WASHINGTON, March 1, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) applauds Edith Ramirez's appointment as Chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), where she will oversee matters such as consumer protection, fraud prevention, deceptive and unfair business practices, and online privacy protection.
Edith Ramirez is an intellectual property attorney, who graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School and served as editor of the Harvard Law Review from 1990-1991. Ramirez has a successful law career specializing in complex business litigation, intellectual property law and trademark disputes, representing corporations like Mattel Inc. and Northrop Grumman Corp. In 2008, she served as the Obama campaign's Latino outreach director in California. In 2010, Ramirez was sworn in as a commissioner for the FTC and is now set to replace outgoing Chairman Jon Leibowitz.
"Commissioner Ramirez has proven herself an effective advocate for balancing the interests of the country's consumers and businesses -- a key attribute for sound leadership at the FTC. We congratulate the President's efforts on his commitment to appoint Hispanics to high level positions within his Administration, and we are proud that Commissioner Ramirez will be the first Latina to serve as Chairwoman of the FTC," said USHCC President & CEO Javier Palomarez. "Hispanics and other minority groups are often the first victims of predatory practices against consumers and online identity fraud. Ms. Ramirez's outstanding record shows that she will continue efforts to ensure a free and fair Internet marketplace, which will benefit the Hispanic business community and all Americans."
The FTC oversees antitrust and consumer protection matters, including deceptive advertising claims and anti-pyramid scheme enforcement. In recent years, Ramirez's law practice has focused on intellectual property law in technology, with much of her career centered on protecting vulnerable communities, such as low-income clients and non-English speakers. She has continued this work as commissioner for the FTC, leading a Hispanic outreach effort fighting against fraudulent practices that target immigrant and low-income consumers.
"We are proud that Edith Ramirez will continue to serve as one of the nation's leading advocates for Hispanic consumers. The USHCC looks forward to working with Chairwoman Ramirez and the FTC on their ongoing efforts to protect all vulnerable consumers against fraudulent practices," added USHCC Board of Directors Chairman Marc Rodriguez.
About the USHCC
Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and represents the interests of over 3 million Hispanic-owned businesses across the United States that contribute in excess of $465 billion to the American economy each year. It also serves as the umbrella organization for more than 200 local Hispanic chambers and business associations in the United States and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit www.ushcc.com.