The governing body of college football's championship system on
Thursday rebuffed two senators who requested that it disclose its inner
dealings from months ago.
Bowl Championship Series (BCS)
Executive Director Bill Hancock wrote a letter to Sens. Max Baucus
(D-Mont.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who wrote
him on March 9.
BCS opponents, including many members of
Congress, have long accused the group of running a secretive
operation that favors teams from large conferences as opposed to those
that play in smaller conferences, both in terms of revenue shares and
opportunities to play for a national title.
The BCS has long
argued that lawmakers have more important priorities on which to focus,
aside from college football.
The bipartisan senators wanted to
see information on how television revenue under its new broadcast
contract will be
distributed, how the organization evaluates the standing of its teams,
the legal standing of the organization and how it ranks teams.
With
regards to revenue, Hancock wrote that the BCS has a better system than
previously existed.
"An example worth noting is that, if the
BCS had not existed, Utah probably would have played in the Las Vegas
Bowl in the 2008-09 season. Because of the BCS, the Utes played in the
Allstate Sugar Bowl instead," he wrote. "The payment from the Las Vegas
Bowl was approximately $900,000; for participating in the Sugar Bowl,
the Mountain West’s share—after the five conferences divided the
revenue—was $9 million. Obviously, the difference is significant."
Hatch
has long been an opponent of the BCS and has frequently
lobbied the administration and Congressional leaders to launch inquiries
into the system. Hatch's home state Utah Utes, who are considered a
"mid-major" school, went undefeated in 2008 but did not receive a bid to
play for the national title.
Baucus has been less outspoken
on the BCS; his state does not have teams that play in the Football Bowl
Subdivision, the top rung of the sport.
The system came
under scrutiny during college bowl season late last year, when lawmakers
passed a bill out of a House subcommittee that would severely restrict
the BCS' ability to operate. The legislation was never taken up by the
full House.
Demand for copies of the U.S. Constitution is skyrocketing.
The pocket edition of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence
ranked 10th on the Government Printing Office’s (GPO) best-seller list
in March.
The
increased interest comes amid the rise of the Tea Party movement and as
both parties cite the Constitution to advance their agendas.
Since September 2009, the GPO has sold more than 8,700
copies of the pocket Constitution to the public, according to GPO
spokesman Gary Somerset. That is a higher sell rate than in recent
years.
Those sales are in addition to the thousands of copies
given to members of Congress each year. Congress authorized a resolution
in 2009 to print 441,000 copies for the use of the House (1,000 for
each member) and 100,000 copies for the Senate (1,000 for each senator).
The
Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute, which keep statistics on
the Constitution, also say that requests for the historical document are
on the rise.
GPO sells copies for $2.75, but constituents
can request a free one from their lawmaker.
Congressional
offices are burning through theirs stacks of pocket Constitutions.
In
a recent “Dear Colleague” letter titled “Order More Pocket
Constitutions!” House Administration Committee Chairman Robert Brady
(D-Pa.) advised members to take advantage of a special rate.
The
letter stated, “Many Members have lately experienced a large increase
in constituent requests for the Pocket Constitution. Members who may
need more are invited to take advantage of a special, pre-publication
‘rider-rate’ of $390 per 1,000 copies. This rider rate of 39¢ each
represents a substantial savings over the post-publication price of
$2.75 each ($2,750 per 1,000) available later through the GPO Sales
Program.”
Lawmakers can use their office accounts to make the
purchases.
Brady told The Hill that he has been getting
requests to print the Constitution in Spanish and that they were making
those available to members as well.
There was something missing from Mexican President Felipe Calderon's joint address to Congress on Thursday. And judging from this photo, it appears to be...well, Congress.
ITK counts 29 lawmakers in this section of seating on the GOP side of the House floor. And 60 non-Members.
Those not in elected office look like a mix of interns, congressional pages, and staff, who were likely asked to fill in empty seats to keep the place from looking bare.
Calderon condemned Arizona's tough, new immigration law in the speech, calling it "a terrible idea that uses racial profiling as a basis for law enforcement." His remarks garnered applaus from Democrats, while Republicans stayed mum.
