Senator Mel Martinez Joins CHLI Board

Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Leadership

Institute Board of Directors.

“It is an honor to become part of such an effective organization that is committed to helping all Hispanics

achieve the American Dream. I look forward to working with my colleagues as we advance CHLI’s

goals,” said

Senator Mel Martinez.

Melquiades “Mel” Rafael Martinez was sworn in as Florida’s thirty-third Senator on January 4, 2005 and

became the first Cuban-American to serve in the U.S. Senate. Martinez currently serves on the Foreign

Relations, Banking, Energy and Aging Committees. Prior to being elected to the Senate, President

George W. Bush appointed Martinez as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). At

HUD, Martinez helped further the goals of an ‘ownership society’ by promoting home-ownership for

low-income workers and minorities. In 1998, he became County Mayor of Orange County. Martinez

received his undergraduate and law degrees from Florida State University.

The Institute’s board members include Members of Congress, corporate executives, and community

leaders who volunteer their time and talents to CHLI.

The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) is a 501 (C ) (3) non-profit and non-partisan

organization dedicated to creating a broader awareness of the diversity of thought, heritage, interests and

views of millions of Americans of Hispanic and Portuguese descent. For more information, please visit: