Congressman Cohen Commemorates Hispanic Heritage Month

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today released the following statement commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins September 15 and runs through October 15 of each year:

“Today, and for the next month, we pay homage to the Hispanic-American community and celebrate the outstanding economic, political, and cultural contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our country. Hispanic-Americans represent the fastest-growing ethnic group in America, and their contributions have made America a better and stronger nation.

“The Hispanic-American community in America is now 50 million members strong, making up nearly one-sixth of our population. Hispanics are an essential part of America’s labor force, however the economic downturn has not spared them – the unemployment rate among Hispanics stands at 11.5 percent, with almost one million Hispanic-Americans out of work for six months or more.

“The number one issue facing Hispanic-Americans right now is unemployment. That’s why as we pay tribute to the Hispanic-American community, we should take this opportunity to recommit ourselves to the task of putting all Americans back to work. There are more than 25 million Hispanic workers, 250,000 Hispanic-owned businesses, and over 1.1 million unemployed Hispanic-Americans and their families who stand to immediately benefit from the passage of the American Jobs Act. We owe it to them to act.

“The President is proposing a $15 billion investment toward refurbishing hundreds of thousands of vacant and foreclosed homes and businesses, a disproportionately large number of which are in Memphis and Shelby County, eliminating blight while reducing unemployment. President Obama’s proposal includes a $25 billion investment in modernizing infrastructure in at least 35,000 public schools, upgrading our classrooms to 21st century standards and creating thousands of construction jobs at the same time. The plan also includes $50 billion in immediate investments in highway, passenger rail, and aviation projects, breathing new life into the moribund construction industry at a time when it is desperately needed.

“Hispanics share with us the values that unite all Americans: faith, family, hard work and fair play. Hispanic Heritage Month comes once a year, but our commitment to ensuring that our Hispanic and Latino friends and neighbors can share in pursuit of the American Dream must endure year in and year out.”