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TELACU/Millennium President & CEO Invited by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Witness President Obama’s Address on the Economy
As Chairman of the Board of Directors of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), TELACU/Millennium President & CEO David C. Lizárraga issued the following statement after listening to President Barack Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress—and the nation—while sitting in the Speaker’s Box in the gallery of the U.S. House of Representatives at the invitation of Speaker Nancy Pelosi:
“I arrived in Washington today to demonstrate the continued commitment of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to work with the new administration and Congressional leaders as the nation works to recover from the current economic crisis. The Hispanic community in general, and our business owners and entrepreneurs in particular, understand on a deeply personal level the fundamental potential and opportunity that our great nation continues to possess as well as the need to reenergize our traditional optimism and entrepreneurial spirit.”
“Tonight, President Obama acknowledged the need for several urgent actions, particularly the need to re-open the flow of credit to consumers and small business owners, as well as several other fundamental priorities that, for too long, we have neglected to address but must resolve to ensure a more prosperous future. We need to make sure that the policies that ultimately come out of Washington really help people. As President Obama emphasized, small business owners must be able to gain access to affordable loans, credit, and the capital necessary for them not only to keep their doors open but also to prosper over the longer term.
“The USHCC has been working hard over the past several months to promote improved access to credit for small businesses. We have also been pushing seriously for other crucial issues such as health care reform, fundamental education reform, and concrete plans to promote green energy. President Obama’s speech this evening clearly demonstrates that we are on the same page and the USHCC looks forward to continuing our dialogue with his administration.
“We will not waste a single moment to promote this dialogue and to ensure that the Hispanic business community is heard and its concerns are included in the national agenda to help the country recover economically. That is why we will be coming to Washington D.C. in just under two weeks for our national Legislative Conference and we will engage these same leaders in an open and honest dialogue on these critical issues.”
Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and represents the interests of almost 3 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States that generate nearly $400 billion annually. It also serves as the umbrella organization for 200 local Hispanic chambers in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Bolivia and Uruguay.
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TELACU is a pioneering institution committed to service, empowerment, advancement, and the creation of self-sufficiency.
Date: February 25, 2009
Source: TELACU News Release
