American Jobs Act would be a boost for poor and middle-class families by creating jobs, extending unemployment benefits and tax cuts

WASHINGTON, DC – Following President Obama’s address to Congress, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of the 30 leading Hispanic organizations in the United States, announced its strong support for the President’s job creation plan. The American Jobs Act is a package of bi-partisan ideas to boost our economy, such as tax cuts for small businesses that create jobs and tax credits for middle class families. The plan will also put millions of Americans back to work, including teachers, first responders, construction workers, and veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The ongoing recession has shown just how economically vulnerable lower and middle income Americans can be, and Hispanics in particular have been disproportionately impacted.” said Lillian Rodríguez López, chair of NHLA. “Millions of families have watched their debt rise as their home value collapses and job opportunities remain scarce. Tonight the President presented a strong path to recovery. Congress must promptly pass the America Jobs Act if they are serious about creating jobs, rebuilding our communities, and protecting middle class families. President Obama has provided a plan, now they must act."

Between 2007 and 2009, Hispanics faced the brunt of the foreclosure crisis. Nearly 8% of Hispanic families lost their homes. Today the economic situation has hardly improved as the unemployment rate for Hispanics remains over 11%, well above the national average. As a result, poverty has spiked, with nearly a quarter of Hispanics living below the poverty line.

“President Obama’s plan gives hope to all Americans who have been laboring to find jobs or keep their businesses afloat. Hispanics were among the hardest hit by the recession and our thousands of small business owners have been fighting on the front lines of the recovery,” said Brent Wilkes, vice chair of NHLA. “Creating more opportunity for Hispanic businesses will create more jobs, which will be good not only for Latinos, but for the country as a whole. The President made a powerful case tonight, that we can only solve our economic challenges together and that Congress must act."