GOVERNMENT

• The 2006 election brought a record number of women to the U.S. House of Representatives for the 110th Congress. The total number of women in the House is now 74, including three Delegates, and 16 in the Senate.
• In 2006, seven Latinas represented the 21 women of color in Congress, compared to 12 African-Americans. Seventy-one women hold seats in the House of Representatives, comprising 16.3% of the 435 members. The women represent 29 states; 50 are Democrats and 21 are Republicans.
• Women hold 87 or 16.3%, of the 535 seats in the 110th US Congress — 16 or 16.0%, of the 100 seats in the Senate and 71 or 16.3%, of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives. (Center for American Women and Politics)
• Hispanics made up 8.6% of the total vote in 2006 (PEW Hispanic Center)
• 69% of Latinos voted Democratic in the 2006 election compared with only 30% voting Republican. This rise in Democratic votes is said to be due to immigration reforms. (Exit Poll Data)
• About 14% of Latinos cited the Immigration debate at the most important issue facing the world today, second only to the war In Iraq, 22%. (Pew Research)
• Over 29% of Latinos say they, a family member, or a close friend participated in an immigration rally or march in 2006. (National Council of la Raza Election Research 2006)
• Hispanics make up over 1.1 million Veterans of the US Armed Forces (US Census Bureau 2005)
• “In reality, nearly 25% of Latinos in the military are involved in combat or hazardous duty occupations. (Professor Mariscal, Pew Research 2003)
• 41 Hispanics have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in action for those serving the United States Armed forces. (www.cmohs.org)