Roll Call
Pence Is Mystery Winner of Hispanic Leadership Award
May 20, 2010, 6:48 p.m.
By Jennifer Bendery
Roll Call Staff
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Updated: May 20, 7:08 p.m.

House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence is receiving a leadership achievement award for his contributions to the Hispanic community, but nobody — including Pence — can seem to figure out why.

The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute is bestowing its 2010 public service award to Pence in a Thursday night ceremony because of “his extraordinary sensitivity toward and friendship with the U.S. Hispanic community," according to a statement by Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), who is board chairman for the nonprofit.

But GOP and Democratic lawmakers who have played a hand in advancing priorities to the Hispanic community, including comprehensive immigration reform, said they were puzzled by the honor. Even Pence was unsure of why he was being given the award.

“I’ll know better tonight after they say why they gave it to me,â€