Awards and Events News

AUSTIN, TX and SEATTLE, Wash. - August 17 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) is being named President-Elect of the prestigious National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Friday at their annual conference in Seattle, Washington. Van de Putte, the first Hispanic and the first Texan ever named President-Elect of the organization, will assume the Presidency of the organization next year.

NCSL, an effective and respected advocate for the interests of state governments before Congress and federal agencies, provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues.

"It is such an honor to be selected as the first Texan and the first Hispanic to be President-Elect of NCSL, which is the forum for America's ideas," said Senator Van de Putte, who also served as the President of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators until June 2005.

A reception, organized by The Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs and the National Association of Latino Elected Officials, will be held tonight in Van de Putte's honor. She will be officially installed in the office of President-Elect this Friday.

Leaders from Texas in both the House and Senate commended Van de Putte for her new position. "I congratulate Senator Van de Putte for being the first Texan as well as the first Hispanic ever named President-Elect of the National Conference of State Legislators," said Lt. Governor David Dewhurst. "I'm proud that Texas is represented in the premier national resource for state legislators across the nation, and I commend Senator Van de Putte for her hard work in achieving this honor."

"I would like to congratulate Senator Leticia Van de Putte on her nomination," said Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Tom Craddick. "She will make a valuable contribution to the bipartisan spirit that NCSL embodies and I wish her the best of luck."

Van de Putte is also the current Chair of both the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus and the Senate Veteran's Affairs and Military Installations Committee.

Senator Van de Putte, a legislator since 1991, represents District 26 in San Antonio. She is a pharmacist by profession and she and her husband Pete have six children, ages 16-25.



NEWS SOURCE: Office of Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte

Send2Press® is the originating wire service for this story.

PRESS RELEASE PERMALINK: http://www.send2press.com/newswire/2005-08-0817-003.shtml

For more information about this news release, contact Office of Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte directly through their Web site found in the above press release, and NOT Send2Press.

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