CHC Applauds President’s Small Business Initiative and Naming of Perez to Head Civil Rights Division at Justice, Triay to Ener

CHC Applauds President’s Small Business Initiative

(Washington DC) – The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) lauded President Barack Obama’s implementation of several provisions that were included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to directly benefit small businesses. With Hispanics owning more than 2.8 million businesses in our nation, these provisions have a profound effect on improving the impact of the economic crisis on our community.

“From the corner bodega to the IT consultancy to the small manufacturer, many Latino-owned businesses are feeling the brunt of the ongoing economic crisis,” said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, Chair of the CHC.   “I applaud President Obama for moving swiftly to implement the small business provisions from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  These efforts will unlock $21 billion in new lending for small firms, giving all entrepreneurs resources they need to meet payroll, hire new employees and grow their businesses.”

The ability to receive a bank loan or credit line is essential for a small business to grow and successfully undertake new, larger projects and customers.  Today’s announcement will immediately allow businesses to expand, hire new employees, and, for some, keep their doors open and workforce employed.

“Latino owned businesses are significant contributors to our nation’s economy, and, like all small businesses in America today, they face extraordinary challenges due to the economic downturn,” said Congressman Rubén Hinojosa, 2^nd Vice Chair of the CHC and Chair of the Commerce and International Relations Task Force. “No recovery will be complete without addressing the myriad problems confronting these small businesses. President Obama recognizes this stark reality and his plan to free up credit will provide much-needed relief to business owners who are doing all they can to keep their enterprises afloat and their employees on staff.  These men and women are the lifeblood of the American economy and it is critical to our future prosperity that they can continue to grow and flourish.”

CHC Applauds Naming of Perez to Head Civil Rights Division at Justice, Triay to Energy

(Washington DC) – The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) applauded the appointment of Tom Perez to be the Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice. This important division enforces the various Civil Rights Acts, the Voting Rights Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, among other laws. They also assist government agencies and departments in rectifying policies and procedures that may be discriminatory.

“I applaud the decision by Attorney General Eric Holder and President Barack Obama in the naming of Tom Perez to oversee the important work of the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice,” said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, Chair of the CHC. “Mr. Perez has a proven track record having served the people of Maryland on the Montgomery County Council, as the state’s Secretary of Labor Licensing and Regulation, and during his tenure at DOJ under the Clinton Administration.  We are confident that he will provide strong leadership and ensure the rights guaranteed to all Americans are enforced and protected.”

Mr. Perez comes to the Department of Justice after having most recently served as Maryland’s Secretary of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. He was also a part of the Obama Transition Team, was elected to the Montgomery County Council from 2002-2006, and served as the Council’s President in 2005. He has 12 years of experience in the Civil Rights Division, as a federal prosecutor who handled high profile cases such as the hate crimes case in Texas involved white supremacists who went on a racially motivated crime spree that cost several lives. He later served Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights under Attorney General Janet Reno.

"In light of the historical patterns of discrimination against minorities we have seen in the United States, the Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division has always been a vital position at the Department of Justice,” stated Congressman Charles A. Gonzalez, 1^st Vice Chair of the CHC. “Mr. Perez's commitment to equal justice and his professional experience will be of tremendous importance as President Obama continues to seek opportunities for and protect the rights of all Americans."

President Obama also nominated Ines Triay to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management at the Department of Energy. Triay has 24 years of experience at the Department, as well as 14 years at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. She was born in Cuba, raised in Puerto Rico, and received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Miami in Florida.

Congresswoman Velazquez added, “Based on her extensive experience and expertise, Ines Triay will serve the Department of Energy well.”

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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Hispanic descent.  Since 1976 the CHC has been addressing the needs of the Hispanic community in all areas of American life.  For more information on the CHC, call (202) 225-2410.