WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Edolphus “Ed” Towns (NY-10) released the following statement in observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month 2009:

Since the birth of this country, Hispanics have played a tremendous role in the nation’s social, economic, and political movements. Today, more than 47 million people of Hispanic origin live in the United States and represent the nation’s fastest growing ethnic population. At this time, more than half a million Hispanic men and women reside in my home state of New York.  

During National Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the rich history and culture of Hispanic Americans.   Hispanic Americans from all fifty states and territories are honored for their contributions to our society, which make up a critical part of America’s identity and background. Hispanic Americans continue to share in the sacrifice and civic duties of their fellow U.S. citizens, and in fact, the Puerto Rican military participation rate is the second highest in the country.     

Last month, I was joined by Representatives Pierluisi, Wasserman-Shultz and Mica in co-sponsoring legislation, H.R. 3718, to make residents of Puerto Rico fully eligible for the refundable portion of the child tax credit.  The bill broadens the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that currently excludes from the child tax credit Puerto Rican families with less than three children.  At this time, the child tax credit is available to U.S. citizens in the 50 states, including residents of Puerto Rico who move to a state.

Expanding the child tax credit to Puerto Rican families with one child or more will inject critical funds into Puerto Rico’s economy by directly boosting the incomes of the Island’s working families.  Puerto Rico has been in an official recession for over three years, and its unemployment rate is 15.1 percent, which is significantly higher than the national average of 9.8 percent.  Denying Puerto Rican families’ access to proven United States economic recovery measures is unproductive and unjust, and it is time to afford U.S. citizens who are living in Puerto Rico the benefits of the child tax credit.

In conclusion, National Hispanic Heritage Month 2009 is marked by President Obama’s successful appointment of the first Hispanic Associate Justice to the United States Supreme Court, the Honorable Sonia Sotomayor.  The nomination and appointment of our fellow New Yorker to the Supreme Court earlier this year is one in which our nation should take pride – for it broke down ethnic and gender barriers that will forever open the doors to future generations of Americans. I congratulate Justice Sotomayor on her appointment.

As this year’s National Hispanic Heritage Month comes to an end, please join me in proudly honoring Hispanic Americans for their countless contributions to our nation.

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