Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., is officially the new speaker of the House of Representatives, and various Latino organizations appear optimistic about the congressman supporting top Latino issues.

On Thursday morning, Ryan secured more votes from fellow lawmakers of the House of Representatives, defeating House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla.

"I never thought I'd be the speaker. But early in my life, I wanted to serve in the House. I thought the place was exhilarating -- because here, you could make a difference. If you had a good idea and worked hard, you could make it happen. You could improve people's lives. To me, the House represented the best of America: the boundless opportunity to do good," Ryan said following his election.

"But let's be frank: The House is broken. We are not solving problems. We are adding to them."

Ryan called for every member in the legislative body to contribute, noting House lawmakers face elections every two years.

The National Hispanic Leadership Association (NHLA), a coalition of 40 national Latino advocacy organizations, issued their congratulations to Ryan, and invited him to work with them on advancing policies to improve the livelihoods of the Latino community and all Americans.

"[Ryan] has the opportunity to help turn the page on how his party is perceived among Latino voters," said NHLA Chair Hector Sanchez, who also serves as the executive director for the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA). "We look forward to working with him constructively to protect voting rights, implement fair economic policies and on many other issues important to Latinos and the nation as a whole."

Sanchez, however, did express concerns about reports regarding the congressman not considering a vote on immigration reform. The LCLAA executive director maintained hope to have "a fruitful dialogue" with Ryan on immigration since it affects millions of families and the U.S. economy.

Thomas Saenz, general counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), said Ryan now has the opportunity to alter the current character of Congress by supporting legislation that is vital for the country.

"Ryan can change the reputation of this Congress by marshaling support to legislate to address the key challenges our nation faces; because so many of those issues impact the Latino community substantially, an important step is for Ryan to work with the nation's largest minority group, not in opposition to or ignorance of, its critical importance," said Saenz, who also serves as the NHLA vice chair.

The Dream Action Coalition (DRC), an organization supporting undocumented immigrant youths, had also expressed hope that Ryan would usher in change in the House of Representatives. The coalition, however, is not disappointed with Ryan not allowing immigration reform for a vote while President Barack Obama is still in office.

"Ryan has started on the wrong foot, and we need to hold him accountable for his actions," read a DRC statement, noting Ryan likely conceded to "extremely anti-immigrant" lawmakers such as Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa.

The National Immigration Forum said Ryan's election is a victory for both the Republican Party and immigration reform. The organization noted Ryan has a record on immigration reform.

As Latin Post reported, the new House speaker recognizes the contributions of the immigrant community. As seen on his website, immigrants created one-fourth of all new businesses in 2011 and employed 4.7 million people. He has called for reforms in the U.S. immigration system that would uphold the rule of law and boost the economy. Although he opposed the 2013 Senate bill -- "Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act" (S. 744), Ryan believes the House can draft its own proposals.

Ryan had also championed the need for immigration reform with Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., during a forum in Chicago.

"Anti-immigrant organizations and media have proven to be paper tigers. One thing is clear: the mass deportation caucus is losing, while more and more conservative leaders are voicing their support for responsible and humane immigration reform," said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, in a statement.

"From the halls of Congress to board rooms, pulpits and fields across the country, conservatives are sending a message: the Republican Party is not represented by the anti-immigrant faction that has been dominating the airwaves."

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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