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Head of EPA, Lisa Jackson, to Attend LULAC 80th Annual Convention / LULAC, the oldest Hispanic organization in the U.S., and EPA are working together to protect human health and the environment

Release Date: 07/06/2009
Contact Information: Betsaida Alcantara, [email protected], 202-564-1692, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON – U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson will be a keynote speaker at the 80th annual convention of the League of United Latin American Citizens in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Administrator will give remarks at the partnership luncheon on Wednesday, July 15, at the Puerto Rico Convention Center.

The partnership luncheon serves to highlight LULAC’s corporate and government partnerships. EPA and LULAC have reaffirmed their ongoing partnership by extending a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to December 31, 2012, an initiative that will continue to support the agency’s overall diversity, education, recruitment and outreach efforts.

“We are elated to have the EPA Administrator, Lisa Jackson, addressing our LULAC membership. We are lucky to have the environment on the forefront of the Obama administration as it affects our Latino communities directly,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales.

Administrator Jackson leads EPA’s efforts to protect the health and environment for all Americans. She and a staff of more than 17,000 professionals are working across the nation to usher in a green economy, address health threats from toxins and pollution, and renew public trust in EPA’s work.

“We want to make sure EPA hears the voices of every community, and gives all stakeholders a seat at the decision-making table,” said Administrator Jackson. “I’m looking forward to joining with LULAC and Hispanic leaders from across the nation to discuss the pressing environmental issues we face, and to build a partnership to better protect our communities, our country, and our planet.”

Jackson was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as a member of President Obama’s cabinet on January 23, 2009. She is the first African-American to serve as EPA administrator, and has made it a priority to focus on vulnerable groups including children, the elderly, and low-income communities that are particularly susceptible to environmental and health threats. In addressing these and other issues, she has promised all stakeholders, including Latinos, a place at the decision-making table.

In an effort to make lasting environmental progress along the U.S.-Mexico border, U.S. and Mexico signed the La Paz Agreement in 1983. EPA and its Mexico counterpart, SEMARNAT, have implemented this agreement and established a binational program called Border 2012. Border 2012 has produced environmental results benefitting millions of residents in both countries. EPA’s investment in the Border 2012 program has yielded success in the area of increased water infrastructure projects, untreated wastewater that no longer is discharged into binational waterways, the removal of used tires, improved emergency response, and the collection of household hazardous wastes. These projects have led to substantial air, water and waste quality improvements in the region that is home to 12 million border residents.

In 2006, EPA launched its Beyond Translation initiative to develop strong partnerships with Hispanic community leaders across the nation. Beyond Translation engages Hispanic communities around the country by doing more than just translating brochures and other documents. The initiative’s mission is to engage Hispanic communities and stakeholders through outreach and workshops on a number of environmental health concerns like water, pesticides, and air issues.

LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

More information on LULAC and to register for the convention: http://www.lulac.org/convention.html


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