WASHINGTON (AP) - How many Hispanic members are in the House? Turns out narrowing it to one number is not easy.

There's no dispute about the Senate, which has three Hispanic members. The House, however, is another matter.

The House Press Gallery, an administrative office of Congress that helps media get the data and background they need for coverage, counts 33 Hispanic representatives in the 113th Congress, not including delegates. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, a nonprofit affiliated with the caucus, puts the number at 31. The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials tallies 28.

The conflicting numbers illustrate just how elastic Hispanic identity can be. Aides to at least two representatives listed by the House Press Gallery as Hispanic told The Associated Press the lawmakers do not consider themselves Hispanic.

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2/5/2013 12:03:47 AM (GMT -8:00)

Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.