FUERZAS UNIDAS

FULL CAUCUS MEMBERSHIP MEETING

MONDAY, August 22th, 6 PM

Attention all members! Join us on Monday, August 22nd at 6 pm for our seventh monthly membership meeting.. To register for this meeting, please click here.

Bring a friend! They can become a member here.

Use our newly activated ActBlue link for dues or donations.

You may pay dues or set up a donation here.

To apply for Dues Waiver, click here.

Note from the Chair

By Vicky Estrada-Bustillo

Starting this month, we want to introduce you to your Regional Representatives. This month we are focusing on two of the Northern Rural Representatives.

This month’s membership meeting will be the first of three meetings, in anticipation of the November general election, in which we have invited Hispano candidates throughout the state to speak. Join us and take the time to learn about YOUR candidates!

Loyda Martinez-Northwest Rural Representative

I am from Chimayo where our heirloom chile seed is helping NASA conduct research by growing chile peppers. Check out the official NASA The Space Chile Grow a Pepper Plant Challenge webpage!

In 1999, I was selected for the National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI). Twenty women are chosen throughout the country to participate in developing Hispanas for positions across the country.

NHLI was instrumental in my vociferous challenge to wage inequities besetting women and men of color; the self-confidence to follow a dream for us and show extraordinary commitment, conviction, and courage, make a bold decision to step forward against a backdrop of risks, sacrifices, long days and longer nights, struggle, doubt, and anguish. But to understand that to improve the quality of life for present and future generations, we must make these efforts.

On January 6, 2004, a class action lawsuit was filed in Rio Arriba County District Court, alleging violation of the Equal Pay Act, breach of contract, and other claims. As plaintiffs, we claimed that the University of California Board of Regents which operates and manages the Los Alamos National Laboratory discriminated against females in general as well as Hispanic women and men employees in terms of pay, promotion, educational opportunities, and other terms and conditions of employment.

Closing the wage gap is not just a matter of equity; it is usually a matter of survival, and yet, according to the United States Census Bureau, for Hispanic women, the disparity is even greater. We earn on average only 54 cents for every dollar men earn, which adds up to about $600,000 over the course of a 30-year career. This kind of inequity is carried into the future by discrimination in retirement pay, savings plans, incremental pay increases, and bonuses based on current/maximum rates of pay. Then in retirement, if they are eligible for benefits at all—women receive about one-half the overall amount of pension benefits that men receive. The lawsuit was eventually settled for over $20 million.

Anita Gonzales- Northeast Rural Regional Representative

A native New Mexican, Anita was born in Las Vegas, NM to both the Lopez Family of Villanueva, NM, and the Gallegos Family of Las Vegas, NM. Anita grew up in a hard-working and middle-class family which she credits for her work ethic today. She is the proud mother of Curtis Gonzales and is the daughter of Lucille and Ross White and Clarence Gallegos and Anna Vigil. She is the granddaughter of Rudolpho and Bersabe Lopez, Arturo R. and Cecelia Gallegos, and Jack and Betty White. A middle child, Anita has lived throughout New Mexico — moving between Las Vegas and Albuquerque as a child.

After completing the majority of her degree at Texas A&M University, she returned home to Las Vegas to complete her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at New Mexico Highlands University. Anita has worked at New Mexico Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (NM MESA), Inc for over 19 years and is the current Deputy Director. NM MESA is a statewide pre-college program that empowers and motivates New Mexico’s culturally diverse students with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) enrichment.

Besides STEM Enrichment, NM MESA provides teacher training and support, leadership development, community support, secondary education preparation, and works to develop the future workforce of STEM leaders. Her work with NM MESA has given her a diverse educational background working with STEM leaders, students, teachers, administrators, public schools, and higher education institutions. It has also allowed her to network with partners, industry leaders, and contacts from across the state

Regional Happenings

Central Metro Region

Click Here for a link to True Progress Real Promise September Fest 2022

Volunteers Needed for True Progress Real Promise!

For more information on the event above or if you can volunteer please contact Central Metro Rep. Phillip "Chris"Larranaga at chrislarranaga@yahoo.com

Southwest Region

https://www.demingduckrace.com/schedule.html

Click here for the Entry Form for Deming Duck Races

Click here for the entry form for the Duck Race Pageantry

Northwest Rural Region

Click for the Space Chile Grow a Pepper Plant Challenge

Central West Rural Region

Help Support Augustine Montoya for House District 22

Click here for events!

For more information on the events above please contact the

Central West Rural Rep. Margarita Mercure-Hibbs at mercuremargarita@msn.com

Republicans Have to “Eat Crow” On The Passage of The 2022 PACT ACT.

By Ben Salazar

Senate Republicans that opposed the passage of the 2022 PACT ACT (Legislation that expands health care benefits to millions of veterans exposed to toxic burn pits during their military service) were forced to backpedal on their opposition to the legislation.

After hearing from countless numbers of veterans across the nation, veterans service organizations, and well-known public figures, Republicans reversed their stance against the bill. The initial opposition by the GOP was based on trying to add cost-cutting amendments to the legislation. The final passage vote was 86-11. Even after having been pointed out that refusal to pass the bill would be viewed as “Anti-Veteran” eleven Republicans still voted against the measure.

The VA acknowledges that waste products disposed of in open burn pits include chemicals, paint, medical and human waste, along with things like munitions and petroleum products.

Reluctance to the passage of this important piece of legislation, in spite of overwhelming bipartisan support, shows that the Republican Party continues to ignore the health needs of veterans. Instead of putting up frivolous objections to veteran-related funding, the GOP should “get on board” with the rest of America in recognizing this country’s obligation to its veterans.

La Unión Hace la Fuerza

Milagro Padilla

Fuerzas Unidas Caucus

of the Democratic Party of New Mexico

Click here for Website