Congressional Democrats will host the fifth annual Hispanic Leadership Summit on Thursday, focusing on encouraging greater political participation by the growing minority population. [IMGCAP(1)]

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (S.D.), Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Byron Dorgan (N.D.), Hispanic Caucus Chairman Ciro Rodriguez (Texas) and the House Democratic Caucus chairman, Rep. Bob Menendez (N.J.), are among those scheduled to participate at the event.

The summit is dubbed “In our Hands: Increasing Latino Civic Participation.” The summit will also include discussions of a report on the challenges facing Hispanics and an outline of Democratic proposals to address minority community issues.

Olympic Memento. House International Relations Chairman Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) will present a trio of wreaths from the 2004 Summer Olympic Games medal ceremonies to Architect of the Capitol Alan Hantman today.

The wreaths, a gift to the U.S. Botanic Garden from the Olympic Organizing Committee in Athens, were handmade from the branches of olive trees from the Greek island of Crete for this year’s medal winners — a tradition that dates back to the inaugural games in 776 B.C. Hantman is the garden’s acting director.

The wreaths will be preserved and incorporated into the Botanic Garden’s permanent collection. One will be on display beginning in spring 2005 as part of a permanent exhibit on the influence of plants on human culture. The ceremony will take place at 3:30 p.m. in the Botanic Garden Conservatory’s West Gallery.

— Erin P. Billings and Bree Hocking