LATINO LEADERS CALL ON CONGRESS TO BLOCK DESTRUCTIVE BUDGET PROPOSAL

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of 40 of the nation’s preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, is extremely concerned with varying aspects of the proposed federal budget released by the White House. The President’s proposed budget threatens progress in areas including, but not limited to: immigration, environment, agriculture, job training, occupational safety, health, and education.

Hispanics—a young, aspiring, and growing segment of the American people— want a budget that can help create a bright future for all. The federal budget, which should reflect the highest priorities and values of our society, offers an opportunity to invest in a more inclusive economic agenda that puts workers, families, and students at the forefront. At the same time, we recognize that there are many key functions, like national security, that must be accounted for in the budget, but policymakers must not lose sight of the needs of millions of Americans, including the 11 million Latino workers who earn poverty-level wages. Toward that end, we advocate for a budget that protects the most vulnerable from cuts, creates jobs, promotes economic mobility, and shares responsibility fairly for deficit reduction.

President Trump’s proposal fails in these respects. President Trump’s proposed cuts from departments such as Housing and Urban Development ($6.2 billion), Health and Human Services ($12.6 billion), Education ($9 billion), Labor ($2.5 billion), and Agriculture ($5 billion) directly hinder low-income communities’ ability to achieve a better quality of life by spurring upward mobility. These cuts include slashing job training, occupational safety and health, student-aid and work study, economic development for both rural and urban areas, and housing assistance programs, critical pillars in our nation’s social safety net.

By defunding programs that are essential to the advancement of the Latino community and all Americans, President Trump’s proposal does not put the needs of the American people first, promote equity, or reflect the values of our society. Members of Congress must take a stand and reject this budget. We strongly urge you to safeguard the interests of the American public, not to mention to wisely spend taxpayer dollars, by opposing President Trump’s proposed budget.

“Congress has both the power and responsibility to reject the proposed budget, as it does not reflect the needs of the entire population in the United States. The significant cuts to program areas that benefit the Latino community and nation as a whole demonstrate the narrow lens the administration is using when assessing what is best for the country. To approve this budget means damage to some of the most critical policy areas including education, health, and the environment,” said Hector Sanchez, Chair of NHLA and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

“Trump's extreme budget proposal amounts to a cruel vision of America's future, callously impoverishing millions of families, slashing access to the justice system, and causing untold numbers of preventable deaths, illnesses and injuries. Particularly affected would be rural communities, where many farmworkers live and work to produce our food. A budget is a statement of values, and Trump's budget is morally bankrupt,” said Bruce Goldstein, Co-Chair of the NHLA Economic Empowerment and Labor Committee and President of Farmworker Justice.

“Trump’s federal budget makes America more poor, sick, and unsafe, slashing resources to critical programs that have provided families a safety net. These proposed cuts would hit the Latino community especially hard, as it means less investment in education, job-training, and infrastructure,” said Eric Rodriguez, Vice President of the National Council of La Raza and Co-Chair of NHLA’s Economic Empowerment and Labor Committee. “Latinos, and all Americans, need sufficient funding for important programs and activities that reinvest in youth and working families, giving our nation’s workforce the tools to achieve a better quality of life by spurring upward mobility and moving families away from living paycheck-to-paycheck.”

“As an organization that fights for health, dignity and justice, NLIRH is deeply troubled by the explicit priorities the Trump administration lays out in his budget proposal. We are outraged by the clear message that this White House is sending to all of us: that corporate profits matter more than people. If approved by Congress, the proposed program cuts would pay for tax breaks to the wealthiest while taking away lifelines for those who need it most. Immigrant communities will continue to be criminalized and the health and education of Latinx families will suffer. Instead, the budget prioritizes funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border that would only stand as a monument to the contempt this administration has for immigrants. This plan is nothing short of cruel,” said Jessica González-Rojas, Co-Chair of NHLA’s Latina Task Force and Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health

“The President’s proposed budget undermines our nation’s principles by reducing core funding in education, health care, access to affordable housing, environmental protection, and programs for the poor and elderly. These actions do not make our nation stronger, but rather weaken important foundations in our society,” said Patricia Tototzintle, Co-Chair of NHLA’s Latina Task Force and CEO of Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network. “It is imperative that Congress take appropriate steps to protect this funding and strengthen our nation’s commitment to supporting healthy families and communities.”

“Budgets are a direct representation of a president’s values. This budget tells us that the President is intent on prioritizing government contractors over the needs of struggling Americans. His agenda slashes crucial programs for the urban and rural poor and tears apart families. This is not a reflection of our country’s priorities and values,” said Maria Teresa Kumar, NHLA Member and President and CEO of VotoLatino.

"Although the National Education Association/the National Endowment for the Humanities and Corporation for Public Broadcasting have historically underfunded Latino artists, National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts out of principle, opposes Trump's art funding cuts. We stand for the arts," said Felix Sanchez, NHLA Member and Chairman and Co-founder of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts.

“We urge members of Congress to reject the latest budget from the White House, which calls for a 21% overall cut to the Department of Labor and the elimination of the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). Since 2003, SER National has received SCSEP funding from the United States Department of Labor and we are proud to provide diverse employment opportunities for older Americans who play a critical role in the country’s workforce. We hope that members of Congress, regardless of their party affiliation, recognize the essential work of SCSEP and do everything in power to keep funding this vital lifeline for many Americans over the age of 55,” said Ignacio Salazar, NHLA Board Member and President and CEO of SER– Jobs for Progress National, Inc.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
| Michael Torra | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 425-0582 |
| Brenda Arredondo | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (915) 373-1483 |

ABOUT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP AGENDA

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda is composed of 40 of the leading national and regional Latino civil rights and public policy organizations and other elected officials, and prominent Latinos Americans. NHLA coalition members represent the diversity of the Latino community – Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Latino Americans. NHLA’s mission calls for unity among Latinos around the country to provide the Latino community with greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s affairs. NHLA brings together Latino leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit: www.nationalhispanicleadership.org.

NHLA MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

Alianza Americas | American GI Forum | ASPIRA Association, Inc. | Avance | Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network | Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute | Farmworker Justice | Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities | Hispanic Federation | Hispanic National Bar Association | Inter-University Program for Latino Research | Labor Council for Latin American Advancement | Latino Justice PRLDEF | League of United Latin American Citizens | MANA, A National Latina Organization | Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund | NALEO Educational Fund | National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives | National Association of Hispanic Publications | National Association of Latino Independent Producers | National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. | National Council of La Raza | National Hispana Leadership Institute | National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators | National Hispanic Council on Aging | National Hispanic Environmental Council | National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts | National Hispanic Media Coalition | National Hispanic Medical Association | National Institute for Latino Policy | National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health | National Puerto Rican Coalition, Inc. | Presente.org | SER – Jobs for Progress National, Inc. | Southwest Voter Registration Education Project | United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | United States Hispanic Leadership Institute | United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce | U.S.-Mexico Foundation | Voto Latino