affect the energy industry and ultimately the consumers. Finding viable solutions to offset the loss of older power generation units because of new federally established emission and production standards will be critical in the next few years as these regulations take effect. Structuring state energy portfolios to maintain the necessary environmental protections while ensuring sufficient energy supplies for all consumers will be the challenge in the coming years.
Moderator: Rose McKinney-James - Managing Principal, Energy Works LLC Panelists Kipp Coddington Partner, Mowrey Meezan Coddington Cloud LLC Hilda Pinnix-Ragland Vice President of Corporate Public Affairs, Progress Energy Rev. Efrain Pineda Executive Director, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC)
6th Annual BHCC Conference Policy Sessions
Panel Speaker Hilda Pinnix-Ragland (Vice President of Corporate Public Affairs, Progress Energy)
Left: Session Moderator - Rose McKinney James
Right: Assemblywoman Nellie Pou (NJ)
Main Highlights
Pending federal regulations will affect power generation capacity from older coal-fired units because of stricter emission standards.
Developing future state energy plans will need to consider impact of regulations in terms of energy portfolio, cost and resource adequacy.
Federal environmental regulations, while can drive up the cost of electricity which will ultimately affect the consumer.
The future development of environmental regulations at the state and federal level are essential to advance our environmental and energy sustainability.
Issues in Contemporary Education -
Reforming education standards, maximizing resources and increases academic achievement In light of the severe decline of the American public education system compared to international standards over the last decade, major action by all stakeholders is essential to reclaim our former educational excellence This session explored new and innovative ways for the American education system to reclaim its former excellence and discussed strategies for improving the system from a multifarious approach. Issues such as teacher evaluation, curriculum structuring and student ancillary resources were discussed as ways to help reform a needy education system. Speakers highlighted the fact that problems lay in all facets of the system and that a holistic approach must be pursued in order to witness substantial improvements.
Moderator: Delia Garcia - Senior Liaison, National Education Association / BHCC Ex-Officio Panelists Cynthia Swann Director of the Office of Minority Community Outreach, National Education Association Louis Malfaro National Vice President, American Federation of Teachers Lupita Colmenero Founder, Parents Step Ahead/Associate Publisher, and Co-Founder El Hispano News
Above: Panel Speaker Lupita Colmenero (Founder, Parents Step Ahead/Associate Publish-er, and Co-Founder El Hispano News) Right: Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez (MD)
Main Highlights
Properly facilitating the reauthorization of the ESEA (No Child of Left Behind) in a way that advances academic achievement for all American children is a critical step.
States need to encourage the development and interest of math and science curriculum for primary and secondary students.
Parents should become more actively involved in the child’s educational success, especially in the Latino community.
6th Annual BHCC Conference Policy Sessions
Latino Health Forum Of all the health concerns facing contemporary American society, certain problems are disproportionally affecting the Latino community. Whether it be diabetes, obesity or any of the other Latino-related health concerns, it is important that our state legislators are armed with the latest research, data and strategies for combatting these health issues that negatively impact the Latino community. This session explored advances in research, new data and emerging issues in the realm of Latino health to better prepare state legislators in advancing the public health and well-being of the Latino community. Specific issues concerning the importance of proper infant nutrition were examined, as well as what state governments can do to help address exclusively minority-related health issues through policy and state government agency resources. Moderator: Gaspar Laca - Vice Chair, BHCC Business Advisory Council Panelists Cecilia Pozo Fileti MS, RD, FADA President, Latino Health Communication Mary Liveratti Deputy Director of the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Barry Gold Director of Governmental Relations, AARP Nevada
Redistricting and the 2012 Elections With the 2012 primary and general elections looming, the role of Latino vote and the redistricting battles currently taking place across the country have never been more critical. The importance of the Latino vote for all parties was highlighted as the Latino electorate could very well be the deciding factor in the 2012 General Elections. Beyond the importance of the Latino vote in the upcoming elections, the issue of the Latino electorate being subjugated in many parts of the country with newly released congressional, state and local redistricting maps was also discussed. In many states, legislative maps have been constructed in a way that minimizes or dilutes the strong growth the Latino community has undertaken since the 2000 census. These maps threaten to the undervalue the Latino growth and diminish voting power. An overview of these problems were discussed amongst members, along with methods, strategies and avenues for addressing this important issue. Keynote Speaker Arturo Vargas - Executive Director, NALEO
Panel Speaker Cecilia Pozo Fileti (President, Latino Health Communication)
6th Annual BHCC Conference Policy Sessions
The American Financial Crisis & the Latino Community – How a lack of borrowing capacity impedes growth and economic opportunities The American financial crisis that started in 2008 is still have resounding effects on the national and local economies. Beyond the problems within particular markets and high unemployment figures, there are also barriers to
economic opportunities, including the lack of borrowing power and finance capacity in our local communities. In this session, members and speakers discussed how this lack of available capital in our communities is hurting
our potential growth. This issue is especially prevalent in our
nation’s urban centers and could adversely affect the Latino community. Speakers highlighted how equitable access to essential capital is paramount to strengthening our local economies and is the mechanism by which most entrepreneurial ideas can flourish. This session also explored how best to facilitate new federal regulations that will impact state financial markets and how policymakers can help create an atmosphere that encourages economic opportunities and supports the vibrant small businesses that are the backbone of our national economy. Members and speakers discussed ways that the needs of their local constituencies can be represented during federal financial reform and how local officials and regulatory bodies charged with interpreting new federal measures can best navigate these uncharted waters.
