The Federal Budget

Latinos and their families simply cannot afford to be left out of the budget debate. Each year, the U.S. Congress enacts a federal budget that provides significant funding for social supports and programs that help Latinos and all Americans achieve economic security and benefit from opportunities for themselves and their families. The funds from the federal budget help states, counties, and community-based organizations to bolster and improve important programs and services in areas such as education, job training, housing assistance, and health care. These critical dollars also ensure that many low- and moderate-income families have the support that they need to continue to meet daily needs. Further, through the federal budget process, revenue is generated from tariffs, taxes, and interest from loans and investments to help pay for many initiatives and programs found in communities across the nation.

Major shifts in the budget priorities of Congressional leaders or federal administration can deeply impact levels of programmatic funding or shift tax burdens to different sectors of the population. In recent years, Administrative proposals to perpetuate tax cuts targeting the nation’s most wealthy individuals combined with a growing deficit have placed many programs at risk of being eliminated or reduced to a point of ineffectiveness.

Given the importance of the federal budget for America’s communities, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) recognizes that it is essential for Latinos to be engaged in the dialogue, which shapes national budget priorities.

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