Latinos For A Better Future Launches to Ensure Passage of
Latino Priorities in the Build Back Better Agenda
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 28, 2021
Contact:
Gaby Rodriguez
Latinos For A Better Future Supports Transformative Build Back Better Framework
Coalition of 160 Latino organizations pledges to work with the White House and Congress to support the bill while continuing to press for additional Latino priorities
Washington — Following today’s announcement of the framework for President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda, Latinos For A Better Future pledged to support the proposed plan as a critical vehicle for ensuring crucial change for the Latino community. Although reduced in scope, the framework addresses pressing needs of the Latino community by creating good-paying green jobs, lowering costs for working families, increasing access to healthcare for many, addressing climate change, ensuring access to quality education, and promoting fair treatment of immigrants and essential workers.
The Framework includes universal pre-K for all 3- and 4-year-olds, affordable childcare for 20 million children, an extension of the child tax credit, a $500 billion investment to address the climate crisis, the biggest expansion of affordable health care coverage in a decade, the largest investment in affordable housing in history, and $100 billion to support the implementation of immigration reform.
The growth of the Latino population and electorate is reshaping U.S. politics and the democratic process. With projections indicating Latinos will make up close to 30% of the U.S. population by 2050, our country’s future success and economic growth rests largely on the economic, social, and civic success of all Latino communities.
“The announced Build Back Better framework is a step in the right direction to help Latino families succeed in the 21st century, creating funding for critical programs across the country, including those in Puerto Rico,” said Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation. “The provisions make transformative investments in the areas that matter most to our community: healthcare, climate change, childcare, education, job-creation, and immigration.”
“Today’s announcement from the Biden-Harris administration is a big step forward in investing in a better economic future for working families and children, combating the climate crisis, expanding access to health care, and improving our immigration system,” said Nathalie Rayes, president and CEO of Latino Victory Project. “This is a historic investment in our country’s future that will benefit millions of people, especially Latinos. Latino Victory Project is proud to support the Build Back Better Act and looks forward to seeing the passage of this framework and the bipartisan infrastructure deal.”
“Latino and other communities of color are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. This is not just an existential threat to us, this is a clear and present danger to our families and communities. President Biden and Congressional leaders have responded to the moment with a new framework for the Build Back Better Act that lays out unprecedented investments on a path to fully addressing the climate crisis, cutting carbon pollution, delivering action on environmental justice, reducing energy bills for working families, and working toward a just transition by creating millions of quality union jobs. While we did not get everything we wanted in this framework, we are energized by this significant investment and more determined than ever to continue to fight for our communities. GreenLatinos strongly urges Congress to get the historic climate and environmental justice investments in today’s framework across the finish line, and pass the BBB framework, in tandem with the bipartisan infrastructure deal, as the President has outlined,” said Mark Magaña, Founding President & CEO, GreenLatinos.
“We applaud the inclusion of a path to citizenship for the undocumented. A lasting recovery from the pandemic depends on the vital, ongoing contributions of immigrant workers and their families and our nation’s leaders must use every tool available to get this done. Latinos—like all Americans—stand to benefit from this ground-breaking compromise package. We recognize that this framework is not perfect, but we understand that difficult decisions had to be made to advance this once-in-a-generation investment,” said Janet Murguia, President, UnidosUS Action Fund.
“President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda framework is a critical step forward in the fight for the priorities of the Latino community,” said Hector Sanchez, CEO and Executive Director of Mi Familia Vota. “While we applaud the robust investment in children and caregiving, the biggest expansion of affordable health care in a decade, the most significant effort to bring down costs and strengthen the middle class in generations. We are disappointed that we did not honor our workers who have put their lives on the line to save our country during this pandemic with paid family leave, a permanent child tax credit, and greater worker investments. As the largest field operation in the Latino community, we will always fight to keep ALL politicians accountable to our community and our policy priorities”