So where is everyone? In the missing members' defense, there was a lot going on Thursday morning. Hearings, markups, and legislative business kept many of them unavoidably detained.
The good news is that there were plenty of beneficiaries: just look at all those lucky pages enjoying a 45-minute talk on bilateral cooperation.
A group of 20 House members led by Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) is demanding to know why the U.S. Census Bureau purchased promotional materials for the 2010 Census that were manufactured overseas, as opposed to domestically produced goods.
In a letter sent to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Census Director Dr. Robert Groves Thursday, Lipinski cites everything from mini-footballs, toy robots and tape measures, to apparel.
The goods in question reportedly originated in both China and Honduras, and were part of a "March to the Mailbox" campaign to encourage people to return their Census forms.
Lipinski called the foreign tchotchkes "an affront to the millions of Americans that are looking for work," and even suggested that people might be less willing to participate in the Census if they knew these promotional goods were made in China.
The letter specifically requests a meeting with Locke and Groves to discuss the matter.
The Census Bureau had yet to respond to the lawmakers at press time.
Asked by the
Omaha Heraldif he supports legislation to cap ATM fees, the
Nebraska Democrat said he wasn't sure what those were:
“I've never
used an ATM, so I don't know what the fees are,” Nelson said. He explained that he goes to the teller's window when he needs cash.
“But I could learn how to do
it just like I've ... I swipe to get my own gas, buy groceries. I know
about the holograms.”
By “holograms," Nelson said he meant the bar code readers found in grocery checkouts and clothing stores.
Not wanting to sound too far removed from everyday life, Nelson reminded the paper that he gets his own seating assignment at airports, presumably rather than have someone else get it for him.
“I mean, I'm
not without some skills. I just haven't had the need to use an ATM.”
The couple who crashed the first White House state dinner were
stopped and ticketed by the Secret Service outside the second state dinner.
As
President Barack Obama held a state dinner on Wednesday night, this time for the
visiting president of Mexico, a limousine carrying Tareq and Michaele
Salahi was stopped and ticketed at 17th and H streets NW, near the White
House.
According to a statement released by the Secret Service, their limo was stopped after running a red light. The couple is known to travel in the limousine pictured here, but the Secret Service did not describe the specific car.
The
couple infamously managed during the last state dinner to get an
introduction with the president, and a photo with Vice President Joe
Biden.
Their ability to gain entry to the high-profile affair
despite not having been on the guest list resulted in the indefinite
suspension of some Secret Service agents, and serious questions from
lawmakers as to the security protocol.
As for last night's state
dinner, there have been no reports -- yet -- of unauthorized guests.
There's a new face on Capitol Hill today, and he's riding in on a wave of optimism for Democrats.
Congressman-elect Mark Critz (D-Pa.) will be sworn-in at a
ceremony on Capitol Hill Thursday at 2:15 p.m., House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's
(D-Calif.) office said Wednesday.
Critz defeated Republican
candidate Tim Burns in a special election to replace long-time Rep. John
Murtha (D-Pa.), the former chairman of the House defense appropriations
subcommittee, who passed away in February.
Democrats touted
Critz's victory as a sign that they are in good shape heading into the
fall elections. Republicans had hoped to take Murtha's former seat, a
white blue-collar district that voted heavily for GOP presidential
nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2008.
Here's a rundown of who will be sitting with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Thursday for Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s joint address to Congress at 11 a.m.
From left to right, in front, look for:
Paul Pelosi Ambassador Carlos Pascual, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico John A. Pérez, Speaker of the Assembly, State of California Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor, City of Los Angeles Dolores C. Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers Ms. Rosa Rosales, President, League of United Latin American Citizens Dr. Elena Rios, President and CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association Rev. Luis Cortes, President and CEO, Esperanza USA Arturo Vargas, President, NALEO Madeleine Albright, Former U.S. Secretary of State Jim Jones, Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Henry Munoz, Chair of the Commission for a National Museum of the American Latino Ali Noorani, Executive Director, National Immigration Forum Santiago “Sam” Ruiz, Executive Director of the Mission Neighborhood Center in San Francisco
Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY) rocked the St. Regis Hotel Wednesday night, strumming his guitar to support the Washington Ireland Program’s “An Evening with Celtic Chefs.”
