[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11] [Senate] [Page 14923] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]MORNING BUSINESS ______ 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LA RAZA Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise to call the attention of the Senate to the 40th anniversary of the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States. The National Council of La Raza and its nearly 300 community-based affiliates across the country have worked for more than 40 years to expand the opportunities of Hispanics in the United States. The National Council of La Raza is strongly rooted in America's civil rights movement of the 1960s and has been a critical force in the advancement of the Hispanic community's fight to obtain a voice in the public sphere. Thanks to the fine leadership at NCLR by individuals such as current president and CEO Janet Murguia and past president and CEO Raul Yzaguirre, NCLR has much to celebrate. In its 40 years of service in 41 States, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, the National Council of La Raza has worked ardently to provide a much needed Latino perspective in the policy areas of civil rights, immigration, education, employment, health and asset building. In addition, I recognize NCLR's dedication to encouraging civic participation among Hispanics through its voter registration initiatives. In the Silver State, NCLR has been a valuable partner in meeting national challenges at the local level through its four Nevada affiliates: the East Las Vegas Community Development Corporation, Housing for Nevada, The Nevada Association of Latin Americans, Inc., NALA, and Nevada Hispanic Services, Inc. In recent months, Nevadans have endured the highest foreclosure rate in the country and struggled to overcome the challenges of an ailing economy. Unfortunately, the Hispanic community has been especially vulnerable to foreclosure and more susceptible to falling victim to economic decline. I have been comforted to know that local partners in the NCLR affiliate network have been tackling this problem head on by providing homebuyer education programs, assistance for loss of a home due to foreclosure, and counseling for individuals facing mortgage default, among many other services and valuable affordable housing projects. In addition to these valuable housing services, NCLR's Nevada affiliates also offer programs that focus on job placement, education services, nutrition services, immigration assistance, and important health issues, such as HIV/AIDS prevention and substance abuse prevention. These efforts have been especially important during an economic recession, and I share the gratitude of the many Nevadans who have benefited from the services and programs in Las Vegas, Reno, and throughout the Silver State. I commend the National Council of La Raza for their 40 years of support to the Hispanic community and to these affiliates in Nevada and around the United States. It is through the hard work of these organizations that we will be able to overcome the challenges of our current economy and of the longer term battles against racial and ethnic disparities in the United States. ____________________