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September
21, 2006
Contact:
Tatiana Guerra
202-434-8070
Puerto Rico Senator Luz
Arce Ferrer Honored With Health Leadership Award
Washington, DC -- Senator Luz Arce Ferrer,
Health Chair of the National Hispanic Caucus of
State Legislators, was honored with the Health
Care Disparities Leadership Award during the
2006 Health Disparities Conference held
September 14-16 in Coral Gables, Florida.
The Fourth Annual Conference is a joint
partnership between the National Black Caucus of
State Legislators (NBCSL) and National Hispanic
Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) both
organizations hosted state legislators from
across the country to address the issue of
racial and ethnic inequalities in health care.
The Health Disparities Leadership Award is
presented each year to a legislator from each
organization who has demonstrated exceptional
commitment to addressing health disparities in
their community.
Senator Arce Ferrer serves as the Chair for
NHCSL’s Health Task Force. She began her
professional life as a volunteer in the
Addiction Services Office and subsequently
worked as Administrative Assistant in a federal
project for the elderly. Her interest in
practicing her university studies led her to
accept the position of teacher in the Head Start
Program. She was later appointed Director of the
Citizen’s Service Office, Aguadilla Region and
subsequently was promoted to the position of
Public Housing Administration Regional Director
in Aguadilla. She was then appointed
Commonwealth Employee’s Association Regional
Manager of Arecibo.
In 1993, she was appointed Assistant
Administrator of the Employees Retirement
Systems Administration of the Commonwealth and
the Judicature. For her achievements and direct
contact with the people she was asked, and she
accepted to run for Senator at Large for the New
Progressive Party, where she has held leadership
positions such as Alternate Floor Leader, and
the Vice-President of the Senate of Puerto Rico.
She was reelected Senator at Large in 2000, and
again in 2004.
At present, she is a member of the Advisory
committee of the Women’s Legislative Network of
the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
and a member of the National Foundation for
Women Legislators (NFWL). She is also a member
of the Coalition against Family Violence (CCVF),
of the Coalition against the Use of Alcohol by
Minors (COPRAM), of the League of United Latin
American Citizens (LULAC), and of the Federation
of Professional and Business Women, among others.
She is currently the Chairperson of the
Committees on Government and Labor Affairs of
the Senate of Puerto Rico, on Health and Women’s
Affairs and Social Welfare. She is a member of
various committees including Ways and Means, the
Rules and Calendar and Municipal and Financial
Affairs.
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The
National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators is
a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of state
legislators across the nation, Puerto Rico, and
the U.S. Virgin Islands. Its mission is to
organize, educate and focus the energies of
nearly 300 Hispanics who comprise its membership
in order to have a positive impact on their
communities. NHCSL advocates for better housing,
education, health care, and business
opportunities in the private and public sectors
for Hispanics nationwide. www.nhcsl.com
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