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The Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States
Serving our Community for 29 Years!
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Special Edition - PALCUS IN ACTION:
Rhode Island House Bill 2020 - H 8123
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Proposed Bill Discriminates
Against Portuguese Businesses
in Rhode Island
PALCUS has learned that a bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly that would suddenly DELETE business owners of Portuguese culture or origin from eligibility as a certified minority business in a law in which the Portuguese have been included for years.
A journalist researching an article for RINewsToday.com first contacted PALCUS for comment about this issue last week. Read the Article
The bill, 2020 - H 8123: An Act Relating to Public Property and Works - Minority Business Enterprise, is sponsored by Representative Anastasia P. Williams (D - District #9, Providence) in the House Labor Committee which she chairs.
"Under Rhode Island General Law 37-14.1, Minority business enterprises are targeted for participation in all procurement and construction projects and shall be awarded a minimum of ten percent (10%) of all dollar value of the procurement or project." Minorities that have qualified under this law include Black, Hispanic, Portuguese, Asian American, American Indian, and Native Alaskan. Source
House Bill 2020 - H 8123, sponsored by Chairwoman Williams, would change that by deleting not only Portuguese, but Brazilian or other Portuguese culture or origin regardless of race, from eligibility to compete for these state contracts.
In our view, this is a blatantly DISCRIMINATORY action against the Portuguese people of Rhode Island. At 9.7% of the population, the Portuguese are clearly a minority, can be of any race, and are part of the immigrant population of the state.
PALCUS has informed every Representative serving in the RI House of Representatives of this situation and, thus far, have received a number of responses voicing strong opposition to the bill.
If you would like to voice your opinion, you may contact:
PALCUS will also be reaching out to all Portuguese clubs and organizations in the community to make sure they are aware of the issue.
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 Are you a PALCUS member yet?
We are stronger together!
Join now! Until August 31st, 5% of all new memberships will go to meals for the elderly.
If you agree with the work undertaken by PALCUS to build the social, cultural and political capital of our community, then please join us and become a member today!
Strong membership participation means a stronger voice in the national Portuguese-American agenda. In order to advance Portuguese language education, increase presence in the congressional caucuses, and provide economic opportunities, the collective voice of thousands is needed!
In addition, PALCUS is a member-driven non-profit organization that depends on membership dues and fundraising events to fund its operations. Members of the all-volunteer board of directors donate their time and personal funds for travel, lodging and tickets to attend networking events and planning sessions so our administrative costs are relatively low but nonetheless critical to doing business on a daily basis.
There are membership categories to suit every budget and level of interest. Please click on our membership webpage and join our voice today!
Questions? Contact Graci for more information!
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Did you enjoy this newsletter? Do you know about all the programs PALCUS offers our community? Please visit our website and become a member today!
We can't do what we do without your support!
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Jobs for Portuguese Speakers
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Contact Information
Phone: 202-466-4664
9255 Center St., Suite 404
Manassas, VA 20110
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PALCUS Mission
In order to create a singular voice to advocate for the Portuguese-American and Luso-American communities at large, the Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States Inc. (PALCUS) was founded in 1991 as a non-partisan, non-profit, organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.
The PALCUS mission is to address domestic and international concerns of the Portuguese-American Community.
The Council conducts an expanding program of educational and public affairs activities on issues of interest to the Portuguese-American community and of salience to the Luso-American Relationship.
PALCUS is committed to serving the community through increasingly active government relations efforts, the promotion of a greater awareness of ethnic accomplishments and encouraging stronger ties between Portugal and the United States. In this role PALCUS advances the community professionally, politically and culturally while working to ensure that issues directly affecting our community are addressed through our network of government and community leaders.
PALCUS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization under the IRS tax code and incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia. Donations are tax deductible to extent allowed by law and will be acknowledged.
 PALCUS has earned the 2019 Gold GuideStarUSA Nonprofit Profile Seal of Transparency. Visit our profile HERE |
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