**[President's FY2008 Budget:]{.smallcaps}**

**[A Big Disappointment for Latino Families]{.smallcaps}**

While President Bush continues to shortchange Latino families, Democrats
have been fighting to restore funding to programs that have been cut
since this administration took office. The president's budget slashes
funding to key programs, while permanently extending irresponsible tax
cuts to the wealthiest Americans. On every issue of importance to
Latinos, this budget sets the wrong course for our country.

-   **Slashes Funding for Critical Education Programs:** Education is
    the key that unlocks social opportunity and economic empowerment in
    this country. However, when Latinos have the highest high school
    dropout rate out of all groups, it is shocking that this budget cuts
    funding to programs essential to the success of Latino students. The
    president proposes to eliminate 44 discretionary education programs
    including dropout prevention, mentoring, and Even Start, a family
    literacy program in which 46% of participants are Latino and the
    Parental Assistance and Local Family Information Centers. In
    addition, it freezes funding for English Language Learners and cuts
    funding for Head Start by \$207 million.

-   **Makes Higher Education More Costly:** While the president provides
    an overdue increase in Pell Grants, this budget shortchanges vital
    programs that help low-income and first generation students enroll
    in college. This budget eliminates Perkins Loans, freezes funding
    for GEAR UP, and proposes no new funding for TRIO, a program in
    which 19% of all students served are Hispanic. In addition it
    provides no increase for migrant education programs that are
    instrumental in ensuring children of migrant farm workers attend
    college. When close to 60% of Hispanic undergraduates receive some
    form of financial aid to pay for college, this is unacceptable.

-   **Jeopardizes the Health of Latino Families:** The president's
    budget eliminates more than 20 health care programs, cuts funding
    for Title VII health professions training such as the Centers of
    Excellence and the Health Careers Opportunity Program, and slashes
    funds for Medicare and Medicaid by \$100 billion over five years.
    Even as 50% of Latino children depend on SCHIP, this budget
    shortchanges funding for SCHIP by \$10 billion and excludes many
    legal immigrants from receiving assistance. When nearly 1 out of
    every 3 Hispanics is likely to be uninsured, it is clear that this
    budget endangers Latinos most in need of health care services.

-   **Rolls Back Economic Prosperity:** The president's budget does
    nothing to ensure a prosperous Hispanic middle-class. Even as the
    unemployment rate for Latinos (5.7%) is higher than the national
    average (4.6%), this budget underfunds critical job training and
    employment services programs. This budget also cuts Community
    Development Block Grants by \$736 million, while permanently
    extending tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. Moreover, this
    budget would make it harder for Hispanic business owners seeking
    entrance to the marketplace by proposing the elimination of
    microloan and microloan technical assistance programs, which help
    1.6 million Hispanic-owned businesses.

The administration's budget illustrates just how misguided the
president's priorities are for Latino families. Democrats will continue
fighting for fairness and opportunity to ensure that the values
important to Hispanic families are reflected in our nation's budget.