New York Representative Adriano Espaillat, of New York’s 13th Congressional District, hosted his fifth annual Dominicans on the Hill celebration on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., featuring guest speakers and appearances from a number of elected and appointed officials. 

Held every year during Dominican Heritage Month, the event was created by Espaillat to highlight the growing civic engagement of the Dominican American community. 

Since it first started over five years ago, the event has become a signature event attended by community leaders, professionals, students, and elected officials of Dominican descent. 

“As one of the fastest groups of Latino communities, Dominican Americans are increasing our presence in population and representation at every level of our government, not only in New York, but throughout New Jersey, Florida, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and numerous other communities around the nation,” Espaillat said in a letter. 

“With our growing representation, it remains critical that our voices are expressed on the issues and challenges facing our community, especially as it relates to economic development, health. immigration, education, and business,” he added. 

The conference kicked off earlier in the day at 10:00 a.m. with an exhibition in the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) Atrium highlighting Dominicans in baseball as well as the U.S. occupations of the Dominican Republic. 

The full event began at noon also in the CVC Auditorium with guests U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ). 

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), new Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán, Dominican Republic Ambassador to the United States Sonia Guzmán, and more were also present. 

Celebrity guests included National Baseball Hall of Famers Pedro Martínez and Juan Marichal, among others. 

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) was also there to be specially recognized, as well as Special Presidential Advisor for the Americas, Senator Christopher Dodd and Richard L. Revesz, Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). 

“Doctor Anthony Fauci is an American hero. Our nation is eternally grateful for your service and dedication. I am humbled to present you with today’s Special Recognition and honor,” Espaillat tweeted. 

Other recognitions included one for Hall of Famer Marichal, a former Dominican Major League baseball player who was on three teams from 1960 to 1975, but almost entirely with the San Francisco Giants. 

Marichal won 18 games to help the Giants reach the 1962 World Series and went on to earn 191 victories in the 1960s, the most of any major league pitcher.

Rhode Island Lt. Gov Sabina Matos was also recognized. She’s Dominican American and the 70th lieutenant governor in Rhode Island’s history. She was the first Latina and Black Woman lieutenant governor and the first Dominican American elected to statewide office in the U.S. 

President Joe Biden also made sure to let attendees know how he feels about the Dominican American community in the U.S. 

“This celebration of Dominican culture and its contributions to our great Nation come amid historic investments that will build a better America,” he said. 

“My Administration is working to ensure that the Dominican American community benefits from our resilience in a changing climate and our investments in America's roads, water systems, high-speed Internet, and health care,” Biden added. 

Former journalist and GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, Rep. Dwight Evans, freshman Gen-Z Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost, Rep. Vicente González, Rep. Raul Ruiz former CHC Chair, Rep. Darren Soto, Rep. Norma Torres, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Rep. Susan Wild and more representatives were also present. 

Former two-time Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, was also at the event to award Staff Sergeant Aquilino Gonell for his contributions and fight to protect the capitol from rioters during the Jan. 6 attack on the capitol. 

Espaillat was especially proud to see what the event had grown to in its five-year existence. 

“Thank you all for making this year’s @DominicansHill the most memorable and successful yet!” he tweeted.