HISPANIC FEDERATION COMMENDS PRESIDENT BIDEN ON ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE STATE OF THE UNION, BUT CAUTIONS MORE WORK REMAINS

In response to President Biden’s State of the Union Address, Hispanic Federation President and CEO Frankie Miranda released the following statement:  

“Last night, President Biden gave the State of the Union Address to Congress and the American public, highlighting the resiliency and success of our country. The administration has accomplished a great deal, including appointments and hires that reflect the diversity of our country and signing the Respect for Marriage Act that further cemented the rights of LGBTQ+ and inter-racial couples in the face of a Supreme Court that has no trouble rolling back decades of precedent as we saw in the Dobbs v. Jackson decision. President Biden’s administration has also made significant investments to advance Puerto Rico’s renwable energy future and shown a commitment to provide disaster relief funding to the island, lowered the costs of prescription medications, boosted the economy, and signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is rebuilding the country’s roads, bridges, and highways. 

Hispanic Federation is also proud of our work with the White House over the past four years, such as helping asylum seekers apply for work authorizations and providing culturally competent programs that help underserved Latinos bridge the digital divide. But much work remains. 

President Biden and Congress need to work together to more effectively empower communities of color, protect our fragile democracy, and support nonprofits that have been on the frontlines supporting vulnerable communities before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic as well as migrants who are starting their new lives in the U.S. 

We also know that no one escaping violence and civil strife should be labeled “illegal” ever. The president and Congress must abandon this rhetoric that risks dehumanizing women, men, children, and families. Instead, they must take actions specifically designed to support and empower our new neighbors, including expediting work authorization, protecting migrants already in the country, and streamlining the asylum process. Doing so would allow migrants to support their families and supercharge our economy. 

The administration must also continue making progress on gun reform laws that protect communities of color from both mass shootings and local violence, empower LGBTQ+ communities by advancing the Equality ACT, ensure that Puerto Rico has access to the same nutrition assistance provided to other low-income Americans by finally transitioning the archipelago to SNAP, and preserve reproductive rights – including a woman’s right to abortion and reproductive healthcare. Further, during a consequential election year, Congress and the president must implement new voter protections and prevent the dissemination of election disinformation. 

Once again, we look forward to working with the president and Congress in making our representative democracy more effective at meeting the specific needs of the Hispanic community.” 

ABOUT HISPANIC FEDERATION: 

Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized and immigrant Latinos. With programs in 40 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia, HF’s focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance. 

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