Leticia Van de Putte Texas Senator, Dist. 26

During the National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) 2006 annual meeting held in Nashville this summer, I became the first Texas legislator and first Hispanic to lead the organization as president. I am very excited to tell you about my new role as president of NCSL, as it is an additional opportunity to serve my constituents’ interests nation-wide.

NCSL , The Forum for America’s Ideas, is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation’s 50 states, commonwealths and territories, and of which all state legislators throughout the nation are a member. NCSL represents over 250 million people of varying political ideologies, backgrounds and economic conditions.

NCSL provides an opportunity for legislators to share innovative ideas for confronting and solving the problems faced by a diverse constituency. Individuals, small businesses and families alike are all affected by the decisions made within the walls of our 50 state capitols and NCSL plays a vital role in these decisions. The organization is a valuable and respected advocate for the benefit of our state governments before Congress and federal agencies.

As president-elect of NCSL, I have facilitated a bipartisan task force on immigration reform. Although immigration is under federal jurisdiction, it affects state governments, especially border states like Texas, and this forum allows state legislators to form consensus policy as debate continues on a federal level.

NCSL serves as one of the most important tools that legislators across the nation have for sharing information and solutions to common problems. As NCSL President, I will be in an exceptional position to highlight the needs of District 26 and I will be on the forefront of issues affecting the nation.

Our state legislatures are the very examples of representative democracy envisioned by our constitution. As I begin this challenging year, I am honored and humbled to have been selected by my peers to this important position.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office with questions regarding my role as NCSL President or any other issue at 733-6604.