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LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS National Office |
2000 L Street, NW, Suite 610 PRESS RELEASE |
| For Immediate Release October 3, 2002 |
Contact: Lorraine Quiroga |
Washington, DC - LULAC National President Hector Flores called on Congress to take action on pending education issues critical to the Hispanic community. In August of this year, Flores along with other national Latino leaders wrote to President Bush requesting the administration to weigh in on the DREAM Act and the Student Adjustment Act to help young, undocumented students achieve their dream of a college education. Thus far, there has been no response.
"This is a no-brainer. This bill would permit children brought here by their parents, children who are long time permanent residents, grew up here, have good moral character and have graduated from high school to go to college, become legal residents, and work legally," stated Hector Flores, LULAC National President. "Yet, despite considerable bipartisan support, the Republican leadership is still waiting on the White House to give them the go ahead."
In addition, schools are not receiving the funding that they need despite legislation that places strong accountability measures on the schools. "It is inconceivable that Congress and the administration are not funding these schools so that they can have the necessary resources to successfully implement congressional mandates. Simply funding a long term Continuing Resolution at last year's levels is wholly inadequate to meet education needs of the Hispanic community," Flores added. "This is an issue of moral clarity."
"Either you help these young people or you don't. Doing nothing for them is beyond benign neglect. It is a dangerous signal that these children are not wanted, needed, or believed in. I don't believe that is the kind of signal President Bush wishes to send to the Latino community," Flores said.
The League of United Latin American Citizens is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States. LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.