By the year 2040, Hispanics will represent about 25 percent of the American population, Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortes said at a forum yesterday.

The forum was sponsored by Penn State's Commission for Racial/Ethnic Diversity and cosponsored by the Commission for Women and the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equity.

There are 40 million Hispanics in the United States, Cortes said to the audience of about 80 people. He reminded them how much Hispanics have contributed to America's history.

Spaniards established Florida 40 years before the British established James-town. There are several cities named after Spanish people and places, such as San Diego and Los Angeles.

They have also had a leading role in America's armed forces, participating in every battle from the Civil War to the latest conflict in Iraq.

"Pennsylvania realizes the importance of assimilating the Hispanic culture into America," Cortes said. "We are trying to embrace the diversity, we are doing everything we can to assure every child from every background gets an equal opportunity for an education," he added.

Cortes spent the rest of the hour-long forum discussing his duties as secretary of the commonwealth, as well as the importance of incorporating diversity into American culture, specifically Hispanics and Latinos. He is the first Hispanic cabinet member in Pennsylvania history and the first state secretary of state of Puerto Rican decent in the United States.

"I strongly believe I have the best job in the state government," Cortes said. "My department touches more people's lives in Pennsylvania than any other department ... we touch people from the cradle to the grave."

The secretary of commonwealth's responsibilities include licensing businesses and charities, overseeing the electoral process, dealing with campaign finance, supervising the state athletic commission and providing public access to all this information.

"I spent almost half of my speech talking about my job because we need more ambassadors, plus it gives you more trivia for cocktail parties," Cortes said.

Cortes was previously the executive director of the Pennsylvania Governor's Advisory Commision on Latino Affairs. There he helped enhance the status of the Latino community in Pennsylvania. He recommended and created programs, policies and procedures to improve the Latino community's economic and social status in the state.

"I am always working toward creating a balance of American and Latino pride," Cortes said. "I want to show that we aren't isolationists, we want to have a role in America and contribute to this wonderful country."

Patricia Hayes, assistant to the director of Information and Diversity Programs, said she was glad Cortes was available to the university and the community. "It is important to hear about the growing demographics of Latinos," Hayes said. "Opportunity is key and Cortes is using his authority to doing wonderful things for the state."