PRESS RELEASE
March 5, 2014

LATINO LEADERS PRAISE UNANIMOUS COMMITTEE SUPPORT FOR MARIA CONTRERAS-SWEET AS SBA ADMINISTRATOR
NHLA urges swift Senate Floor Vote for Latina business and community leader who would be second Latino in President's Cabinet and highest-ranking Latina in the Administration

Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) today praised Senators on the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee for unanimously supporting the nomination of Maria Contreras-Sweet as Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator. The next step toward confirmation is a full vote of the United States Senate and NHLA urges Senators to move swiftly in scheduling a floor vote.

With an extensive background in business and public service, from her leadership at ProAmérica Bank and as former California Secretary of Business, Transportation, and Housing, Contreras-Sweet is fully supported by NHLA. The coalition of 37 preeminent Latino organizations believes that Contreras-Sweet will be a valuable addition to the President’s Cabinet. Upon confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Contreras-Sweet would fill the final slot in President Barack Obama’s second-term Cabinet and become the highest-ranking Latina in his Administration among the eight women and two Latinos who will have Cabinet or Cabinet-level posts this term.

Since creating its Latino Appointments Program in January 2013, NHLA has worked tirelessly to increase the representation of Latinos in the Administration, specifically at the Cabinet-level. Its stated goal was to ensure that the second-term Obama Cabinet consisted of at least three Latinos that would best represent the diversity of the nation, and as such will rigorously advocate on behalf of Contreras-Sweet (who NHLA recommended in a letter to the President on January 16, 2013) to ensure her confirmation to the Cabinet level position. NHLA’s additional letters and statements of support can be found at nationalhispanicleadership.org/confirmmaria.

Looking forward to the final floor vote and seeing Ms. Contreras-Sweet assume her new role, NHLA member organizations offered the following reactions:

Hector E. Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement said: “The unanimous bipartisan support in today’s vote for Maria Contreras-Sweet is indicative of her professional career working with Americans from all across the country. Now we urge the Senate to schedule a floor vote and confirm Maria as swiftly as possible so she can begin the people’s work at the SBA.”

“As one of the most respected leaders in both the business and Latino communities of California, Maria Contreras-Sweet is a stellar choice for this post and will bring her very valuable experience and perspective to the President's Cabinet,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR (National Council of La Raza). “With her expertise in both the business and government sides of banking and lending, the benefit to small business owners and nonprofits, especially in communities of color, and to our economy will be substantial. We urge the Senate to confirm as soon as possible.”

“Through her far-reaching accomplishments as a pioneering female executive, Ms. Contreras-Sweet has demonstrated the visionary leadership to take the SBA to new heights and achievements,” said Ignacio Salazar, President and CEO, SER-Jobs for Progress National Inc. “Additionally, her experience in government contracting as California’s Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing will be an integral asset to the procurement needs of the SBA. Her firsthand know-how of what it takes to run a small business, and see it thrive, will assuredly inspire emerging entrepreneurs and small business owners to follow in her excellence. SER National thanks the U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee for moving her nomination and we urge the full Senate to swiftly confirm.

Javier Palomarez, President and CEO, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce said, “The USHCC urges the swift confirmation of Maria Contreras-Sweet as head of the Small Business Administration. Ms. Contreras-Sweet is the epitome of a successful entrepreneur, job creator, and social innovator, whose professional accomplishments make her eminently qualified to serve as Administrator for America's largest and most important small business agency. Her entire professional career has been a training ground for the formidable challenges and opportunities that await her at the SBA. We thank Senators for the strong support for her nomination in the Senate Small Business Committee, and look forward to an expeditious vote on her confirmation before the full Senate.”

“Maria Contreras-Sweet is an exceptional choice to lead the Small Business Administration and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) praises the U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee for recommending her for confirmation as the next SBA Administrator,” said Dr. Antonio Flores, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) President and CEO. “Ms. Contreras-Sweet has a proven record of achievement as a successful business executive and entrepreneur. Her recognized expertise as an effective leader and innovative executive make her an ideal nominee that would considerably strengthen the SBA and she would serve as an invaluable role model for potential and emerging entrepreneurs and small business owners, particularly for those from underserved populations. HACU calls for Ms. Contreras-Sweet’s expeditious confirmation.”

“Now more than ever, it's critical that our leaders reflect the rich diversity of our vibrant Latino/a community,” stated Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Executive Director, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. “We are pleased to see the nomination of Maria Contreras-Sweet moving forward and look forward to the confirmation of this eminently qualified professional and strong candidate for Small Business Administration Administrator.”

“The National Hispanic Medical Association has many physician small businessmen who would work closely with the SBA with Maria Contreras-Sweet at the helm to deliver health care services to our new insured Latinos under the ACA,” said Dr. Elena Rios, President and CEO of NHMA.

“With a wide-network of Hispanics leaders in the U.S., the U.S.-Mexico Foundation is pleased that the Senate Small Business Committee has voted in favor of Ms. Contreras Sweet’s nomination and we urge the full Senate to move to a swift confirmation,” said Zuraya Tapia, the U.S. Mexico Foundation’s Director of the Mexican American Leadership Initiative.

"Having personally worked with Maria Contreras-Sweet it is an honor to advocate for her leadership, vision and entrepreneurial experience as Administrator of the Small Business Administration,” said Alma Morales Riojas, MANA, President and CEO. “She has earned well deserved accolades for her support of Latinas and is a founder of HOPE, a Latina leadership organization and is a long time friend to MANA, A National Latina Organization. We commend President Barack Obama for his nomination and are confident that she will blaze new trails that will benefit small, minority, veterans, women and disadvantaged businesses across the country.”

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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 and follow @NHLAgenda.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: | Melody Gonzales | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 508-6917 | | Brenda Arredondo | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (915) 373-1483 |

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