The promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness has welcomed millions to America in search of a better life. Among them are Hispanic Americans whose stories of resilience, sacrifice, and success are woven into the fabric of our nation.
Over multiple generations, the Hispanic community has grown, not only in size but in influence. From Main Street to Wall Street, Hispanic Americans play a pivotal role in our economy, employing over 3.5 million people and contributing $650 billion annually to our nation’s coffers. While Hispanics make up just under a fifth of the United States population, we have grown the U.S. GDP by more than 30% over the last six years.
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Beyond economics, the Hispanic community has left a mark on just about every aspect of American society, from culture to politics.
A record number of people turned out to vote last year. Hispanic Americans account for half of the growth in eligible voters in the U.S. over the past four years. Over 36 million Hispanics were eligible to vote in the 2024 election, up from the 32 million mark in 2020. In key swing states such as Nevada and Arizona, President Donald Trump made double-digit gains compared to past years with the Hispanic community.
Republicans were sent to Washington to lead in the House, Senate, and the Oval Office. Hispanic Americans propelled our path to victory. It is only fitting that our communities have a seat at the table in Washington, where policy decisions are made.
Now more than ever, we need Hispanic leaders in Congress who embody what they voted for. We are not a monolith. One-size-fits-all politics will not fly with us.
Our values and experiences have long been mistranslated or, worse, manipulated by political opportunists who make assumptions about our communities without fully understanding them.
As chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Conference, I’m leading a coalition of leaders in the House of Representatives to ensure we have a seat at the table.
In 2003, the Congressional Hispanic Conference was launched by and for Hispanic members of Congress to play a key role in the Republican Party’s platform. Guided by a strong conviction in the values of faith, family, and freedom, the Hispanic Conference has since expanded to nearly a dozen members who represent over eight million people across the U.S.
Our membership is dynamic and, just like the makeup of the Hispanic community in America, we do not live and serve only in large cities or places near the border. We represent nearly every region in the U.S., from coast to coast and almost everything in between.
Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) were raised by families who knew the horrors of oppression all too well. Within a few decades, the descendants of exiles would walk the halls of Congress, breathing new life into the fight against socialism through their lived experiences.
My grandfather, Jesus Pena, fought in the Army during World War II. After serving, he landed a job at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio as a mechanic and propelled our family into the middle class. I followed in his path and enlisted in the Navy at 18, where over the course of 20 years, I went from an E-1 to the rank of Navy Master Chief, the highest enlisted rank among our sailors.
That same spirit of service and love of country defines Congressional Hispanic Conference members like Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), who served under the elite Joint Special Operations Command as a bomb disposal expert. After losing both of his legs in Afghanistan, he never lost his keenness to serve. Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO) spent 12 years in the Army before returning home to his community as a lieutenant in the Arvada Police Department.
Our grit and dedication to public service have earned our members a seat on some of the most influential committees in Congress, including the House Appropriations Committee, the House Committee on Financial Services, the House Ways and Means Committee, and the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
I, alongside Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) and Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), represent large agricultural regions. From Rep. De La Cruz leading efforts to restart water deliveries from Mexico to the U.S. to help Texas farmers with drought, to Congressman Valadao bringing firsthand expertise to Congress, representing the same farmland he grew up on, renewing the voice of rural America is a core part of our mission.
De La Cruz, Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), and I represent the largest stretch of the southern border in Congress. Our communities have faced serious public safety challenges due to the migrant surges in Texas and Arizona. Working together, we’ve secured critical funding to support law enforcement, first responders, and border towns to restore law and order at our border and strengthen national security initiatives.
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Amid the divisive and radical rhetoric that suffocated Americans over the past four years, we are a breath of fresh air for those who want to see a united group of changemakers take the wheel. We are not in the business of engaging in identity politics or isolating ourselves in Washington. It’s the opposite: Our stories are American stories and a testament that the American dream is alive.
Our work is just beginning.
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) serves as the Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Conference in the U.S. House of Representatives.