WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) spoke about economic challenges facing Latino communities at UnidosUS’ “Prosperity Forward Convening.” The fireside chat was moderated by UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguia and focused on Senator Gallego’s legislative pushes to lower costs and increase the rate of homeownership in the Latino community.

Watch Senator Gallego’s conversation HERE and read excerpts below:

On hope in the Latino community: “I would say that one thing that is that is starting to be missed by our community now is hope. […] For the first time, Latino families feeling that, like, I am not going good – which is crazy to hear from Latino families, because we’ll work our tails off to do anything. We’ll add extra jobs, we’ll cut here, we’ll do whatever it is to make it happen. […] And you know, for us parents, hearing the worst was like, I don’t think my kids are being any better than me, and it’s hard for our community to hear that, because we sacrifice so much. Our families come over from really hard situations, and they work hard, and sometimes we know it’s not gonna get better for us, but it’s gonna get better for our kids at some point, and they’re not feeling that right now.”

On Latinos attaining homeownership: “When I say low interest mortgages and low interest down payments, it really matters. For example, I have way too much experience of this, but my mom’s first house was [from] a FHA loan house, right? We put 3.5% down. That’s what FHA demanded back in the day to avoid PMI. Now 3.5% down for FHA loan is not still not a bad deal, but the average house is through the roof. In Arizona, the average house in Maricopa County is running about $550,000 and 25% of $500,000 is nearly 20,000. How many people in the generation, in my generation or right below me, around the 30s, have $20,000 for a down payment?”  

On the importance of the Latino community’s economic prosperity: “I do think it’s important, you know, if Latinos, as a growing population in this country, do not get into housing, we’re not going to build wealth. If we’re not going to build wealth, we’re going to end up being a poor, poorer community. And by the way, if the Latino community is poor, that means the country is poor.”

“[Latinos are] the youngest generation of all the demographics out there right now, and we need to have a larger conversation with America saying look, an investment in our community is really an investment in this country. Investments in security in our communities is an investment in this country. When we’re cutting education, you’re essentially cutting a pathway to success for Latinos, but you’re also cutting prosperity for this whole country. And I feel that there is a moment that’s going to come post this election, where we can have that opportunity and where we can really be part of, I think, the real acceptance of Latino and Latino-ism as part of this country.”

On Bad Bunny’s Superbowl performance: “This is like a watershed moment for our community. This is a sign that the country’s accepting me, but it’s also accepting me in my Latino way. That I’m not – I don’t have to change. I don’t have to be less Latino to be more American. I got on the phone and texted a bunch of my guy friends, Latino guy friends. They were feeling the same thing. They had the same sentiment that is what I think is a real, great symbol of where we’re going as a country. And he summarized it very succinctly on that Superbowl, together we are America, right? And I think that’s the case. Together, we are America. Let’s make sure we are together.”