Washington, DC – Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) will join the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., in honoring Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), and Roger Cardinal Mahony at the 2007 NCLR Capital Awards gala on Tuesday, March 6 at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC. Senator Obama will give remarks at the opening reception beginning at 5:30 p.m.

“We are honored to recognize these three great leaders for the courage they have shown, and continue to show, in paving the way for true immigration reform,” said Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. “Our nation needs this kind of leadership from the business, faith, labor, and community sectors to come together and work toward real solutions.”

Senator Graham and Representative Gutierrez will be recognized for their bipartisan efforts to enact comprehensive immigration reform legislation. NCLR will also present the Public Service Award to His Eminence Roger Cardinal Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles, for his long-standing commitment to immigrants and his efforts to combat anti-immigrant policies.

Joining NCLR in honoring these outstanding leaders will be their colleagues from Capitol Hill including Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Representatives Joe Baca (D-CA), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Xavier Becerra (D-CA); Bob Filner (D-CA); Nydia Velázquez (D-NY); José Serrano (D-NY), Hilda Solis (D-CA); Al Green (D-TX); and Chris Cannon (R-UT). Also expected to attend are U.S. Treasurer Anna Cabral and Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration Jovita Carranza.

The gala begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m., which will be followed by the awards program and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Janet Murguía will also address the more than 700 persons who are expected to attend this year’s event. Citigroup is the Chair of the event, Vice Chairs are the Fannie Mae Foundation and Frito-Lay/PepsiCo, and Reception Sponsors are Comcast and Ford Motor Company.

News media interested in attending the event should contact Jacqueline Pacheco at (202) 785-1670 or jpacheco@nclr.org

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