The first Hispanic Representative from Illinois, Luis Gutiérrez, was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 10, 1953. In 1975 he graduated from Northeastern Illinois University, and for the next ten years worked as a teacher and a social worker. He taught in the public schools of Puerto Rico and Chicago, and was a social worker for the Illinois State Department of Children and Family Services. From 1984 to 1985 he was the administrative assistant for the mayor's subcommittee on infrastructure. From 1986 to 1993 he served as an alderman on the Chicago City Council.

In 1992 Gutiérrez won the general election to the U.S. House of Representatives with seventy-eight percent of the vote and was reelected in 1994 with seventy-five percent of the vote. He represents Chicago's Fourth District. Gutiérrez was able to bring his experience in urban housing policy in Chicago to his seat on the Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs Committee, where he served on the Subcommittees on Consumer Credit and Insurance, and Housing and Community Development. He also serves on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. He has shown

Gutierrez said Gramm's bill fell short of what the Hispanic Caucus would accept, but said it did recognize the need to update the legal status of many Hispanics living and working illegally in the United States. "The Hispanic Caucus is never going to be in favor of a guest worker program that exploits our workers without allowing them to adjust their status," he said. Gutierrez expressed optimism that a bill could move in a GOP-controlled Congress, driven partly by labor needs. "I think we move it along from a pro-immigrant position," Gutierrez said. "I think Phil Gramm moves it along from an agribusiness standpoint." Gutierrez also said the population growth of Hispanics — who account for 12.5 percent of the nation's population, according to 2000 census data — has occurred in some unexpected areas and is likely to increase their prominence. In Illinois, he noted many Hispanics have moved out of Chicago into the districts of GOP Rep. Judy Biggert and House Speaker Hastert.

a strong interest in issues dealing with Puerto Rico. He has maintained an interest in democracy in the international arena; he went to El Salvador as an observer of the 1994 elections.

Congressman Luis Gutierrez's political committees are

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