President Creates Advisory Panel to Help Latino Students
Surrounded by Latino musicians, President Bush celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by creating a commission to give him ideas for improving academic achievement by Latin Americans.
The 25-member commission, Bush said Friday, will “open new doors of opportunity for Hispanic boys and girls all across America.”
Cuban American singer Gloria Estefan performed “The Last Goodbye,” penned in honor of the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.
“Mi Casa Blanca es su Casa Blanca”--my White House is your White House, Bush said, welcoming 18 Latino dignitaries and celebrities, including ambassadors, administration officials and pro baseball stars.
One of those introduced was Miguel Estrada, Bush’s stalled nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The president appealed to Senate Democrats to get moving on Estrada’s confirmation.
“You know, there’s a lot of talk in Washington about making sure we have diversity on the courts, and there should be,” Bush said. “Get him moving before it’s too late.”
Estrada is a partner in the Washington firm that represented Bush at the Supreme Court during his postelection legal fight with Democrat Al Gore.
The panel has until March 31, 2003, to present a plan for improving the performance of Latino students.
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