Yesterday, President Obama laid out his proposed 2016 budget, which would effectively repeal sequestration while providing more funding for critical programs that help middle- and low-income families. NCLR (National Council of La Raza) supports the president’s proposal and encourages Congress to pass a budget that targets communities that have yet to feel the benefits of the economic recovery.
“We hope that Congress can find common ground on key aspects of the president’s vision to invest in children, strengthen working families grow the economy,” said Eric Rodriguez, vice president of the Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation at NCLR. “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.”
The president’s budget includes $1 billion in additional funding for the Head Start Program and $1 billion more for Title I to support low-income schools. The president’s proposal also reaffirms the administration’s commitment to the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, the refundable portions of which are set to expire in 2017. Unless Congress acts to make permanent policies from 2009 that targeted to low-wage workers and larger families, 16 million Americans—including 3 million Latino children—could be pushed into or further into poverty.
“The president has provided a solid framework for Congress to work from. We implore our lawmakers to work together to pass a responsible budget that both grows our economy and invests in working families,” concluded Rodriguez.
