CONTACT: Scott Gunderson Rosa (202) 833-6130

For Immediate Release: January 28, 2000

Washington, DC ­ The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) today announced its support for several proposals set forth by President Clinton in his State of the Union speech last night. The President's speech included many initiatives that if passed into law, could be very beneficial to the Latino community.

"We are very pleased with the President's remarks," said LULAC National President Rick Dovalina. "Hopefully Congress will take the initiative to pass many of his proposals and not stand still simply because it is the President's last year in office."

President Clinton highlighted several proposals that should be passed this year, including the Hate Crimes Prevention Act and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. He also asked Congress to continue its work on the Caribbean Based Trade Initiative and the Community Reinvestment Act.

"Hate crimes and discrimination in the workplace are issues that deeply affect our community," said Dovalina. "Racial bias and inequality have no place in our society. Passing these bills will help Latinos move into the next century on a level-playing field."

President Clinton also discussed several other issues of critical importance to Latinos. He proposed doing more to help new immigrants learn civics and English and affirmed that everyone must be counted in this year's census. He asked Congress to vote on long overdue judicial nominees and appointees, many who are Latino. He said that America must close the "digital divide," raise the minimum wage, and increase spending for education to boost the worst-performing schools. He also asked for another $1 billion for Head Start programs.

"We applaud the President for proposing more money for Head Start," said Dovalina. "The program actually developed from LULAC Schools of the 400 in Texas before it became a national program. It has helped countless numbers of Latino children and we hope to see Congress appropriate the added funding."

The President concluded his speech by proposing the largest ever investment to enforce America's civil rights laws and by highlighting the importance of our country's diversity.

"The most important fact of life is our common humanity," said President Clinton. "Therefore, we must do more than tolerate diversity ­ we must honor it and celebrate it."

"LULAC looks forward to working with the President to accomplish the goals he has set forth," added Dovalina. "We hope his final year is the most significant in regards to fulfilling the needs of the Latino community."

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) 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 throughout through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.