NHCSL applauds Congress for passing The Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 in a unanimous vote of 98 to 0. The House passed the bill (HR-9) with 390 to 33 votes.

On July 27 President Bush signed into law a 25-year extension of the Voting Rights Act, the historic legislation. Under the legislation, the Justice Department will maintain the authority to review changes in ballot procedures, legislative districts and other electoral rules in several states, mainly in the South, to ensure that African Americans and other minorities maintain influence in elections, according to a Washington Post story.

In the upcoming issue of Strengthening Our Voices, NHCSL will include an article titled “Folic Acid Equals Healthy Babies Helping Hispanic Women Have Healthy Babies.” The article takes a particular look at how the majority of these birth defects could be eliminated simply by women getting enough of the vitamin folic acid. The article also highlights how some public information campaigns are helping to get out the message about the importance of Folic Acid, particularly to Hispanic women of child bearing age.

Excerpts of the article will be published in the summer issue due in late August.

November 16 -19,2006
San Juan, Puerto Rico

Learn more about the NHCSL National Summit. A Summit Review of 2005 is available at www.nhcsl.org or by calling 202-434-8070.

The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) will convene its member Hispanic legislators from across the country with corporate executives, government officials and policymakers at its Fourth National Summit on November 16-19, 2006 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Click here to read the 2005 Summit Review.

The NHCSL Summit expects Hispanic state legislators from across the country, corporate executives, educators, policymakers, and other national, state and local elected officials to participate. Topics of discussion will include a review of NHCSL’s policy priorities in the areas of health, education and immigration. The Summit agenda will also include a plenary session focused on Women’s Health, a Corporate Partner Hearing where senior-ranking officials from corporate America will share their policy priorities and how they address the needs of the Hispanic community, and a dedication ceremony honoring Veterans.

The Summit officially begins with the John S. Martinez Golf Outing to help raise funds for the “John S. Martinez Excellence in Leadership” Scholarship Fund created to help young high school students who aspire to having a political career. The fund was created to honor the legacy of the late, former president of NHCSL, Representative John S. Martinez of Connecticut. The golf outing will be held at the El Dorado Golf Resort in San Juan.

Register on line at www.nhcsl.org or call 202-434-8070 for more information.

(Excerpt) Insufficient English skills and low economic status are common barriers in the health care system for elderly Hispanics in the United States, especially when it comes to getting early diagnosis and treatment of various chronic diseases. Further complicating the matter is the fact that one in three Hispanics lacks health insurance and still more have little or no access to health care services, which puts the Hispanic elderly at an even greater risk of not getting the required services for chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma or high blood pressure. There is a growing need for community-based interventions that improve the health behaviors and health status among the elderly Hispanic population, as well as for a meaningful health care policy and legislation that can be replicated throughout the country. To read this article in its entirety visit www.nhcsl.org.


 

 

 

  

Healthy States Forum for State Legislators ONLY
Transforming Science Into Policy for a Healthier Nation
August 24-26, 2006, Boston, MA
Join other state legislators for this exciting forum to discuss targeted public health policy solutions addressing health disparities in adolescents, graduated driver licensing for teens, the impact of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV in adolescents and new vaccines being licensed for children and youth. Other workshops will address healthy living with a disability, state laws to promote STD and HIV prevention, monitoring systems for environmental and public health linkages, and flu vaccines for adults. Space is limited. For more information call Rhina Villatoro at 202-434-8070.

Preventing Diabetes and Its Complications
Read NHCSL’s Issue Brief on Preventing Diabetes and Its Complications: What Works in the Hispanic Community. The issue brief takes an in-depth look at diabetes and how prevalent it is in the Hispanic community. Currently, Hispanic Americans are 1.5 times more likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites. The disease can lead to heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, amputations and death. Yet, diabetes can be prevented and its dire complications can be avoided. In this issue brief, learn from state legislators and health experts about best practices and effective prevention strategies for Hispanic communities. Visit www.nhcsl.org for a copy of the entire brief.

TrendsAlert: Costs of Chronic Disease: What Are States Facing?
 Click here to access TrendsAlert, "Costs of Chronic Disease: What Are States Facing?" (.pdf). This publication describes the startling trends in health costs, chronic disease rates and Medicaid costs for these diseases. The TrendsAlert also includes descriptions of some of the most recent state policies and programs to prevent diseases and promote good health among Americans.
 

The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) is the preeminent organization representing the interests of 300 Hispanic state legislators from all states, commonwealths, and territories of the United States. Founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)3, NHCSL is a catalyst and advocate for joint action on issues of common concern, such as health, education, immigration, homeownership and economic development to all segments of the Hispanic community. NHCSL also works to design and implement policies and procedures that will impact the quality of life for Hispanic communities; serves as a forum for information exchange and member networking; an institute for leadership training; a liaison with sister U.S. Hispanic organizations; a promoter of public/private partnerships with business and labor; and a partner with Hispanic state and provincial legislators and their associations representing Central and South America.