The President’s Budget Makes Critical Investments in Latino Families

The president’s proposed 2016 budget would in effect repeal sequestration while at the same time provide funding for critical programs that help middle- and low-income families. We support President Obama’s vision for the future and encourage Congress to pass a budget that targets communities that have yet to feel the benefits of the economic recovery.

In a statement today, Eric Rodriguez, NCLR vice president of the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation called on Congress to find a way to work with the White House in passing a sensible budget.

“We hope that Congress can find common ground on key aspects of the president’s vision to invest in children, strengthen working families, and grow the economy,” said Rodriguez. “Latino families bore the much of the brunt of sequestration, making it clear that we cannot cut our way to a better future. Ensuring better returns on hard work and greater investment in educational opportunities for all students, regardless of background or family income, are critical to the success of Latino families and the country as a whole.”

Included in the president’s budget is $1 billion in additional funding for the Head Start program as well as $1 billion more for Title 1 to support low-income schools. President Obama also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit. The refundable portions of these credits are set to expire in 2017. Without action from Congress to make permanent the 2009 policies that targeted low-wage workers and larger families, 16 million Americans, including three million Latino kids, could be pushed even further into poverty.

“The president has provided a solid framework for Congress to work from,” said Rodriguez. “We implore our lawmakers to work together to pass a responsible budget that both grows our economy and invests in working families.”

Read our analysis of the president’s 2016 budget below.