Rep. Joe Baca

Each year on the second Sunday in the month of May, our nation celebrates Mother's Day. On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made a proclamation, declaring the first national Mother's Day as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had...

Amid all of the holiday celebrations and time spent with family this month, I encourage Americans to take some time to reflect on something that is too often forgotten: the rich history and cultural traditions of our Native American community.

By the time the Jamestown colony...

Today, I join 60,000 seniors in my Congressional District in celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Social Security program. Over the years, Social Security has become a bed-rock promise to the American people. It's a promise that if you work hard and play by the rules, you will not face...

At last week's health care summit between President Obama and members of Congress, a range of important issues were discussed, but a key matter plaguing our system went unmentioned: emergency care in many of our nation's hospitals is in bad shape, and doctors and patients are paying the price.

Recent statements by Governor Schwarzenegger pointing the finger at California's Congressional delegation for our state's budgetary problems are irresponsible and a continuation of his 'pass the buck' mentality. When it comes to the lack of federal nutrition funding at work in California, the Governor has no one to blame but...

This Friday, November 27, we celebrate the second ever national Native American Heritage Day, to honor the original native residents of this great land of ours.

American families gather together on the fourth Thursday of every November to celebrate Thanksgiving in remembrance of a feast hosted by the Wampanoag Native...

In the House of Representatives, an extension to unemployment benefits failed by just three votes. Three votes stood in between giving Americans their much-needed help for an additional 13 weeks, as every Democrat and 49 Republicans were joined in voting for the extension. (Since it was a non-controversial item, it...

As the nation faces heightened concerns related to food and the economy, President Bush has chosen to veto the Farm Bill that this Congress sent him last week. Congress has taken up the Farm Bill reauthorization in part to address the needs of our nation's farmers and farm workers, as...

Every year, as we approach the 5th of May, stores and companies begin to promote Cinco de Mayo in their storefronts and through their advertisements. There are office parties, full of festive decorations, and children at school might have the opportunity to take a swing at a piñata. This splendor...

Latinos have ascended to the largest minority population in the United States, comprising almost 16% of the total population in the country. With this unprecedented number, we have yet to fully discern the full range and impact of the challenges our communities face. It is clear, however, that health care...

Latinos and other groups of color continue to encounter a clear scarcity of public services and disproportionate exposure to risk in their communities. This precarious combination places our communities in danger and must compel us to take action.

Environmental injustice is among the critical challenges facing Latinos --...