Some might be surprised to learn the number of Members in the House that speak Spanish, and do it frequently.
It seems the Spanish-speaking Members have their own little section on the House floor. The group is in no way an exclusive “club” for Hispanic Members, and includes Members of all nationalities.
The “barrio in the back” as some jokingly refer to it, includes Grace Napolitano, Silvestre Reyes, Nydia Velazquez, Mike Honda, and other congressmen.
Honda, who learned Spanish while with Green Peace in El Salvador, jokes, “You never want to see Nydia Velázquez get angry. She’ll just tongue-lash you in English or in Spanish. And José Serrano, that guy’s funnier than hell. He’s so cool. ... There’s a comfort level that they have among each other. It’s just a camaraderie that’s enhanced by the language.”