Crowley led a distinguished group of Irish Americans in a few rounds of traditional Irish folk tunes.
Among the supporters singing along were Irish Ambassador Michael Collins, journalist Gordon Peterson, and political satirist Mark Russell.
The program benefits leadership training programs for young adults from Ireland.
Here's the complete guest list for Wednesday's State Dinner, followed by the list for the head table and a list of who'll be attending the after-party.
The President & First Lady Michelle Obama
His Excellency Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, President of Mexico and Mrs. Margarita Zavala
Mr. Michael Adler, Miami Beach, FL Mrs. Judy Adler
Mr. Javier Alatorre, Mexico
Mr. Will Allen, Growing Power, Oak Creek, WI Ms. Cynthia Allen
Ms. Adrienne Arsht, Washington, DC
The Honorable David Axelrod, White House Communications Mrs. Susan Axelrod
The Honorable Xavier Becerra, House of Representatives Dr. Carolina Reyes
The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Vice President of the United States Dr. Jill Biden
Mr. Dennis Blair, Director, Office of the Director of National Intelligence Mrs. Diane Blair
The Honorable Antony Blinken, Deputy Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor, Office of the Vice President
The Honorable Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, Newark, NJ Ms. Gayle King, New York, NY
The Honorable John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Deputy National Security Advisor for Counterterrorism, Homeland Security Council Mrs. Katherine Brennan
Mr. Lindsey Buss, President and CEO, Martha's Table, Washington, DC Mrs. Betina Franceschini
Mr. Charles Cawley, Camden, ME Mrs. Julie Cawley
Mr. Kenneth Chenault, Amex, New York, NY Mrs. Kathryn Chenault
The Honorable Steven Chu, Secretary of the Department of Energy, Washington, DC Mrs. Jean Chu
The Honorable Hillary R. Clinton, Secretary of State
Secretary Ernesto Cordero, Secretary of Finance and Public Credit
Mr. Shani Davis, Chicago, IL Mr. Jae Su Chun
Mr. José Díaz-Balart, Telemundo, Hialeah, FL Mrs. Brenda Díaz-Balart
The Honorable Chris Dodd, United States Senate Mrs. Jackie Clegg Dodd
The Honorable Thomas Donilon, Assistant to the President, Deputy National Security Advisor, NSC Ms. Cathy Russell, Chief of Staff to Dr. Jill Biden
Ms. María Elena Durazo, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Los Angeles, CA Mr. Henry Tamarin, Chicago, IL
Mr. Don Edwards, Chicago, IL Mrs. Anne Edwards
Mr. Carlos Elizondo Mayer-Serra, Mexico
The Honorable Rahm Emanuel, Chief of Staff to the President Ms. Amy Rule
Mr. John B Emerson, Beverly Hills, CA Ms. Kimberly K Marteau
Ambassador Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mexico
Ms. Giselle Fernandez, Los Angeles, CA Ms. Karen Gordon
Mr. Jorge Fernández Menéndez, Mexico
Ms. Patricia Flores, Head of the Office of the President, Mexico
Mr. David Friedman, Longmont, CO Ms. Shawna Friedman
The Honorable Mike Froman, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs, NSC Ms. Nancy Goodman
The Honorable Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC Mrs. Becky Gates
The Honorable Timothy F. Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, DC Mrs. Carole Geithner
Mr. Leo Gerard, President, United Steel Workers, Washington, DC Mr. Gerald Fernandez
Ms. Whoopi Goldberg, Whoop Productions, New York, NY Mr. Thomas Leonardis
Ms. Maria María, Mary's Center, Washington, DC Mr. Michael Rexrode
Secretary Fernando Gómez Mont, Mexican Interior Secretary
Mr. James Gorman, Morgan Stanley, New York, NY Mrs. Penny Gorman
Mr. Joe Hansen, President, United Food and Commercial Workers Int'l, Washington, DC Ms. Bonnie Lou Ladin
Ms. Jane Hartley, CEO, Observatory Group, New York, NY Mr. Ralph Schlosstein, New York, NY
