The president's sixth State of the Union address to Congress last night was heavy on the actions our country should take to build on the progress that American families have made over the past two years, thanks to a recovering economy. In a statement today, NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía called on policymakers to continue expanding opportunities for hardworking families and protect programs that have improved the lives of millions of Latinos. Said Murguía:
We implore lawmakers to pursue a legislative agenda that will continue to secure the economic futures of all Americans, including Latinos, by promoting policies that help create quality jobs, ensure our workforce has the necessary training and education available to compete in the 21st-century job market, protect vital tax credits for working families, and open up credit access to qualified home-buyers.
A number of policy proposals aimed at improving conditions for working families were announced in the days leading up to the State of the Union address. Among them is a plan to extend tax credits to middle- and low-income families. We strongly support this much-needed change in policy that will surely help many more Americans reach their full potential.
Murguía also expressed support for President Obama's proposal to cut fees on Federal Housing Administration loans, which would enable more first-time homebuyers to purchase a house. On the education front, the president further outlined his plan to make higher education more affordable for millions of hardworking students. This is especially crucial for Latinos. Our community has seen significant increases in high school graduation and college enrollment rates, but more must be done to guarantee that quality higher education remains affordable and accessible for everyone.
"Pursuing policies that open opportunities and provide Americans with the tools to achieve their dreams is not a Republican or Democratic ideal -- it is an American ideal," said Murguía. "We echo the president's call for both parties to work together so they can find common ground to continue moving this country forward."
President Obama also addressed the Affordable Care Act, emphasizing his administration's success in enrolling more Americans. At NCLR, we have been actively working with our Affiliate Network and other national organizations in mobilizing and enrolling as many Latinos as possible in health insurance. In fact, over the past year, nearly seven million people have signed up for coverage, resulting in a significant drop in uninsured Hispanics.
On administrative relief, one of the most significant policy changes for nearly five million immigrants, the president defended his action and vowed to veto any bill that would undo it.
"We are pleased to hear the president reiterate his plans to defend administrative relief regardless of any attempts by Congress to backtrack on this issue. His executive action will make our economy stronger, our country safer, and millions of American families more stable," said Murguía. "The new Congress now has a choice to make on immigration -- improve the situation, or make it worse. We hope they'll choose to be agents of progress by finally delivering sensible and effective immigration legislation."
Find out more about our 2015 legislative agenda in our report, "State of Hispanic America: Striving for Equitable Opportunity."