Moderator: Arturo Vargas - Executive Director, NALEO Panelists Agnes Talamantez Carroll President, Talamantez & Associates LLC Dr. Victor Stango Professor of Economics, University of California at Davis Daniel Ebihara Deputy Attorney General, State of Nevada Financial Institutions Division
2011 BHCC Financial Services Panel. Left to Right: Panelists Dr. Victor Stango, Agnes Talamantez Carroll, Daniel Ebihara, Moderator Arturo Vargas (NALEO).
Senator Linda Lopez (NM)
Main Highlights
Pending federal regulations on the financial industry will take time and state resources to implement properly.
Despite trying to correct detrimental business practices, tightened federal regulatory measures and uncertainty is diminishing available capital for community projects and entrepreneurial endeavors, ultimately affecting the consumers.
Access to capital is critical to job and economic growth.
6th Annual BHCC Conference Policy Sessions
Drought and Water Resources Keynote - Lessons learned from the 2011 drought According to the U.S. Drought Monitor Report (May 2011), some states are dealing with extreme to exceptional droughts in almost the entirety of their territory. This trend of severe drought has now engulfed almost the entire southern United States with projections perpetuating this trend into the short-term future. Dr. Michael Hayes, Director of the National Drought Mitigation Center, discussed with the members that although severe droughts are much more pervasive in the south, these trends and the need to preserve our collective resources apply our entire nation. Dr. Hayes highlighted the importance of how these droughts and their future projections will impact our country and will weigh heavily on public policy discussions. Dr. Hayes also emphasized the critical notion of local governments, states and the federal government working together to coordinate and plan for these projected water shortfalls ahead of time to mitigate any detrimental effects. In order to ensure every citizen and state has sufficient water supplies, it will take the efforts of all of our states, public officials, and citizens to plan and prepare so as to stave off an impending water shortage disaster. Keynote speaker Dr. Michael Hayes Director, National Drought Mitigation Center University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Wealth Creation and Political Empowerment - Latino public and private strategies The recent release of the 2010 Census data confirm the tremendous potential the Latino community holds in strengthening the future of our nation. Leaders at all levels of government can help facilitate and foster the growth of Latino leadership and increase our presence in the top tiers of corporate and political realms. This session explored the present methods, strategies and approaches Latinos can implement when working to secure prominent and high-ranking corporate and political leadership positions. Speakers highlighted past successes, the importance of taking action now and new strategies for the future. Speakers and members also discussed the importance of Hispanic-driven professional organizations and the fundamental role networking with fellow Hispanic professionals has in regards to wealth creation and political empowerment in the Latino community. Moderator: The Honorable Ross Romero - Senator (UT), BHCC Chair
Panelists Tom Tollison Regional President, Hispanic National Bar Association Robert Bard President and CEO, LATINA Style Magazine Marc Rodriguez Legislative and Nominations Chair, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
6th Annual BHCC Conference Policy Sessions
State budgets and public pensions
In this session speakers discussed how State governments across the country are witnessing incredible budget shortfalls that threaten to impact the daily lives of their respective citizens. From cutting pivotal social programs to the need to find new revenue streams, state governments are having to cope with projected shortfalls affecting 44 out of our 50 states, totaling $112 billion dollar for the 2012 fiscal year. Speakers also examined the reconstructing and revisions in state pension systems as an approach to help resolve these major shortfalls. Speakers highlighted the importance public pension plans serve in the state governmental landscape and how public pensions are inherently different from the private pension plans that have been almost entirely eliminated as a practice. This session also explored strategies for resolving problems in current public pension systems while maintaining adequate protections for our public employees. Moderator: The Honorable Louis Ruiz - State Representative, Kansas Panelists Billy Hamilton State Budget Financial Consultant, Billy Hamilton Consulting Diane Oakley Executive Director, National Institute on Retirement Security
Main Highlights
Majority of U.S. states find themselves in major budget shortfalls for FY 2012.
There is no silver bullet and balancing state
budgets requires increases in state revenues and strategic budget cuts.
Public pension plans offer more protections than
alternative public retirement mechanisms when facilitated properly.
Adequate pension plan funding levels should
never be seen as optional and not addressing problems in the system now will inevitably lead to systematic failures later.
State Budgets and Public Pensions Panel Right to Left: Moderator, Rep. Louis Ruiz (KS), Panelist Billy Hamilton (Hamilton Consulting) and Diane Oakley (NIRS)
Assemblymember V. Manuel Perez (CA)
Representative Luis Moscoso (WA)
The Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs (BHCC) is a national non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization comprised of elected Latino officials serving as the Chairs and Vice Chairs of their respective state Hispanic Caucuses from across the country. We are also privileged to include Hispanic members from states across the nation that have growing Hispanic/Latino populations or serve as House and Senate Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs in their respective state legislatures. The BHCC strives to provide a medium for various Hispanic legislative leaders to form effective and coordinated policy making on issues affecting the Hispanic community, as well as the nation as a whole. Our conference serves as an arena for the elected officials and leaders of industry to come together to discuss their ideas and their solutions for critical issues prevalent to our society. We are honored to also bring in leading experts and keynote speakers in a variety of fields to inform and educate our members on the most pertinent issues facing our country.
CONTACT US
1001 Congress Avenue Suite 100
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 275-1905 office (512) 275-0616 fax
ABOUT THE BHCC
Special Thanks to all of the 2011
BHCC Conference Sponsors
Diamond Sponsors
AARP Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.
Gold Sponsors
Advance America Astellas Pharma U.S. Inc.
DeVry University GlaxoSmithKline
Merck McLane Company, Inc.
Molina Healthcare Novartis
Peabody Energy
Silver Sponsors
Abbott Laboratories AT&T
Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA) The Coca-Cola Company Endo Pharmaceuticals
LoanMax National Education Association (NEA)
Pepsico Progress Energy
State Farm
