Puerto Rico Senate president to lead US caucus

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) The president of Puerto Rico's Senate has been chosen as the new leader of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators.

Eduardo Bhatia assumed the presidency Saturday of the Washington D.C.-based nonpartisan organization. It has some 400 members and serves as an advocate for more than 52 million Hispanics living across the U.S.

Bhatia spoke about the importance of eradicating poverty and the power of the Latino vote after being elected president.

He also said he would seek to strengthen the ties between the U.S. territory and Puerto Ricans living in the U.S. mainland.