The Honorable Eric Holder, United States Attorney General, Department of Justice, Washington, DC Dr. Sharon Malone, MD
The Honorable Steny Hoyer, United States Representative Ms. Kathleen May
Ms. Dolores C Huerta, Delores Huerta Foundation, Bakersfield, CA
The Honorable Valerie Jarrett, Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor
Mr. James L Jones Mrs. Diane Jones, McLean, VA
The Honorable Tim Kaine, Richmond, VA Ms. Anne Holton
Justice Anthony Kennedy, Washington, DC Mrs. Mary Kennedy
The Honorable Pat Kennedy, Under Secretary, Management, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC Ms. Elizabeth Swope
The Honorable R. Gil Kerlikowske, Washington, DC Ms. Anna Laszlo
The Honorable Ron Kirk, USTR, Washington, DC Ms. Elizabeth A Kirk
The Honorable Raymond LaHood, Secretary of the Department of Transportation, Washington, DC Mrs. Kathy LaHood
Mr. David C Lizárraga, Los Angeles, CA Mrs. Yvonne Lizárraga
Ms. Eva Longoria-Parker, Los Angeles, CA Mr. David Figueroa, Pasadena, CA
Mr. George Lopez, Los Angeles, CA Mrs. Ann M Lopez, Toluca Lake, CA
Mr. Joaquín López Dóriga, Mexico
Ms. Monica Lozano, Publisher, La Opinion, Los Angeles, CA Mr. David Ayon
The Honorable Capricia Marshall, Chief of Protocol, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC
The Honorable Iris Martinez, Hispanic Caucus Chair, Chicago, IL
Mr. Tony Martinez, Brownsville, TX Mrs. Carla Martinez
Mr. Thomas F. McLarty, President, McLarty Associates, Washington, DC
Mr. Eliseo Medina, Oxnard, CA Ms. Liza Medina
The Honorable Robert Menendez, United States Senate Ms. Gwendolyn Beck
The Honorable Jim Messina, Office of Chief of Staff Ms. Ana Elizabeth Himelic
Dr. Mario Molina, Department of Chemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA Ms. Guadalupe Limón
Mr. Brian Moynihan, Bank of America, Boston, MA Ms. Susan Berry
Admiral Michael G Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Arlington, VA Mrs. Deborah Mullen
The Honorable Cecilia Muñoz, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
The Honorable Janet Napolitano, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC
Senator Carlos Navarrete, President of the Senate, Mexico
Mr. Kevin O'Reilly, Director for North America, National Security Staff, NSC
The Honorable Peter Orszag, Director, Office of Management & Budget Ms. Bianna Golodryga
Mrs. Valerie Owens, Kennett Square, PA Mr. Jack Owens
Congresswoman Beatriz Paredes, President of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), Mexico
The Honorable Carlos Pascual, Ambassador to Mexico Ms. Gabriela Rojas Jimenez
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, United States Representative and Speaker of the House Mr. Paul Pelosi
The Honorable Federico Peña, Denver, CO Ms. Neila J Peña
The Honorable John Pérez, Speaker of the House, State of California, Sacramento, CA Mr. Jason Seifer
Mr. Victor Pérez, Hoy, Chicago, IL Miss Agape Pappas
Congressman Francisco Ramírez Acuña, President of the House of Representatives, Mexico
Mr. Jorge Ramos, Univision, Miami, FL
The Honorable Harry Reid, United States Senate Mrs. Landra Reid
Mr. Dan Restrepo, Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs, NSA, Washington, DC
The Honorable Silvestre Reyes, United States Representative Mrs. Carolina Reyes
The Honorable Susan Rice, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, New York, NY
Mr. Ian Cameron, New York, NY
The Honorable Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM Ms. Vesta Richardson
Mrs. Marian Robinson
Mr. Reynaldo Robledo, CEO Robledo Vineyards Managment, LLC,, Mexico
Mr. Luis Rubio, Mexico
Mr. Jesse Ruiz, Dinker Biddle and Reath LLP, Chicago, IL Mrs. Michele Ilene Ruiz
Secretary Gerardo Ruiz Mateos, Secretary of Economy
