Thank you, Kevin, for that introduction.

And thank you to Melody Gonzales for her leadership of the White House Hispanic Initiative. A shoutout to the entire White House initiative team that’s here — including members of the President’s Advisory Commission on Hispanics Noel Candelaria and Evelyn de Jesus. Your commitment has been tireless, and each achievement we celebrate this Hispanic Heritage Month is yours too. I could not be more proud or more grateful. No podría estar más orgulloso!

Muchísimas gracias to everyone here celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. This year’s theme celebrates “Pioneers of Change.”

There are 65 million Latinos living in the United States. Our leadership is driving change in every space and sector: teachers, doctors, entertainers, engineers, advocates, artists, government leaders, and cabinet secretaries.

Make no mistake: we’re not just in the room where it happens; we’re leading the room.

I’m proud to be part of the most diverse cabinet in our history — one of four Latinos leading critical agencies for our nation.

Wherever you go and whichever Latino leader you talk to, you always hear a version of the same thing: my success isn’t just about my journey. It’s about the journey of our parents and grandparents who made immense sacrifices so we could have opportunities in this country. We honor those sacrifices and celebrate them this month too.

I stand here today advising the President on education because of my grandparents' courage and sacrifices. They traded Puerto Rico for Connecticut's projects so that future generations could rise. I also owe this opportunity to my parents who sacrificed for their three kids to give us a shot at achieving the American Dream.

These sacrifices were top of mind when I took this job.

Reflecting on my early days as Secretary of Education, I want to share when President Biden called me to join his cabinet — it captures what being Latino means to me.

At that time, I was commissioner of education in Connecticut working from my basement trying to reopen schools during COVID-19. We wore half-suits since Zoom couldn’t catch our lower halves. My wife Marissa was home with our children doing hybrid school.

During an interview with President Biden and Vice President Harris from my basement, they told me they would call me the next day with their decision.

I felt honored just interviewing with them and even took screenshots without letting anyone know as proof! The next day when they called back offering me the position, I ran upstairs holding my phone on speaker while standing beside my family saying "lo que dios diga."

President Biden talked about his vision for our country before asking me to join his cabinet.

Yo empece a llorar como un bobo trying hard not cry too much while accepting this privilege on behalf those who sacrificed so much enabling such opportunities today - carrying weighty responsibility daily without taking any moment granted knowing he believed because who came from rather than despite it - seeing these traits assets shaping perspectives how education opens doors doing right students allowing staying true self whether barrio briefing room proudly urging others likewise amid broader culture low expectations persistently telling young Latinos aren’t good enough failing reflect experiences making feel don’t belong which remains unacceptable normalized thus administration fought raising bar excellence opportunity delivering results securing $130 billion largest single investment public education history helping students recover succeed academically meet mental health needs building partnerships expanding access afterschool summer learning proposing rules ensuring Dreamers others participate federal TRIO programs regardless immigration status benefiting up-to-50k more eligible college preparation financial aid making higher education affordable accessible assisting nearly 4-point-eight-million Americans securing billions student loan cancellations investing over-500-Hispanic-serving institutions creating new White House Initiative HSIs addressing community needs intentionally improving educator diversity grants first securing federal funding $15 million Augustus Hawkins program recruiting training teachers color bilingual educators encouraging applications highlighting powerful impact teacher representation helped Puerto Rican educators receive first pay raise decade initiating process transforming island's system better meeting local needs benefiting amazing educators students protecting civil rights ensuring engagement leading national movement elevating bilingualism establishing Seal Biliteracy nationwide formalizing recognized superpower celebrating progress fighting harder advancing countering efforts defending status quo low expectations rallying Andres Jimenez's words Despierta Boricua Despierta Latino continuing uplifting achievements loudly communicating executive order HSI grants public service loan forgiveness shouting historic strides Biden-Harris Administration supporting community ensuring young Latinos aware backed platforms voices amplifying messages networks partners rooftops reaffirmed unity pride contributions aspirations striving future successes collaboratively moving forward together empowered determined committed shared prosperity recognition celebration heritage legacy continuation endeavors inspiring next generations actively advocating resiliently progressing determinedly overcoming challenges steadfastly realizing dreams