LULAC: Housing Secretary Confirmation Is Historic
Nation’s Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Salutes Marcia Fudge as New Housing and Urban Development Secretary
Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) issued the following statement Wednesday after the Senate confirmed the appointment of Representative Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development with a vote of 63-34. Secretary Fudge becomes the first woman in more than two decades to become HUD secretary. Also, she is the second Black woman and only the third woman ever to oversee one of the most important agencies in the federal government that has a direct impact on millions of Latinos and communities of color in the United States.
Sindy Benavides - LULAC National Chief Executive Officer
“Today’s confirmation is historic beyond its symbolic importance. Secretary Fudge arrives at her post during one of the most critical times in our modern history when it comes to housing in America. Latinos and other working class families in communities of color are facing what housing experts have described as a tsunami of evictions because of the COVID-19 related economic downturn. LULAC is committed to making affordable housing and other housing initiatives a priority working with Secretary Fudge.”
The $25 billion in rental assistance Congress passed in December and the extension of an eviction moratorium to March 31 were not enough to tackle the problem. In fact, between 30 million and 40 million American renters face eviction because they lost their jobs and can’t pay to keep a roof over their heads. The latest relief package includes $27.4 billion in emergency rental assistance; also $10 billion to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. Plus, another $5 billion for public housing vouchers and similar amounts to tackle homelessness and help cover utility bills.
Dr. Elba Garcia - County Commissioner, Dallas, Texas
“As I travel around the United States and Puerto Rico, I see firsthand the importance of housing to the stability of Latino families, their well-being and health. These are the same realities I am working daily to change in my own home community, the eighth most populous county in the country. In my capacity as First Lady of LULAC, I pledge to work with the secretary and her team to recover from the economic effects of COVID and achieve even greater heights for our people.”
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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit https://lulac.org/