I attended the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast, hosted by Esperanza. A couple of us from the Latino Leadership Circle were there. I had the opportunity of connecting with Hispanic Clergy from around the nation and neighboring countries, to pray and act on behalf of the Hispanic Community in the United States.
Of particular concern was the current Immigration Reform Bill. To our dismay the bill was almost dead when we arrived in Washington. But after much lobbying by the President, media attention, particularly Latino Radio Personality, Piolin's more that 1 million letters, our lobbying on Thursday and our prayers, the bill was resurrected. My colleague, Pastor Jose Humpheys said that "it was as if everything aligned." 
We felt that we were part of history as we received the news that Thursday night that the bill was back in the Senate.President Bush made an appearance Friday morning at the Esperanza Breakfast.
He expressed that Hispanic Clergywill be instrumental in getting an immigration reform bill passed. Other notable speakers were Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Gov. Howard Dean, Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA)
who received the Esperanza Leadership Award, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Carlos M. Gutierrez, and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton(D-NY).
The Esperanza Spirit Award was given to Dr. Virgilio Elizondo and to the Rev. Eldin Villafañe, Ph.D., for exemplary ministerial service. And the Esperanza Advocate Award was given to Mr. Juan Hernández and to Mr. Eddie Sotelo “Piolín” for advocacy on behalf of the Hispanic faith based community.
The Immigration reform bill is currently in the Senate and looks to be heavily amended, and rightly so, its implementation seems unclear in many cases and at least 3 million of the undocumented would be left out if it were to be implemented as is. Nevertheless, this bill represents an opportunity to set things in motion and give a path of legalization to over 12 million good and hard working members of our society. Please continue to pray for this reform.
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Click here to support Comprehensive Immigration Reform
who received the Esperanza Leadership Award, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Carlos M. Gutierrez, and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton(D-NY). The Esperanza Spirit Award was given to Dr. Virgilio Elizondo and to the Rev. Eldin Villafañe, Ph.D., for exemplary ministerial service. And the Esperanza Advocate Award was given to Mr. Juan Hernández and to Mr. Eddie Sotelo “Piolín” for advocacy on behalf of the Hispanic faith based community.
The Immigration reform bill is currently in the Senate and looks to be heavily amended, and rightly so, its implementation seems unclear in many cases and at least 3 million of the undocumented would be left out if it were to be implemented as is. Nevertheless, this bill represents an opportunity to set things in motion and give a path of legalization to over 12 million good and hard working members of our society. Please continue to pray for this reform.
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Click here to support Comprehensive Immigration Reform
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