There are a host of important natural resource challenges quickly bearing down on the new administration that require immediate attention — perhaps none more serious in America’s western states than the management and fate of the Colorado River.

Earlier this week Hispanic Access as part of the America’s Voice for Conservation, Recreation, and Preservation Coalition sent a letter to Congress requesting additional funding to support the conservation protection of America’s wildlife, lands and water and the associated economic and recreational benefits.

Environmental protections and regulations, like the Bureau of Land Management’s Methane and Waste Prevention Rule, address real issues affecting the health and prosperity of Americans and our environment. Americans are put at risk when our elected officials fail to look past party lines and see the necessity of the BLM Methane and Waste Prevention Rule and the wide array of benefits it offers.

Five Latino groups announced the formation of a new campaign, The partnership includes Hispanic Access Foundation; HECHO; Chispa Nevada, League of Conservation Voters; Mi Familia Vota; and Por la Creación Faith-based Alliance.

The Bureau of Land Management’s Methane and Waste Prevention Rule represents some of the best values of conservatism and is smart energy, public health and economic policy. In response to the recent House vote on this rule, I write this letter:

Today, five Latino groups announced the formation of a new initiative, “Latino Partnership to Cut Waste, Protect Our Health.” The partnership includes Hispanic Access Foundation; HECHO; Chispa Nevada, League of Conservation Voters; Mi Familia Vota; and Por la Creación Faith-based Alliance.

Mountain West voters weighed in on the Trump Administration's priorities for managing the use and protection of national public lands in a new Colorado College State of the Rockies Project Conservation in the West Poll released today.

With the new year comes a time of reflection for many of us. As I look back to 2016, I’m remembering a special trip I made to the California desert. Along with a group from El Nuevo Comienzo church, we explored Amboy Crater, and climbed the black cinder cone crater in the middle of the expansive, earth-toned desert.

Over the last three years, conservation and environmental advocates have taken important steps to investigate the perspectives of Latino voters on a broad range of pressing issues. This research brief highlights evidence from nine different surveysi of the Latino electorate conducted between 2011 and 2014. The results across these studies produce consistent results indicating that Hispanics have clear, established views on conservation and environmental issues. More specifically, Latino voters consistently articulate concern about pollution, and global warming, and are overwhelmingly supportive of a broad policy agenda actively addressing these problems. Furthermore, this segment of the electorate views economic growth as perfectly compatible with conservation and a clean-environment policy agenda. Hispanic voters want policy makers to take clean air and natural resource preservation considerations into account when making decisions about energy policy and other developments with a direct impact on the physical environment.

Paula is currently the Vice President of Finance at First Book, a social-enterprise organization that provides educational materials to children in need, with the belief that education is the best way out of poverty and a matter of social justice. Paula is responsible for overseeing the daily accounting and finance functions of the organization’s $130 million budget and providing strategic and leadership direction to the Finance department. Paula closely collaborates with members of the Executive team to ensure Financial functions align with strategic goals and organizational growth. Previously, Paula was the National Projects and Finance Director at Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options, a grassroots organization where she supervised all financial and administrative matters while providing strategic planning advice to the President and Board of Directors. Paula currently splits her time between Washington, DC and Manchester, MA with her husband and two daughters.