Contact: Colleen Roche/Samantha Lugo (212) 788-2958
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today delivered the keynote address at the Republican National Hispanic Assembly's (RNHA) Hispanic Heritage Leadership Breakfast Series at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington D.C. The series, which began in 1995, brings Hispanic business and political leaders together to discuss the issues that concern the Hispanic community and features Republican leaders from around the country. This year, the Breakfast series also celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly.
"The values that distinguish our Hispanic communities - devotion to family and faith and a strong belief in the work ethic - are the values that have built America throughout its history. They are the same values which the Republican Party advocates and represents," the Mayor added.
"Both New York City, and America as a whole are at their best and strongest when we realize that our strength lies in our diversity. Immigration makes us reflect on the blessings of liberty and freedom. Our Party holds in its very beginnings a tradition of advocating tolerance and inclusiveness. It's a heritage that we can look toward and continue to learn from in determining our future," the Mayor concluded.
The Mayor was joined by RNHA National Chairman Jose Rivera, RNHA Executive Director Luigi Crespo; the Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee Patricia Harrison, Congress Member Michael Forbes, the President of the National Federation of Republican Women Mary Jo Arndt, the Vice Chairman Republican Party of New York Rita DiMartino, the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida Al Cardenes, the Chairman of Republicans for Choice Ann Stone, the President of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts Felix Sanchez, the President and CEO of SER Hugo Cardona, Hispanic business and political leaders; and distinguished members of the community.
Speaker Newt Gingrich, House Majority Whip Tom Delay, House Republican Conference Chairman John Boehner, NRCC Chairman John Linder, Senator Bill Frist, Senator Orrin Hatch and Senator John McCain among others, have addressed previous meetings of the Hispanic Heritage Leadership Breakfast Series.
The Republican National Hispanic Assembly is the official Hispanic outreach organization within the Republican Party. Founded in 1974, under the George Bush's tenure as Chairman of the Republican National Committee, the organization fosters the principles of the Republican Party in the Hispanic community. It has active chapters in New York, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Puerto Rico, Ohio Texas and Virginia.
The RNHA seeks to provide a forum for Hispanic Republican leaders in local, state and national party activities, increase the number of Hispanic Republicans elected to office and to create and maintain a network of Hispanic republican leaders.
Some of the Hispanic Organizations represented at the Breakfast were MANA, the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, the US Cuba Business Council, the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, LA RAZA, LULAC, the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
The Breakfast was sponsored by Bell Atlantic.