FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org
Emphasizing the ongoing unemployment crisis and dwindling resources for vital programs that serve Latino children and families, Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR (National Council of La Raza), commended President Obama’s call in last night’s State of the Union address to stop the automatic budget cuts that are scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2013. Preventing more cuts to job training, child care and education is critical, Murguía said, and cannot be done in a way that puts the middle class even further out of reach for Latino families.
“We agree with President Obama that Congress should halt this reckless approach to deficit reduction,” said Murguía. “Latinos understand that cutting federal programs that invest in children and working families will only lead to further job losses and undermine the future prosperity of our economy and our country.
“Hardworking Latinos already face a number of barriers to climbing the ladder to basic economic security, which is why lawmakers must push to strengthen and expand the middle class. We can do that by investing in our economy and creating a strong, vibrant and healthy Latino workforce. Improving access to affordable health care and housing, investing in job training and making sure our communities are safe are just some of the important steps that will improve life for Hispanics in this country. And we are particularly pleased with the president’s bold commitment to guarantee that every child in this country is afforded the opportunity to receive a quality education starting in preschool, which is perhaps one of the most critical investments with the potential to advance our children and our community.”
Murguía also noted the importance that passing immigration reform will play in getting the U.S. economy back on track: “Now is the time to pass comprehensive reform that provides a roadmap to citizenship for 11 million aspiring Americans, creates a fair and equitable immigration system, protects the needs of workers and respects the dignity of all families. Immigration reform is unquestionably a boon to our economy that would remove uncertainty from the lives of so many families, who would finally be able to earn higher wages and pursue the American Dream.
“This is a new dawn for President Obama and Congress. It’s time for politics to take a backseat, and for the health of the economy and the American people to be front and center.”
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