FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2022

MEDIA CONTACT:
Claudine Battisti

UNITE-LA STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT BIDEN’S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

All Forms of Equity Need to Remain Front and Center in the New Economic Vision for America

LOS ANGELES – UNITE-LA's President and CEO, David Rattray, released the following statement today in response to President Biden's first State of the Union Address:

"President Biden addressed not only the American people, but the entire world as conflict in Ukraine escalates. The critical task of reflecting the U.S. as both a global and domestic leader was critical. We applaud the President for stressing the importance of global unity while also emphasizing the importance of creating new, innovative domestic solutions that will allow us to ensure a bright future where children, students and adult workers of all incomes, races, genders, and backgrounds will be able to thrive in life and in this new, 21st century economy," said Rattray.

"The economic rebound from the pandemic, with 6.5 million new jobs just last year, exceeded economic forecasts. Still, our economy is not working for everyone. As we know, the disparities among those already struggling are significant," said Rattray. "President Biden's State of the Union address clearly aligns with many of the issues that are reflected in UNITE-LA's Principles for a New Economy. These include supporting cutting child care costs, increasing Pell grants, supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities, community colleges, creating pathways to citizenship and supporting Dreamers, ensuring affordable high-speed internet, and supporting mental health among our students. This inclusive economy for all provides optimism to help find creative solutions to our nation's most difficult challenges," Rattray added.

"We are ecstatic about the President and his administration's commitment to dismantle gender and racial inequities by the Presidents nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson, to be the first Black woman on the Supreme Court," concluded Rattray.

UNITE-LA is reminded of how important our Principles for a New Economy are and how vital their alignment to federal, state, and local policies truly is. From equity and inclusion, immigration reform, economic relief, anti-racism and more, we remain committed to holding our leaders and ourselves accountable to these principles so that every youth – from cradle through career – has the opportunity to succeed in school and at work.

###

About UNITE-LA
Over the past 25 years, UNITE-LA has been a trusted business intermediary, dedicated to supporting the development of an effective local public education system, so that all children and youth succeed in college, career and beyond. Through the intersection of programming, policy, and systems change efforts, UNITE-LA works to increase access to high-quality early childhood education, develop career pathways in high-growth industries, improve college access and success, and ensure workforce readiness, especially for individuals with high barriers into the workforce. Visit www.unitela.com.