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Platform |
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Texas LULAC supports equal opportunity for employment, promotion and
contracting, and opposes discrimination of any form in the workplace. We
support affirmative action as a set of positive steps that employers use to
promote equal employment opportunities. Texas LULAC remains committed to
fighting efforts to overturn decisions that have upset affirmative action
programs across the country. Texas LULAC supports the University of
Michigan’s admissions practices and its efforts to increase the diversity of
its undergraduate and graduate student bodies. Texas LULAC supports
affirmative action at both the graduate and undergraduate level throughout
all of Texas’ institutions of higher learning.
CITIZENSHIP AND VOTING
Texas LULAC promotes active participation of all eligible Hispanics in
the democratic process by registering to vote and encouraging their voting,
and encourages all legislative, judicial and educational efforts to promote
voter participation and advocacy. We encourage all eligible immigrants in
Texas to become US citizens. Texas LULAC supports legislation and
administrative policy that will inform former felons of their right to
register to vote.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
Texas LULAC advocates reform of the criminal justice system to reduce
the disproportionate number of Latinos who are incarcerated in the criminal
and juvenile justice systems. We support reform of the court system to
ensure fair sentencing guidelines that do not discriminate among race or
socio-economic backgrounds. We oppose the incarceration of youth in adult
prisons and we support preventive education and social programs to reduce
incarceration and recidivism. Texas LULAC supports drug policy alternatives
and reforms that will focus on reduction approaches to drug use and drug
policy. Texas LULAC supports legislation that will focus on the
rehabilitation as opposed to incarceration of non-violent, non-sex related
offenders. Texas LULAC supports community re-entry programs that will assist
non-violent, non-sex related offenders return to their communities and
become productive members of society. We oppose discrimination in
employment, housing, student loans, and other activities that are essential
for an ex-felon to become sufficient. Texas LULAC supports legislation that
would require an appointment of an independent prosecutor in cases where
police officers are accused of police brutality.
DISCRIMINATION AND RACIAL PROFILING
Texas LULAC works to prevent acts of discrimination and racial profiling
against Latinos, including slander by actions or words. We seek to bring
issues and instances of discrimination to the attention of all people living
in Texas. By exposing discrimination, we encourage a public discourse to
educate the public on issues relating to Latinos. We denounce any form of
discrimination on the basis of national origin, race, religion, sexual
orientation, age or disability. We strongly condemn racial profiling, and
support a strong statutory definition of racial profiling along with the
institution of data collection systems by law enforcement. Texas LULAC
demands members of law enforcement to be thoroughly investigated and are
held accountable for discriminatory actions against civilians. Texas LULAC
supports legislation that will protect law enforcement officers when they
turn in a fellow law enforcement member for violations of these policies.
EDUCATION
Texas LULAC believes that education is the basis for lifelong success
and strongly opposes any measure that denies education as a fundamental
right regardless of citizenship. Texas LULAC is opposed to any efforts made
to privatize our public school system. School curricula and textbooks should
be accurate, language appropriate, and culturally sensitive, reflecting the
rich diversity of our Latino heritage. We support legislation targeted at
decreasing the Latino dropout rate, and we urge the legislature to implement
targeted programs to encourage Latino students to remain in school to
completion. All Latinos should have access to safe, quality, and
desegregated public schools. All public schools in Texas should be improved
and provided with the level of funding necessary so that all districts can
provide an excellent education. Texas LULAC believes that without equity
there will be no adequacy in school finance. Texas LULAC opposes high-stakes
testing and supports the use of multiple criteria in assessment whenever
decisions to retain, promote, and graduate children are concerned. We
support an increase in the number of Latino educators, administrators and
school board members, as well as teacher training and development programs
to encourage Latinos to become teachers. Texas LULAC will fight any effort
made to undermine the law that allows undocumented immigrant children who
have completed high school to be admitted to colleges and universities as
residents and be eligible for in-state tuition. Texas LULAC opposes college
entrance exams as the sole or primary determinant in admissions processes
and supports instead multiple criteria as the key to admission. We support
an increase in state funding for Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI’s) of
higher education.
