|
An Open Letter to the Portuguese-American Community from PALCUS
Dear Fellow Portuguese-Americans,
Recent changes in the United States Government and its administration have created much uncertainty across our nation. Clearly this uncertainty impacts the Portuguese-American community to the same, if not a greater degree, than other ethnic communities.
The Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States (PALCUS) would like to assure all those that we serve that we continue to stand ready to support our community as we have done for over 25 years. PALCUS is a non-profit organization that works for Portuguese-American interests in a non-partisan manner. That means that
we do not and will not
endorse or campaign for any political candidate or agenda but will work to educate any elected or appointed official, regardless of political party, who champions the interests of Portuguese-Americans. Some of these examples include the areas of dual taxation, visa waivers, and Portuguese education programs, to name a few.
As "your voice in Washington, D.C.", PALCUS initiated the creation of the Portuguese-American Caucus established in 1995 with 38 congressmen founded by Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (RI1-D) and co-chaired with Congressman Richard Pombo (CA11-R). Today it is co-chaired by
Congressmen David Cicilline (D-RI 1), Jim Costa (D-CA 16), David G. Valadão (R-CA 21) and Lee M. Zeldin (R-NY 1). Its counterpart in the Senate, Friends of Portugal in the Senate, is co-chaired by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Patrick Toomey (R-PA). PALCUS is able to dialogue with members of Congress, both Democrat and Republican, in your interest without regard to political party.
PALCUS urges all Portuguese-Americans to exercise their civic rights by expressing their needs and opinions by directly connecting with your respective senators and representatives. PALCUS has made these representatives keenly aware of the importance of the contributions and political voice of Portuguese-Americans. Do not hesitate to identify yourself as their constituent with a voice to be heard.
|
