Press Releases
September 9, 2011
Washington D.C.: Chairman Charles A. Gonzalez (TX 20) released this statement in response to President Obama’s joint session address to Congress and his announcement of the American Jobs Act:
“The president’s speech last night confirmed that he is committed to getting Americans back to work and he presented strategic proposals to create a better economic situation for working Latino families.
It has been said many times before that the recession has hit Latinos hard, with household wealth for Hispanics shrinking by 66% from 2005 to 2009 as a result of the failed economic policies of the previous administration.
August 18, 2011
Washington D.C.: Chairman Charles A. Gonzalez (TX 20) released a statement in response to the Department of Homeland Security’s new interagency process to ensure that resources are focused on the Administration’s highest enforcement priorities. As part of this process, an interagency team of DHS and Department of Justice officers and attorneys, including representatives from throughout DHS and from the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and the Office of Immigration Litigation at DOJ, will identify low-priority removal cases that should be considered for an exercise of discretion
“I applaud President Obama and Secretary Napolitano’s decision to commit a panel to redefine priorities in deportation cases.
August 11, 2011
Washington D.C.: Chairman Charles A. Gonzalez (TX 20) released a statement in response to Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi’s appointment of CHC member Rep. Xavier Becerra to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction.
“I commend Leader Pelosi’s decision to appoint Congressman Becerra, former Chairman of the Hispanic Caucus and Vice Chairman of the Democratic Caucus to this important committee and for her steadfast support for many of the issues important to the Latino community throughout the recent debt ceiling negotiations.
August 9, 2011
Washington D.C.: Chairman Charles A. Gonzalez (TX 20) released a statement in response to Department of Education’s announcement that waivers to certain unmanageable provisions to No Child Left Behind:
“As decisions are made about what these waivers may include, I urge Secretary Duncan to ensure that progress is being made in schools by maintaining strong accountability measures that reflect the specifics needs of each school. Considering that the new school year is beginning in the absence of an updated version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, educators across the country will continue to face challenges to academic success.
August 2, 2011
Washington D.C.: Chairman Charles A. Gonzalez (TX 20) released a statement in response to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas efforts to attract and retain foreign entrepreneurial talent that could create jobs, form startup companies and invest capital in areas of high unemployment.
“I welcome the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services initiative to re-think administrative practices as a way to spark our economic engines. After all, according to the Small Business Association, immigrant business owners contributed $67 billion of business income, about 12 percent all business income in our country.
“While every effort to create jobs is a step in the right direction, we cannot overlook the wealth of resources already within our country.
August 1, 2011
Washington D.C.: Chairman Charles A. Gonzalez (TX 20) released a statement in response to Department of Justice’s announcement that they have filed suit challenging the state of Alabama’s recently passed immigration law, H.B. 56.
“I applaud the Department of Justice’s decision to challenge this deeply regressive and dangerous law from going into effect, preserve the federal government’s power to set immigration policy, and ensure that other states do not follow Alabama’s unconstitutional lead.
“These provisions create an environment for racial profiling and drag Alabama back to the era when a class of persons was considered less than human in the eyes of the law. Alabama’s attempt to close the schoolhouse door is fundamentally at odds with our nation’s commitments to due process, fairness, and equal protection of the laws.
July 25, 2011
Washington D.C.: Today, Chairman Charles A. Gonzalez (TX 20) released the following statementregarding the House Republicans’ refusal to author a job creation bill during the past 200 days that they have been in control of the House.
“We are experiencing the worst recession since the Great Depression and the latest Labor Dept. numbers show 11.6 percent of Hispanics are unemployed. The message from the American people could not be any clearer—we need more jobs. Republicans have controlled the House for 200 days, but not one of the 81 bills they have authored would create jobs. In fact, Republicans voted 10 times against job creation bills authored by Democrats. Under their ill-conceived attempts to end Medicare and give tax breaks to billionaires, our biggest problems remain unsolved.
July 19, 2011
Washington, D.C.:Chairman Charles A. Gonzalez (TX 20) released the following statement regarding the ‘Cut, Cap and Balance’ bill.
“Cut, Cap and Balance is ideologically extreme and inherently flawed, as it diminishes the government’s ability to keep its commitments to the middle class, seniors and the most vulnerable members of our society. This kind of political posturing is not constructive and does nothing to address the immediate need for legislation to speed up the recovery from the worst recession since the Great Depression.”
Congressional Hispanic Caucus members released the following statements:
July 12, 2011
SAN ANTONIO: Today, Chairman Charles A. Gonzalez (TX 20) released a statement in response to the comments made by Congressman Mo Brooks (AL 5). On June 29, 2011, Congressman Brooks said that he would do “anything short of shooting them (undocumented immigrants).” Chairman Gonzalez condemns rhetoric rooted in anger and violence and urges that the discussion on immigration be based on a common desire for workable solutions:
“Rhetoric referencing acts of violence has no place in the discussion for realistic solutions to our country’s immigration problems. Words have consequences-- and Congressman Brooks chose irresponsible words that reflect a hateful, dehumanizing undercurrent in the discussion on immigration.
July 8, 2011
062811 CHC Open Letter to Latinos Immigration Advocates + Supporters (2).pdf
SAN ANTONIO: Today, Chairman Charles A. Gonzalez (TX 20) released a letter to express the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’s continued appreciation to Latino and immigrant activists and supporters. The open letter was written to recognize the outstanding work being done at the state, local and community level fighting for inclusive policies and fighting against divisive measures -- sponsored mostly by Republicans -- in state and local governments across the country. It reads, in part: