On Thursday, April 26, 2012, the “Third Annual National Hispanic Construction Association Legislative Conference” will be held in Washington, DC.

This event is timely because our industry and our community has to engage with our congressional and White House leaders in a national discussion on a platform that will guarantee inclusion for our community residents, business owners and workers in the benefits of government programs that for too long have bypassed them.

Recently, in a phone conference call with key White House officials, I made it clear that the federal government must start reevaluating the Latino business community less as social welfare clients and more as meeting our needs for more self sufficiency such as promoting benefits that will assist locally based business entities. In short, it is not just about providing affordable housing for Latino communities but making sure that the contracts and employment opportunities are there for our businesses and workers. This program philosophy should be part of any package in targeting communities for economic development benefits sponsored by government and not just left to the unfair workings of the current marketplace. In too many instances all over the country, we have seen how those companies who have no roots in our communities invade our backyards and reap all the economic benefits as developers and contractors.

Bridges are being built, roads are being paved, buildings are being raised and homes are being rehabilitated by others in our own backyards but not by Hispanic American and migrant construction business owners and workers. This needs to stop!

That is why this year, we are going to concentrate on developing new ideas to insure that our Hispanic American and migrant construction workers actually reap the benefits from the President's business and employment programs which includes Project Build and the Highway Transportation bill, weatherization programs and "green" training including energy capacity building initiatives such as wind fan generators and solar panel installations.

We have invited some interesting speakers including Senator Robert Menendez to come speak to us on congressional initiatives to deal with the construction industry. A number of White House officials will be joining us from the Department of Labor, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Transportation and Department of Housing and Urban Development to hear our concerns and aspirations.

As always we will be awarding the Cesar Chavez Congressional Achievement award to a noteworthy Congressional representative who has dedicated and demonstrated commitment to our industry and our community. The winner for that award will be announced in April. If you would like to nominate someone please feel free to send your choice and a short paragraph stating why your nominee should be chosen.

Finally, at the end of the event we will be swearing in the new NHCA board for 2012 - 2014. A new era will commence for NHCA and it will be one that I know will bring our organization to the next level of success and recognition.

Please try to register online as quickly as possible. Reservations fill up quickly and we would not want you to miss out on anything that can help you and your business.