The Honorable Kenneth Salazar, Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Washington, DC
Mrs. María Elena Salinas, Univision, Miami, FL Mr. Manuel Machado
Mr. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets, Florham Park, NJ D'Brickashaw Ferguson
Mr. Arturo Sarukahn, Ambassador, Embassy of Mexico, Washington, DC Mrs. Veronica Valencia-Sarukhan
Mr. Scott Schenkelberg, Executive Director, Miriam's Kitchen, Washington, DC Mrs. Susan Gillespie
The Honorable Susan Sher, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady
Mr. Carlos Slim, América Móvil, Inbursa, Grupo Carso, Mexico
The Honorable Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of Labor, Department of Labor, Washington, DC
Mr. Sam Sayyad, El Monte, CA
Mr. Andy Spahn, Los Angeles, CA Jennifer L Perry
The Honorable Jim Steinberg, Deputy Secretary of State, Washington, DC Ms. Sherburne B. Abbott
Mr. Tom Strickland, Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC
The Honorable (Dr.) Larry Summers, Director, National Economic Council Ruth Summers
The Honorable Mona Sutphen, Office of Chief of Staff, West Wing, Washington, DC Mr. Clyde Williams
Ms. Ana Claudia Talancón, Mexico
Mr. Dennis Toner, Wilmington, DE Mrs. Ann Toner
Mr. Robert I Unanue, President, Goya Foods, Secaucus, NJ Ms. Elizabeth Unanue
Mr. Guillermo Valdés, Director General of the Center for Investigation and National Security (CISEN), Mexico
The Honorable Arturo A. Valenzuela, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC Ms. Kathryne Mudge
Mr. Arturo Vargas, Executive Director, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, Los Angeles, CA Mrs. María Vargas
The Honorable Nydia Velázquez, United States Representative Mr. Dennis Rivera
The Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor, City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA Ms. Prisila Rodriguez
Mrs. Alexa Wesner, Austin, TX
Mr. Blaine Wesner, Reston, VA
Mr. Frank White, Jr., Washington, DC Ms. Sylvia Denise Davis
Mr. Wellington Wilson, Olympia Fields, IL Mrs. Kaye Wilson
Mr. Robert Wolf, Purchase, NY Mrs. Carol Wolf
Mr. Lorenzo Zambrano, CEO CEMEX, Mexico
Mr. John Zidich, Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ Mrs. Pamela Zidich
Seating Chart for the head table, set for 20, beginning with the president and moving to his right.
v The Honorable Barack Obama v First Lady Margarita Zavala v Mr. David Lizárraga v Mrs. Mary Kennedy v Ms. Maria Elena Durazo v Mr. Jason Seifer v Mrs. Landra Reid v Mr. Henry Tamarin v Ms. Maria Elena Salinas v Mr. Frederico Peña v First Lady Michelle Obama v His Excellency Felipe Calderon Hinojosa v Ms. Dolores Huerta v Justice Anthony Kennedy v Mrs. Priscilla Lizarraga v Senator Iris Martinez v Senator Harry Reid v Mrs. Nelia Peña v The Honorable John Pérez v Representative Nydia Velázquez
The additional guests at the after-dinner concert include:
The Honorable Tom Atkin, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director, NSC
Mr. Monte Briggs Hawkins
The Honorable Joe Baca, United States Representative
Mr. Robert C. Barber, Cambridge, MA
Mrs. Denise Bauer, Belvedere Tiburon, CA Mr. Steve Bauer
The Honorable Robert Rand Beers, Under Secretary for National Protection Programs, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC Mrs. Marian Beers
The Honorable Alan D. Bersin, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for International Affairs
The Honorable Barbara Boxer, United States Senate
Mr. Michael Camuñez, Special Assistant to the President, Office of Presidential Personnel Mr. Steven Means
Mr. Thomas Castro, BMP Radio, Houston, TX Ms. Jacqueline Castro
The Honorable Gil Cedillo, California State Senate, Los Angeles, CA Mr. Gilbert Martinez
The Honorable James E. Clyburn, United States Representative, Washington, DC
