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Building Back Together Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 16, 2024
PRESS CONTACT: [email protected]

BUILDING BACK TOGETHER CELEBRATES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Building Back Together Deputy Executive Director Javier Gamboa issued the following statement:

“This Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor the rich tapestry of cultures, traditions and contributions that Latinos have woven into the fabric of our nation. From the arts and sciences to business and public service, Latinos in the United States continue to shape our great American story —embodying the resilience, innovation and spirit that define our country.

“President Biden and Vice President Harris understand that the success of Latino communities in the United States is inextricably linked to the success of our nation. From day one, this administration has invested in hardworking Latino families, workers and small businesses thanks to legislation like the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act — creating jobs, lowering costs and ensuring families, regardless of status, can receive the health care they need to thrive. The President and Vice President have also led on immigration reform — sending a bill to Congress to fix our broken immigration system, helping DACA recipients access health care coverage through the ACA Marketplace, keeping families together when a spouse or child of a U.S. citizen is undocumented and expanding legal pathways for individuals from certain countries to reside in the United States.

“This month, as we celebrate the heritage and achievements of Latinos in the United States, let us also look forward with hope and determination. To all Latinos: your stories are American stories, your dreams are American dreams, and your future is America’s future. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month.”

Since taking office, the Biden-Harris Administration has delivered significant wins for Latino families and communities, including:

  • Creating nearly 16 million jobs, with the Latino unemployment rate falling from 8.6% in January 2021 to 5.5% in August 2024.
  • Implementing the Inflation Reduction Act which lowers prescription drug costs, health care costs, and energy bills for millions of Latino families, including capping out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 for Medicare beneficiaries.
  • Expanding the Child Tax Credit in 2021, benefiting over 17.5 million Latino children and lifting nearly 4.5 million Latinos out of poverty.
  • Providing billions in loans and support to Latino-owned small businesses, contributing to a 25% revenue growth rate for Latino-owned businesses from 2019 to 2022.
  • Expanding health coverage for DACA recipients, making them eligible for Affordable Care Act coverage for the first time.
  • Investing over $450 million in grant programs to support teacher development and recruitment, with 92% going to grantees aiming to increase educator diversity.
  • Delivering billions in funding and federal aid to Puerto Rico for hurricane recovery and infrastructure improvements through the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
  • Extending Temporary Protected Status for over 300,000 immigrants from various countries and reuniting families separated under the previous administration.
  • Signing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to address gun violence, which disproportionately impacts the Latino community.
  • Confirming over 200 federal judges, with nearly 15% being Latino, prioritizing diversity in the judicial system.
  • Taking executive actions to provide relief from deportation to nearly 500,000 eligible undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens and 50,000 non-citizen children under 21.

For more information on how the Biden-Harris Administration is building a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous nation for all Americans, including Latino communities nationwide, see Building Back Together’s Fact Sheet here.

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