CHC CONGRATULATES MARIA CONTRERAS-SWEET

Washington, DC- Yesterday, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) and Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus attended the White House swearing-in ceremony for Maria Contreras-Sweet. Maria Contreras-Sweet will serve as Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), and joins Secretary of Labor Tom Perez in becoming the second Cabinet-level Latino. CHC Members in attendance included CHC Chairman Rubén Hinojosa, House Democratic Caucus Chair Xavier Becerra (CA-34), Congressman Joe Garcia (FL-26), Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (CA-32), and Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40). Members issued the following statements extending their congratulations:

"The Hispanic Caucus congratulates Maria Contreras-Sweet on her swearing-in as Administrator of the Small Business Administration. It was an honor attending her swearing-in ceremony yesterday and seeing the progress our Latino community continues to make. We are confident she will do an excellent job leading the Small Business Administration and look forward to working with her in her new role," said CHC Chairman Rubén Hinojosa.

“As the newest member of the President’s cabinet, Maria Contreras-Sweet is the right person to help small businesses across America grow and thrive. Maria’s story is a classic American success story – she knows the hard work and determination it takes to build a business from the ground up. Through her longstanding work to support women-owned and family-owned businesses in California, she understands the resources small businesses need to succeed. She will be an indispensable advocate in making sure entrepreneurs have those opportunities to achieve their dreams," said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra.

"It was a great honor to be in attendance at the swearing-in ceremony of our new Small Business Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, an eminently qualified California individual; former California Secretary of Business, Transportation, and Housing and the founder of ProAmerica Bank, a Latino-owned community bank in Los Angeles. Contreras-Sweet will be a formidable asset to small business, and we commend President Obama for appointing her to his cabinet. The CHC will be ready to work with Administrator Contreras-Sweet, and we wish her the best in her new role," said Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (CA-32).

Previously, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus released statements in support of Maria Contreras-Sweet's nomination and Senate confirmation. You can see both releases on the CHC website here.

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