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Commitment to the Hispanic Community in the American Jobs Act

October 14, 2011 at 4:35 PM ET by Julie Rodriguez
Summary: 
The American Jobs Act reflects a commitment to strengthen the recovery and help increase access to jobs for all Americans. Hispanic families, who will account for 65% of the Nation’s population growth between 2010 and 2050, will help form the backbone of America’s labor force in the coming decades.

The American Jobs Act reflects a commitment to strengthen the recovery and help increase access to jobs for all Americans. Hispanic families, who will account for 65% of the Nation’s population growth between 2010 and 2050, will help form the backbone of America’s labor force in the coming decades. With unemployment among Hispanics at an unacceptably high rate of 11.3% – and nearly 1 million Hispanic Americans out of work for more than six months– the President believes that we must take action to support the hard working families that drive our nation’s prosperity and growth. That’s why the President is putting forward a plan to increase the pace of job creation in America, and why he is committed to fighting for Congress to act on this plan:

  • 250,000 Hispanic-owned small businesses will receive TAX CUT benefits.
  • 1.1 million Hispanics and their families will benefit from the extension of unemployment insurance.
  • 1 million Hispanics who have been out of work for more than 6 months will benefit from “Bridge to Work” Programs that address long-term unemployment.
  • 25 million Hispanic workers will benefit from the extension of the payroll tax cut.
  • 2.77 million Hispanics work in construction.  $15 billion will be invested in construction jobs to rehabilitate and refurbish vacant and foreclosed homes and $50 billion will be invested in transportation. 
  • Unemployed Latino youth (19.3%) will have access to summer and year-round job opportunities.
  • $50 million will be invested in 2012 to support Latinos, women, and poor people to ensure they receive the proper training to access these new construction jobs.
  • 35,000 public schools in the lowest-income districts will be modernized and improved benefiting Latino students that make up a significant portion of the student population in these school districts.
  • 280,000 teachers jobs will be saved.
  • $5 billion will be invested in modernizing community colleges benefiting Hispanic community college students who are seeking a higher education.
  • $5 billion will be invested to keep cops and firefighters on the job.
  • Businesses will receive tax credits if they hire returning Hispanic Veterans and Wounded Warriors.

 Julie Rodriguez is an Associate Director of the Office of Public Engagement.