POLS 1100- Hispanic Federation

Hispanic Federation
Olivia Batalla
Interest Group

POLS 1100- Hispanic Federation

Hispanic Federation
Hispanic Federation is a nation-wide nonprofit membership organization Founded in
1990 and their main focus is to support Hispanic families and strengthen the Latino community.
The organization provides resources that help a persons day to day life such as education, health,
immigration, civic engagement, economic, empowerment and the environment.
The Latino community has had such an enormous population growth and it doesnt go
unnoticed because we are helping shape our countrys political, consumer and economic trends.
Hispanic Federation gives operational need to students that is beneficial for their future because
they provide graduate-level management classes and leadership developing training. They
encourage the youth to be engage and invest time into their skills that can be used in the
workforce and on a day to day basis.
The highlight for Hispanic Federation was on June 10, 2016 when the US House of
Representatives voted to pass H.R. 5278, the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and
Economic Stability Act (PROMESA). This bill was structured to help Puerto Ricos debt of
seventy-two billion, by instituting a stay on the past present and future litigation from creditors.
This act creates a fiscal control board which gives power to control Puerto Ricos budget, laws,
financial plans and regulations. President Barack Obama said more stablility, better services and
greater prosperity over the long term for the people of Puerto Rico. As he signed into law to
help the debt they are in but not everyone in Congress felt the same way.
Senator Robert Menendez, D-N.Y., voted against the bill saying PROMESA exacts a
price far too high for relief that is far too uncertain. Theres more to just helping Puerto Rico
with their debt because they need help with other aspects in their economy that will make it

POLS 1100- Hispanic Federation

better. Hispanic Federation is also asking that the legislation address health care issues and fund
health care services. Theres only so much the US can do especially when we have issues as a
country that arent getting addressed and we have to make improvement before heling people
outside the country. It would make more sense to try and make the US better then contribute
more to people outside of our country
The candidates we have for our presidency arent fit for that position and its caused
controversy and racism issues lately. People on social media expressing their feelings towards
Hispanics and how we all need to go back to Mexico and thats just people full of ignorance. As
a country we lack diversity and everything has to fit into a category as we dont accept things the
way they are and people start to blame a certain race. United States advertises the American
Dream I dont think we fit that description anymore. Although Obama has a valid point about
helping Puerto Rico we cant even control our people let alone fix another government and their
poverty. I agree with Menendez because its such a pricey amount Puerto Rico us asking for
billions.
Hispanic Federation has succeeded on so many levels because they brought educational
knowledge on their youth and their families. They set high standards because they believe the
Hispanic community can achieve them. HF also supports and educates thousands of Latinos
about credit, capital and homeownership. The encouragement that this program has on voting is
important because its showing the youth to get involve in the issues that affect their future and
their families. As I learned about this interest group and their involvement with the congress I did
notice that they are very focused on Puerto Rico which I didnt expect because it seemed like
they help Puerto Ricans more and not Hispanics in general.
References

POLS 1100- Hispanic Federation

Hispanic Federation. Misson and History.
Retrieved from http://www.hispanicfederation.org/about/mission_and_history

NBC News (2016). Heres How PROMESA Aims to Tackle Puerto Ricos Debt.
Retrieved from http://.nbcnews.com/news/latino/congress-passes-promesa-act-puertorico-debt-crisis-n601291
NBC News (2016). Heres How PROMESA Aims to Tackle Puerto Ricos Debt
Retrieved from http://nbcnews.com/news/latino/congress-passes-promesa-act-puertorico-s-debt-n601741