LATINO LEADERS DENOUNCE EXECUTIVE ORDER ATTACKING CLEAN POWER PLAN AND OTHER CRITICAL CLIMATE CHANGE SAFEGUARDS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of the nation’s preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, denounced today’s announcement that President Trump has signed an executive order rolling back crucial environmental protections. The executive order targets vital public health safeguards that protect American families from dangerous pollution and de-regulate special interests. NHLA has called for additional investments to combat climate change, curtail greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable power, conservation, energy efficiency, energy efficient vehicles, and clean fuels.

As Latino leaders, we have cause to be particularly troubled by these actions. Asthma and other respiratory diseases are more prevalent in Latinos living in inner cities near polluting power plants, truck routes, and factories. Latinos also make up a disproportionately large number of the workers in agricultural field occupations, where they are exposed to health hazards, bad air quality, and economic impacts of extreme weather. Meanwhile, Latino children are more likely to die from asthma than non-Latino white children, and many states that are home to the country’s largest Latino communities are ground zero for the impacts of climate change, including extreme heat, drought, and sea level rise.

"The administration’s actions leave American families footing the bill when it comes to the impacts of more pollution and worsening climate change, while lining the pockets of special interest groups and big oil. It is unconscionable that the Trump administration would protect and enrich polluters while putting the lives of Latinos and other Americans at risk," said Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. “Latinos need strong enforcement of environmental laws to protect our health and economic well-being, and our commitment to ensuring this happens is reflected in NHLA's Public Policy Agenda.”

"President Trump signed a far-reaching executive order attacking vital public health safeguards that protect all American – including Latino – families and workers from dangerous pollution and toxins. Any attempt to dismantle the Clean Power Plan or other environmental safeguards goes against the 70% of Latinos who want aggressive action on climate protections,” said Laura M. Esquivel, Director of National Advocacy for Hispanic Federation, and co-chair of the NHLA Energy and Environment Committee. “It’s clear that polluters are helping to write America’s energy and environmental policy and that the president will cater to the industry’s wish list rather than protect citizens. Latinos will not be silent in the face of these attacks on the health and well-being of our communities.”

“This executive order will have far-reaching impacts on vulnerable environmental justice communities like farmworkers. Farmworkers feel firsthand the economic and environmental effects of climate change but have few resources to protect themselves and their families,” said Virginia Ruiz, Director of Occupational and Environmental Health at Farmworker Justice and co-chair of the NHLA Energy and Environment Committee.

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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