While she might be leaving Washington, D.C. soon, U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the dean of the Florida delegation, is helping launch a new caucus in her final term on Capitol Hill.
Ros-Lehtinen, the first Hispanic Republican woman to serve in Congress, announced on Tuesday that she was joining U.S. Reps. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., and Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., to form the Congressional Caucus For Advancement of Studio, Talent (CAST) and Film Diversity. The new group will “focus on increasing further opportunities for representation of minorities in the film and television industries."
Johnson, Ros-Lehtinen and Ruiz will all serve as co-chairs and announced they will have additional members in the weeks to come.
Ros-Lehtinen, formerly the chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and currently the chairwoman of the House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, offered her take on why the new caucus was formed.
“I joined the Congressional Caucus for Advancement of Studio, Talent and Film Diversity with my colleagues, Rep. Hank Johnson and Rep. Raul Ruiz, to initiate a movement that helps create diversity in Hollywood,” Ros-Lehtinen said. “Minorities are severely under-represented within the film industry and there is room for more faces that accurately represent our nation. It is important for our youth to have role models that they can relate and look up to, serving as inspirations for their future dreams whether to be actors/actresses, directors, or writers. By working together in Congress, we can unite in a bipartisan manner to provide further opportunities to minorities in the film industry.”
“Last year I challenged the Academy to be diverse and inclusive,” Johnson said. “This year, Oscar nominees were more diverse and that’s good, but the underlying problem has not gone away: Minorities are underrepresented in all key roles in both behind and in front of the camera. The motion picture industry has long been a crucial ally in the fight for justice and served as a long time vehicle to give people a better understanding of other people and cultures around the world. This industry has the potential to break down barriers and stereotypes. The Caucus for Advancement of Studio, Talent, and Film Diversity is going to keep the spotlight on the importance of diversity.”
“When our children and young people see their stories, their communities, their experiences, and their culture portrayed on the screen in a positive light, they are inspired to live their dreams,” Ruiz said. “There’s no better way to fulfill this vision then by increasing the diversity of on camera and off camera roles, so that actors and writers reflect the diverse community who watch their programs. I am honored to co-found the Congressional Caucus for Advancement of Studio, Talent, and Film Diversity to promote diversity in film and television in community across the country.”
First elected in a special election in 1989 to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Claude Pepper, D-Fla., Ros-Lehtinen announced earlier this year that she would not run for reelection in 2018.
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