The Honorable Henry Cuellar, United States Representative Amy Travieso
Mr. Jim Demers, Concord, NH
Mr. Carlos Elizondo, Washington, DC
Mr. Mark Dumas
The Honorable Eliot Engel, United States Representative Mrs. Patricia Engel
The Honorable José W. Fernández, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC
Ms. Andrea Gabor
Ms. María Garza, President, Mexican American Council, Homestead, FL Edward Garza
Mr. Stuart Grant, Greenville, DE Mrs. Suzanne Grant
The Honorable Raúl Grijalva, United States Representative Ms. Marisa H. Grijalva
The Honorable Gary Grindler, Acting Deputy Attorney General of the United States Christine Grindler
Ms. Christy Haubegger, Creative Artists Agency, Los Angeles, CA Mr. Steven Wolfe Pereira
The Honorable David Heyman, Assistant Secretary for Policy, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC Ms. Victoria T White
The Honorable Rubén Hinojosa, United States Representative Mrs. Martha Hinojosa
The Honorable Fred Hochberg, Export-Import Bank, Washington, DC
Dr. John P. Holdren, Washington, DC
Ms. Roberta Jacobson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for North American Affairs Mr. Jonathon Jacobson
The Honorable David Johnson, Assistant Secretary of State for INL Ms. Scarlett Swan
Mr. Lon Johnson
Mr. Michael Kempner, East Rutherford, NJ Mrs. Jacqueline Kempner
Mr. Steven Lerner, Chapel Hill, NC Dr. Sharon Van Horn
The Honorable David Lipton, SAP and Senior Director for International Economics Ms. Mary Galbraith
The Honorable Nita Lowey, United States Representative Mr. Stephen Lowey
The Honorable Ben Ray Lujan, United States Representative Ms. Deanna Archeleta
Ms. Maria Matos, Wilmington, DE Ms. Sindy Ortiz
Mr. Gary Matthews, Chicago, IL Mrs. Sandy Matthews
Mr. John F. McShane Mrs. Kathleen C. McShane
The Honorable Daniel Meltzer, Deputy Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy Counsel to the President, White House Counsel
The Honorable Janet Murguía, President and CEO, National Council of La Raza, Washington, DC Mauro Morales
The Honorable Grace Napolitano, United States Representative Ms. Angela Salinas
Mr. Danny Ortega, Chair, National Council of La Raza Board, Phoenix, AZ
Mr. Raul Perea-Henze
Mr. Stephen B. Sobhani
Mr. Jon Ralston, Las Vegas Sun, Henderson, NV Ms. Madeline Ralston
The Honorable Vivian Rapposelli, Secretary, Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families, Newark, DE Stephen Rapposelli
The Honorable Nick Rasmussen, SAP and Senior Director for Counterterrorism Mrs. Maria Rasmussen
Mr. Sean Regan, Director, NSSS Transborder Security Policy Mrs. Eva N. Regan
Ms. Rosa Rosales, San Antonio, TX
Mr. Brent Ashley Wilkes, Executive Director, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Washington, DC
The Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard, United States Representative Mr. Edward Allard
The Honorable Francisco Sánchez, Undersecretary of Commerce, Washington, DC Ms. Mileydi Guilarte
The Honorable Linda Sánchez, United States Representative Mr. James Sullivan, Guest of Then Honorable Linda Sanchez
The Honorable Loretta Sanchez Ms. Esther L. Coopersmith
The Honorable Elizabeth Sears Smith, Office of Cabinet Affairs Mr. Douglas Smith
Mr. Jeffrey Stirling
Mrs. Cynthia L. Stirling
The Honorable Paul Stockton, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security Affairs Mrs. Kristin Stockton
The Honorable Bruce Swartz, Department of Justice Ms. Deborah Goodings
Ms. Grace Tsao-Wu, Chicago, IL
Ms. Laura Kofoid
Ms. Mimi Valdés Ryan, Co-Founder/Editor-in-Chief, Kidult.com, New York, NY Mr. Florian Bachleda
Mr. Jorge Valencia, West Des Moines, IA Ms. Ramona Rowbury-Valencia
Secretary Tom Vilsack, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC Mrs. Christie Vilsack
