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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) today announced the schedule and panelists for their annual two-day Public Policy Conference on September 12 and 13 at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. This conference is part of their week of activities during Hispanic Heritage Month with "CHCI: Leadership for America's Future" as their theme.  Each September, CHCI hosts the largest annual gathering of Hispanic community leaders, elected officials, and policy and academic experts from across the country in our nation's capital for timely policy discussions.  Monday's luncheon, a Latino Executive Roundtable, includes Lisa Quiroz of Time Warner, Herb Scannell of MTV Networks, and Robert Unanue of Goya Foods, along with others.  Tuesday's luncheon honors Jimmy Smits and Esai Morales for their contributions to the arts and the Latino community.  Proceeds from this conference benefit CHCI's Public Policy Fellowship, Summer Internship, and annual scholarship programs.

"We are proud to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month with a new and exciting Policy Conference.  CHCI is at the forefront in developing and assembling Latino leadership to continue to advance America's future. This forum is unmatched in bringing together Latinos nationwide with our elected leaders and experts from all fields for substantive sessions that serve as catalysts for change," emphasized CHCI Chairwoman, Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (CA-38).

The Conference opens with the powerful session, "The State of Hispanic America," moderated by ABC News legal correspondent, Manny Medrano.  Fourteen summits then follow on issues critical to Latinos, such as Social Security (the single largest source of retirement income for a majority of Latinos), foster care (Latino children make up 17 percent of all foster care children), education (Latinos have the highest high school dropout rate at 24 percent), health, immigration, and other significant topics.  Panelists include authorities such as William Halter, former Commissioner, Social Security Administration, Dr. Ricardo Fernandez, President, Lehman College in New York City, and Deputy Commissioner Frank Fuentes, Health and Human Services, amongst many others.  A closing plenary session, in town-hall fashion, will be moderated by Ray Suarez, senior correspondent for PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and will include recommendations from all the summits.

"We have gathered exceptional Latino panelists -- from presidents of corporations and universities to civil rights organizations -- for thought- provoking sessions.  Plus, we have planned two dynamic and not-to-be-missed luncheons, the Latino Executive Roundtable with prominent executives on September 12, and on the 13, we will recognize two talented actors, Jimmy Smits and Esai Morales, for co-founding the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts as well as their commitment to the Latino community and education," remarked Esther Aguilera, CEO and president of CHCI.

Jimmy Smits, an Emmy Award and Golden Globe-winning actor, has established himself as one of the most gifted and versatile actors working in film, television, and on the stage.  He currently plays the powerful role of Matt Santos, a Houston congressman who aspires to the White House on NBC's The West Wing.

Known for numerous memorable roles, Esai Morales has appeared in movies such as, La Bamba, Mi Familia and Rapa Nui and in the television drama, ABC's NYPD BLUE, as Lt. Tony Rodriguez.  Morales recently starred as Cesar Castillo in the San Francisco run of the musical, The Mambo Kings.

CHCI's Hispanic Heritage Month events close with our Annual Gala on Wednesday, September 14, where we will recognize our Medallion Honorees for Leadership and Community Service, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Alonzo Cantu, respectively, along with the Chairwoman's Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Ms. Rita Moreno.

    Conference Schedule & Speakers

     CHCI Annual Public Policy Conference

     Monday, September 12 - 13, 2002

     The Mayflower Renaissance Hotel

     1127 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20036

    MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2005

    7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.     Continental Breakfast *Honoring Latino Veterans*

                              (program starts at 8:00 a.m.)

    8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.     Opening Plenary: "The State of Hispanic America"

                                * Moderator: Manny Medrano, ABC Legal

                                   Correspondent

                                * Hon, Grace Flores Napolitano, CHCI Chair

                                * Leo Estrada, Demographer

                                * Ron Blackburn Moreno, ASPIRA & NHLA

                                * Anne Marie Tallman, MALDEF

    9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.    Summits - Concurrent Break-Out Sessions

                                * Education Summit I: Primary Education

                                * Health Summit I: Eliminating Health

                                   Disparities

                                * Banking & Finance Summit

                                * Civil Rights Summit

                                * Livable Communities Summit

                                * Social Security Summit

                                * Foster Care and Child Welfare Summit

    12:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.    Lunch - Latino Executive Roundtable

                                * Moderator:  Hon. Linda Sanchez

                                * Dr. Mario Molina, CEO, Molina Health Care

                                * Lisa Quiroz, President, Time Warner

                                   Foundation

                                * Herb Scannell, President, MTV Networks

                                * Robert Unanue, CEO, Goya Foods, Inc.

                                * Jovita Carranza, SVP, Airline Operations,

                                   UPS

    2:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.     Summits - Concurrent Break-Out Sessions

                                * Immigration Summit

                                * Technology, Communications & the Arts Summit

                                * Education Summit II: Higher Education

                                * Health Summit II: Healthy Families and

                                   Communities

                                * Labor Summit

                                * International Relations Summit

                                * Housing Summit

    5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.     Bus transportation from Hotel to National Museum

                               of American History

    6:00 p.m. - 9: 00 p.m.    Welcome Reception at the Smithsonian Institution

                              Tesoros Latinos: Celebrating Ten Years of

                               Cultural Contributions to American Society

                              National Museum of American History, 14th Street

                               & Constitution Ave., NW

    8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.     Bus transportation from Museum to Mayflower

                               Hotel

    TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2005

    7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.     Continental Breakfast

    8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.    Closing Plenary: Summit Chairs and Moderators

                               present policy recommendations in town hall

                               style session with questions from the audience

                                * Moderator:  Ray Suarez, PBS NewsHour

                                * Latino Members of Congress

    10:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.    Reception Honoring Latina Leaders

    12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.     Closing Lunch Honoring Jimmy Smits, Esai

                                Morales, & Sonia Braga

     CHCI 28th Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Gala

     Wednesday, September 14, 2005

     Location: Washington Convention Center

     1 Mt. Vernon Pl., NW, Washington DC 2000

     5:30 p.m. VIP/ General Reception

     6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Program (break for dinner)

     9:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Entertainment

    CHCI, a nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization, provides educational programs for Hispanic college and postgraduate students.  The CHCI board of directors is comprised of Hispanic members of Congress, nonprofit leaders, and corporate executives.  For more information on CHCI or their Hispanic Heritage Month events, call 202-543-1771 or visit http://www.chci.org .