California Representative Nanette Barragán is the New Croatian Caucus Co-Chair in the US Congress

NFCA Announces California Representative Nanette Barragán as the New Croatian Caucus Co-Chair in the US Congress

March 15, 2017 - For immediate release

Washington, DC - The National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation (NFCA) is pleased to announce that US Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán of California’s 44th District will become our next Congressional Croatian Caucus Co- Chair. She will join Congressman David Joyce of Ohio as our Caucus leaders.

Ms. Barragán was elected to the 115th Congress in November, filling the vacated seat of former Rep. Janice Hahn. Her Congressional District includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts/Willowbrook, and Wilmington. NFCA President Steve Rukavina noted: “The NFCA is very pleased that we will have a new Co-Chair for our Caucus in the Congress who will continue to represent the many energetic Croatian Americans of San Pedro, the largest concentration of the Croatian diaspora west of the Mississippi River. Congresswoman Barragán’s position on the Homeland Security Committee will also be important for issues of interest to the NFCA, the Republic of Croatia, and our many active Croatian American communities throughout the country."

“It is important that the U.S. and Croatia maintain good relations,” said Rep. Barragán. “I look forward to working with my Croatian American neighbors in San Pedro and across the 44th District.”

Croatia's Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Josko Paro, said in regards to Congresswoman Barragan becoming the new Croatian Caucus Co-Chair: “We are excited to have Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán become a Co-Chair of the Congressional Croatian Caucus. She will join the very effective Representative David Joyce of Ohio to lead our large Caucus in the US House of Representatives. The Embassy and the Croatian American community will continue to have good ears, eyes, and voices in the Congress in the coming years. I look to continue our superb bilateral relations between our two countries, which have been assiduously established over the years."

NFCA’s current priorities before the US Congress include the promotion of greater economic and political stability in the region and the development of focused attention on the current political, economic, and religious difficulties of Croatians living in Bosnia and Herzegovina. President Rukavina said: "The NFCA remains committed to partnering with the US State Department to help bring more stability to Southeast Europe. Also, we are encouraged to see efforts recently by the European Parliament to pass a resolution that would enhance needed federalization and better guarantee equal rights for all in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

For further response on this press announcement, please contact Joe Foley, NFCA Public Affairs Director in Washington, on (301) 294-0937 or foleygovtaffairs@verizon.net.

The NFCA is the national umbrella organization established in 1993 for Croatian Americans, related professional associations, and the many fraternal lodges that collectively represent approximately 90,000 members. For individual membership and chapter information, recent newsletters, opportunities to donate to the NFCA, and for other Croatian American news please visit our web site: www.nfcacf.org .

Pictured left to right: NFCA Public Affairs Director Joe Foley, Rep. Nanette Barragán of California, Croatian Ambassador Josko Paro, and NFCA National Secretary Vlatka Persin in the US Capitol