The Diplomat
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has awarded the Plaque of Honor of the Order of Isabella the Catholic to the National Hispanic Caucus, a nonpartisan, non-profit organization representing nearly 500 Hispanic state legislators from the United States and Puerto Rico, for “building bridges between the United States and Spain.”
The ceremony took place this Wednesday during a meeting between the Minister and the Steering Committee of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators of the United States, at the Ministry headquarters in the Palacio de Viana in Madrid.
“The National Hispanic Caucus performs outstanding Hispanic leadership in the United States. The Hispanic community has been part of the history of that country since its inception,” Albares posted on social media. “Today we are awarding them the Plaque of Honor of the Order of Isabella the Catholic for their work building bridges between the US and Spain,” he added.
The National Hispanic Caucus (NHCSL) was founded in 1989 by Larry Trujillo, a Colorado state senator and then-minority leader in the Senate. Currently, this organization represents more than 470 Hispanic state legislators in the United States and Puerto Rico with the mission of representing their interests and enhancing their ability to positively impact public policy and the quality of life for all segments of the Hispanic community, according to its website.
To this end, the NHCSL acts as a catalyst for joint action at all levels of government—from the White House and Congress to state and local offices—on issues of common interest. It provides technical assistance and resources to help legislators propose policy and legislative actions that support education, healthcare, housing and economic development, criminal justice, Latino civic engagement, and job training and employment opportunities for Hispanic communities, among other areas.
Furthermore, the NHCSL advocates for the appointment of Hispanics to positions of influence at all levels and branches of government, as well as for the hiring and promotion of Hispanics to positions of influence in the private sector.
The Order of Isabella the Catholic is, hierarchically, the second most important distinction in Spain, after that of Charles III, but it is considered the most prestigious in the field of foreign relations. The Plaque of Honor is awarded to corporations, institutions, legal entities, organizations, or public or private bodies that have contributed to the good of Spain and to fostering friendly relations and international cooperation.
Established by King Ferdinand VII on March 14, 1815, as the “Royal and American Order of Isabella the Catholic,” with the aim of “rewarding unwavering loyalty and merits acquired in favor of the prosperity of those territories,” it was reorganized in 1847, when it became known simply as the “Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic.” According to its Regulations, this new name distinguishes “extraordinary acts of a civil nature, performed by Spanish and foreign persons, that benefit the Nation or contribute significantly to fostering friendly relations and cooperation between the Spanish Nation and the rest of the International Community.”
The King serves as Grand Master of the Order, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as Grand Chancellor, submits proposals for the awarding of the Order’s higher degrees to the Council of Ministers, which grants them by Royal Decree. More than 70,000 people worldwide have this distinction in one of its various levels.
