Latino Cabinet Members of Biden Administration to Take Part in Unprecedented Conversation at Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 2023 Leadership Conference

Latino Cabinet Members of Biden Administration to Take Part in Unprecedented Conversation at Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 2023 Leadership Conference

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas, and U.S. Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman to discuss advancing equity and economic empowerment for Latinos

Panel discussion marks first time all four current Latino Cabinet Members join together in public speaking event

Washington, D.C. – September 11, 2023 – The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) will convene the Biden Administration’s four Latino cabinet members for an empowering and insightful panel discussion examining Latino leadership. As part of CHCI’s 2023 Leadership Conference, this historic panel, Our Moment in History: Latinos at the Decision-Making Table, will discuss key elements of the cabinet members’ journeys that led them to their current roles; how they are working to ensure that the federal government serves the Hispanic community and nation; and how to grow engagement and leadership within Latino communities throughout the country. 

The panel marks the first time all four Cabinet members participate in a joint public speaking event. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman will share their perspectives on achieving success as Latinos and how to create opportunities that build pathways to  success for future generations. 

“We’re thrilled Secretaries Becerra, Cardona, and Mayorkas, and Administrator Guzman are all able to join us as they discuss Latinos at the decision-making table within the Biden administration and the impact this representation has across the board,” said CHCI Chair, Rep. Adriano Espaillat. “Having the opportunity to hear their collective voice and individual perspectives together for the first time since they were all appointed is a remarkable honor. CHCI applauds President Biden for prioritizing Latino representation within his administration, demonstrating a leadership team that is reflective of the nation and its more than 62 million Latinos. We are incredibly proud of the continuous work these public service leaders do for the Latino community and the nation.”

Currently, Latino elected officials account for less than 2% of the nation’s total elected officials. In the corporate sector, Latinos remain vastly underrepresented in leadership and decision-making roles. Despite making up more than 18% of the U.S. population, Latinos hold just 4.1% of Fortune 500 board seats and 5.3% of executive positions.

“I’m honored to join my colleagues for this forward-looking conversation about the priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, the first Latino in history to hold the office. “President Biden continues to deliver for the Latino Community by expanding access to health care, lowering drug prices for seniors, supporting behavioral health, and promoting health and wellness. I look forward to sharing more about the role that HHS plays in these critically important efforts to advance Latino equity and opportunity.”

“President Biden understands that representation matters, and you see that reflected in the Latino leaders I am proud to serve alongside in his cabinet,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “My Puerto Rican roots and bicultural perspective have informed my entire career as an educator, including my work as Secretary of Education to Raise the Bar for multilingual learners and close equity gaps for students from historically underserved communities. I look forward to joining my fellow Latino cabinet members and thank the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute for hosting this exciting discussion.”  

“I arrived in this country with my parents and sister in 1960, having fled the communist takeover of Cuba.  America gave us a new life, one of freedom and opportunity.  For more than 20 years, I have sought to give back to our country through a career of federal public service,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Now as the first Latino and immigrant to serve as the Secretary of Homeland Security, I am immensely proud to join my fellow Cabinet Members in the Biden-Harris Administration as participants in this year’s Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute conference, which contributes so meaningfully to our community and the broader America of which we are proud to be a part.”

“Latino entrepreneurs help power America by contributing to our economy and bringing new life to local Main Streets, manufacturing centers. and innovation hubs. As someone who was raised in a multi-generational entrepreneurial family, I’ve experienced firsthand the everyday issues faced by small business owners – particularly those in underserved communities,” said Administrator Guzman. “It’s the privilege of a lifetime to serve in the most diverse cabinet in history to advocate for the needs of the highly-entrepreneurial Latino community and ensure we solve for the funding and revenue gaps that limit our economy’s true potential. As a CHCI Alum, I thank them for the invitation to participate in this historic panel discussion with my colleagues as we work to advance Latino leadership.”

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