Washington, DC – Today the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) released the following statement highlighting a report from the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), detailing the successes of the HACU National Internship Program as a “best practice” for increasing Hispanic representation in the federal government.  HACU presented the report to CHC last night during an event celebrating the program’s 15th year.

The report, an independent analysis of a program participants survey, highlighted the importance of the program for introducing Hispanics to the federal government as a prospective career choice and suggested that such programs are critical for federal agencies.

 Click Here for a Copy of the HNIP Executive Summary

“I believe the employees of the Federal government should reflect the diversity of the American population. We must take steps to boost the recruitment, hiring, retention and promotion of women, Hispanics, and all minority employees,” said Congressman Joe Baca, Chair of the CHC. “It is vital to have organizations like HACU, which provide Hispanic students the opportunity to work in different departments of the Federal government.  The Congressional Hispanic Caucus will continue to work to increase diversity at all levels of government, and ensure that America’s federal workforce looks like America.”

“Our federal government needs to back up its rhetoric with action when it comes to promoting employment opportunities for Hispanic Americans,” said Congressman Charles Gonzalez, Chair of the CHC Civil Rights Task Force.  "Hispanic Americans represent approximately fourteen percent of the overall U.S. population and twelve percent of the civilian workforce.  However, only seven percent of the federal workforce is Hispanic, with even fewer represented at senior level positions, and we can not continue to tolerate this disparity.  I congratulate HACU for developing and growing a program that helps federal agencies to increase their Hispanic representation and also for completing a report that shows the value of these types of programs.”  

HACU’s report indicated that the program had a tremendous impact on students’ decision to work in the public sector, with nearly forty percent of respondents now working in the federal government. In addition, it found that over ninety percent of participants considered a career in the federal government as a result of their internship experience, forty-four percent more than did so prior to their internship assignment.

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Provided by: Carlos Sanchez, (202) 225-2410, carlos.sanchez@mail.house.gov

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Hispanic descent.  Since 1976 the CHC has been addressing the needs of the Hispanic community in all areas of American life.  For more information on the CHC, call (202) 225-2410.

www.house.gov/baca/chc

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