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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Texas LULAC continues support the existence of current statutory protections against hate crimes and will oppose any future efforts to undermine such laws.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.