Washington, DC– Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Senior Policy Advisor to Senator John McCain, and Tom Perez, Obama for America Campaign Representative, are among the experts scheduled to speak at the 2008 National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Annual Conference health town hall titled, “Providing Health Care for All: Making a National Priority Reality,” on Sunday, July 13, 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Reforming health care to improve affordability, access, and quality has become a major voter priority. Latinos, in particular, are more than two times as likely to be uninsured than their non-Hispanic counterparts. To be successful, any health reform must incorporate the concerns and priorities of Latinos—a key demographic in the 2008 presidential election.

This town hall, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health, is free and open to the public. It will also feature Maria Gomez, President and CEO of Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care and NCLR Board Member, and Garth Graham, MD, MPH, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, Office of Minority Health. Cecilia Muñoz, NCLR Senior Vice President, Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation, will moderate the discussion on current health care reform proposals, their impact on the community, and innovative proposals and strategies to diminish health disparities.

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. The NCLR Annual Conference is the single largest gathering of its kind in the Latino community. More than 20,000 community organization leaders, activists, and volunteers; elected and appointed officials; members of the corporate, philanthropic, and academic communities; senior citizens; college students; and youth are expected to participate this year.

During the 2008 NCLR Annual Conference, NCLR will also present the following free health workshops, events, and publications:

Workshops

• The Latino Community and HIV/AIDS: What Can We Do to Stop the Epidemic?
  SATURDAY, JULY 12, 9:00–10:30 A.M.
• Somos el Futuro: The Health Status of Latino Children in America
  SUNDAY, JULY 13, 9:00–10:30 A.M.
• Let’s Talk About Sex: Strategies for Preventing Teen and Unplanned Pregnancies
  SUNDAY, JULY 13, 1:30–3:00 P.M.
• Promotores de Salud: A Community’s Lifeline
  TUESDAY, JULY 15, 10:30 A.M.–NOON

Free Events

• Health Fair, part of Latino Expo USA, where participants will receive free health screenings, safety demonstrations, and advice and referrals
  SATURDAY, JULY 12 and SUNDAY, JULY 13, 10:30 A.M.–6:00 P.M.
• Diabetes Dash, 5K Fun Run sponsored by The United States Marine Corps, at the Embarcadero Marina Park, behind the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina
  SATURDAY, JULY 12 at 7:00 A.M.

Publications

• Buena Salud, Buena Vida: Su Guía de Recursos de Salud—Eli Lilly and Company partners with NCLR to release a free pocket-sized health guide to help Latinos fight chronic disease.
• A Burden No Child Should Bear: How the Health Coverage System Is Failing Latino Children—Nearly 40% of uninsured children are Latino and face significant barriers to health coverage. This paper addresses the trends of uninsurance among Latino children.

Visit www.nclr.org to learn more about the 2008 NCLR Annual Conference and to download publications.

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