The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ (HACU) President and CEO Antonio R. Flores issued a statement on the vote by Senate leaders to confirm Julian Castro as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

San Antonio, TX – The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ (HACU) President and CEO Antonio R. Flores has issued the following statement on today’s vote by Senate leaders to confirm Julian Castro as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

It is with great pride that I congratulate the Senate for moving quickly and in a bipartisan manner to confirm San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro as the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The expediency of his confirmation demonstrates how clearly the U.S. Senate recognized Castro’s dedication to the success of our country and his innovative approaches to solving some of the most pressing issues at the local and national levels. His mother's strong work ethic and her belief in the power of education to lift any child from socioeconomic disadvantage to extraordinary success in public service have been key drivers in Castro’s rise from humble beginnings to national office. He not only personifies the best values of this nation but also champions educational opportunity for all Americans, exemplified by his successful tax proposal for early childhood education and his Café College initiative in San Antonio.

HUD plays a central role in the revitalization of lower and middle income neighborhoods. This revitalization means much more than increasing a community’s aesthetic and real estate value: it means that the residents of that community become further invested in strengthening all the elements that make a neighborhood successful, including the quality of their schools from pre-K to college and university. Castro is the ideal individual to lead HUD since his understanding of and experience with community and citizen involvement at the local level will guide him in creating opportunities for safe and nurturing neighborhoods across the country.

It is worth noting that Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Minority-Serving Institutions overall have worked with the HUD successfully in the past to assist communities in their rehabilitation and revitalization. We would hope to see a renewal of this partnership in light of Castro's recognition of the interconnectedness of education and community-building, and we look forward to collaborating with HUD in leveraging the talent and resources of our member institutions for the benefit of communities across our nation.