ENGLISH PLUS
Texas LULAC strongly opposes all legislation that designates English as
the official language of Texas. We support bilingual education to ensure
English proficiency while encouraging students to retain proficiency in
their native language. English language acquisition is imperative, but
bilingualism and multilingualism are assets to be valued and preserved. We
advocate that English language learners shall receive an equal quality
academic education with equal quality materials as native English-speaking
students. Such education shall be provided by properly credentialed
teachers.
ENVIRONMENT
Texas LULAC opposes the practice of locating environmentally damaging or
dangerous sites in Hispanic and other disadvantaged communities. The
organization also opposes the disposal of nuclear or chemical waste near
Hispanic communities. We support a border buffer to prevent the creation of
hazardous waste sites on either side of the Texas-Mexico border, and we
encourage the clean up of “brown-fields” (contaminated sites) in Hispanic
neighborhoods. We support the implementation of the Clean Air Act to reduce
emissions that are harmful to Latinos of all ages.
HATE CRIMES
Texas LULAC continues support the existence of current statutory
protections against hate crimes and will oppose any future efforts to
undermine such laws.
HEALTH
Universal health care is a priority for Latinos that includes affordable
and accessible primary and preventive health care that is culturally
competent. All Latina mothers, regardless of immigration status should have
access to pre-natal care and children must have access to immunization,
medications, mental and behavior health. We urge pharmaceutical companies to
provide drugs at affordable prices. We urge pharmaceutical companies to
disclose the actual cost of the drugs they produce. We urge awareness among
health care providers of the disparities in the health care system and the
elimination of bias and stereotyping of Latino patients. We advocate for
patient education to increase patients’ knowledge of the pricing
differentials of pharmaceutical products. We support education projects that
will focus on prevention and intervention of diseases that have a
disproportionate affect on Latinos such as diabetes and AIDS. We support
education programs that will guide the Latino community to access quality
health regardless of income. We also urge an expansion of insurance coverage
for all children (CHIP), as well as increased funding for programs to
promote self-esteem and prevent young Latinos and Latinas from teen
pregnancy. Because of the disproportionate number of Hispanics who are
uninsured and under-insured, we strongly urge the creation of a universal
health care coverage plan that insures all people in an equitable manner. We
support the expansion of funding for mental health and mental disabilities
programs.
HISPANIC REPRESENTATION Texas LULAC opposes efforts to redraw the
congressional lines during the 78th Special Legislative Session and urges
the legislature to wait to address this issue until the next census is
released so as to ensure the election of an adequate number of Hispanic or
(non-Hispanic) lawmakers whose policies coincide with those of LULAC.
HOUSING
Texas LULAC supports the expansion of affordable housing and increased
funding for policies that create government-sponsored matching funds. LULAC
opposes discriminatory and predatory lending practices and supports the
strengthening of fair housing legislation to hold banking institutions
accountable for fair lending practices. LULAC supports the improvement of
quality of life for areas known as “colonias” along the US-Mexico border and
elsewhere in the state.
TAXES
Texas LULAC support stronger benefits for lower income groups, women, and
the disabled. We are opposed to budget cuts that deplete social services
especially those that provide aid to the elderly, children, and the
disabled. Texas LULAC supports the funding of programs like CHIP, for we do
not believe that our state’s most defenseless citizens should have to suffer
in the name of tax relief. We also believe that the state should seek out
alternative funding sources.
WELFARE REFORM
Texas LULAC supports fair welfare reform. Welfare should act as a safety
net for those who need assistance for valid reasons. It should provide
bilingual job training, funding for child care, an increased minimum wage
and job opportunities to meet the needs of urban and rural welfare
recipients. There should be reasonable time limits on welfare and each case
should be reviewed individually. Welfare reforms should be closely monitored
to ensure they do not increase poverty. LULAC opposes benefit cuts
previously afforded to legal immigrants, and strongly advocates the
restoration of benefits to legal immigrants.
WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Texas LULAC strongly supports legislation that would guarantee pay
equity for women, strong penalties for sexual harassment, and support for
women who file complaints against their employers. We support the expansion
of leadership development programs for women and encourage them to run for
public office. We strongly support programs to protect women and their
children from domestic violence and strong penalties for abusers.
WORKERS’ RIGHTS
Texas LULAC strongly supports the rights of workers to organize under
the law and form labor unions dedicated to continuing the struggle for
equality and social and economic justice. We support extending the benefits
of a bountiful society for all workers, and all times improve the working
and living conditions of all workers worldwide. |
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