LATINO LEADERS URGE CONGRESS TO PLACE PEOPLE AND ECONOMY FIRST AND REJECT THE TRUMP BUDGET PLAN

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of 45 of the nation’s preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, expresses deep concern with the federal budget proposal recently released by President Trump. The Trump proposal is an assault on children and working families and threatens basic living standards for millions of Americans to provide a handout for the wealthy. Trump’s plan strips $1.7 trillion in funding for federal programs that help Americans when times get tough or when wages are not enough. These cuts will have damaging and lasting impacts on the ability to maximize the contributions of Latinos and others to the economy and nation.

The Trump budget plan contravenes Latino priorities for which NHLA advocates by placing the burden of deficit reduction on society’s most vulnerable. Developing a budget offers an opportunity for the president and Congress to move our nation forward and seek protections for our country’s economic engine – U.S. working families and consumers. NHLA recognizes the incredible challenges that arise in the development of a budget that encompasses such a range of priorities; however, it is evident that cuts to essential programs sacrifice critical support for families.

President Trump’s proposed budget cuts Medicaid by $1.4 trillion over the course of a decade, in addition to requiring cuts in programs such as social security, nutrition, and rental assistance, and student financial aid that are critical social safety nets for the Latino community. The following agencies would receive significant cuts: Department of Housing and Urban Development (13.2%), Department of Labor (19.8%) and Department of Education (13.5%).

Additionally, the proposed budget dismantles the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, the very agency created after the Great Recession to protect consumers from unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices in the financial marketplace. By defunding programs and rolling back protections that are essential to the advancement of the Latino community and all Americans, President Trump’s proposal does not promote equity, reflect the values of our society, or lay a foundation that stabilizes America’s working families.

We strongly urge Members of Congress to safeguard the interests of the American public, not to mention to wisely spend taxpayer dollars, by opposing President Trump’s proposed budget.

“There are 58 million Latinos living in the United States and we are working every day to ensure that they receive the protections and tools necessary to continue their contributions to the nation. It is now the responsibility of Congress to recognize the dangers that we will face should this proposed budget become a reality. Large shifts in areas including Medicaid, the CFPB, and Social Security are unacceptable and we call on Congress to do their job and represent all people when examining this budget,” said Hector Sanchez Barba, Chair of NHLA and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

“President 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 endangers families’ health, robs taxpaying families, takes food off kitchen tables everywhere, blocks education to children, threatens consumer protection, and squanders millions of taxpayer dollars for a deportation machine and wall of intolerance,” said Eric Rodriguez, Co-Chair of NHLA’s Economic Empowerment and Labor Committee and Vice President of the National Council of La Raza. “Latinos need sufficient funding for programs and agencies that create jobs, boost wages, support education, and protect our workers and consumers, giving people a fair chance at the American Dream.”

“Significantly increasing the military budget while eliminating access to critical services for vulnerable populations, such as affordable housing, health care, food security programs, and access to civil legal services, only serves to weaken the safety and security of families and communities throughout the nation,” said Patricia Tototzintle, Co-Chair of NHLA's Latina Task Force and CEO of Casa de Esperanza: National Latino Network.

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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 45 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 G.I. Forum | ASPIRA Association | Avance Inc. | Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network | Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute | Farmworker Justice | Green Latinos | Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities | Hispanic Federation | Hispanic National Bar Association | Inter-University Program for Latino Research | Labor Council for Latin American Advancement | LatinoJustice PRLDEF | League of United Latin American Citizens | MANA, A National Latina Organization | Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund | Mi Familia Vota | National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures | National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives | National Association of Hispanic Publications | National Day Laborer Organizing Network | NALEO Educational Fund | National Association of Latino Independent Producers | National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. | National Council of La Raza | 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/o Psychological Association | National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health | Presente.org | SER Jobs for Progress National | 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