Mar 22, 2013 - Latino Leaders: Congress Must Stop Playing Budget Politics at the Expense of Low- and Middle-Income Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of thirty of the nation's leading Hispanic organizations, issued this statement following the U.S. House of Representatives vote yesterday to pass the Ryan Budget.

Hector Sanchez, chair of NHLA, said:

"Yesterday, the House passed the Ryan Budget, continuing a disturbing trend of budget decisions made with no regard for our nation's vulnerable and striving families. Instead of investing in job creation and our future leaders, Congress has--again and again--chosen to play political games at our country's expense.

"Sequestration dropped hundreds of thousands of adults from job training programs and slashed education assistance for millions of students--from preschool to college. The Ryan Budget further attacks education and job training programs, dismantles Medicare and Medicaid, and slashes research and transportation funding all while reducing tax rates for the extremely wealthy.

"Deficit reduction and fair tax policy are serious and important goals--much too important to play politics with. NHLA urges Congress to find real solutions that invest in our future instead of balancing the budget on the backs of families still recovering from the Great Recession."

Established in 1991, The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) brings together Hispanic 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

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