NJ Latino Democratic Leaders Praise Biden Plan to Invest in Community

TRENTON, NJ — Democratic Presidential nominee Vice President Joe Biden unveiled a sweeping plan to invest in Latino communities across the country yesterday, and some of New Jersey’s leading Latino elected officials and party leaders are praising the plan as a major step forward. According to the Pew Research Center, New Jersey has the seventh highest population of Hispanic and Latino residents in the country with over 1.7 million, and Latinos comprise nearly 20% of the state’s population, making Biden’s plan particularly crucial in the Garden State.

The Biden Plan consists of five main planks and the full agenda is available here.

• Invest in Latinos’ economic mobility

• Expand access to high-quality education and tackle racial inequity in our education system

• Make far reaching investments in ending health disparities by race

• Secure our values as a nation of immigrants

• Combat hate crimes and gun violence

Officials praising the Biden Plan to Invest in the Latino Community include:

U.S. Representative Albio Sires (D-8)

“Joe Biden’s commitment to the Latino community has always been clear, and this new plan once again confirms that as President he will be an ally we can always count on. I am particularly excited to see Vice President Biden place such a strong emphasis on finally giving millions of undocumented immigrats who are contributing greatly to our country the opportunity to become citizens and secure their future chasing the American Dream.”

NJDSC Latino Caucus Chair and Hunterdon County Democratic Chair Arlene Quinones-Perez

“The Latino community has been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic – we need strong federal action to get through this crisis, and to emerge stronger than we were before it. Joe Biden clearly understands how we have been affected, and his plan to invest in our community includes a robust set of policy initiatives that will make a real difference in the lives of millions of Latino families in New Jersey and throughout the country that have been, and continue to be affected by the pandemic, as well as the social inequities that have been laid plain to see.”

State Senator Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex)

“Having an honest conversation in our communities, and in this country, about access and education is critical to creating a strategic platform for empowerment. We know that Latinx women are amongst the groups most adversely affected by the gender wage gap and not having access to quality school systems can be a contributing factor. By creating a holistic approach from cradle to career, we ensure that no student is left behind. Creating powerful early childhood education, investing in technology and fostering creative solutions in our academic settings can truly change systemic failures that have trapped our students from achieving a path to prosperity. Joe Biden’s understanding and his commitment to making necessary investments offer solutions that can drive upward economic mobility for all Black and Brown families.”