Senator Warner says he will champion increased access to capital and greater federal contracting opportunities for Latino-owned businesses. The Senator spoke at a Latino Business Summit on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

“One of the biggest challenges we have in this economy right now is access to capital,” Senator Warner said. “And it is a particularly difficult challenge for business communities who don’t have a long history of access to capital… We are going to need your help, advice and counsel on how to help grow your businesses. If we don’t help grow your businesses, then we are not going to come out of this recession.”

Virginia has one of the fastest growing Latino populations in America. The 2010 U.S. Census indicates the number of Hispanic residents doubled to about 632,000 in Virginia, Hispanics now comprise 8-percent of the population, and one-third of them are younger than age 18.

As governor of Virginia between 2002-05, which, Senator Warner expanded state contracting with minority and women-owned businesses. He also created Virginia’s first Latino Advisory Board, which continues today and advises Virginia governors on specific issues of concern to Latino constituents.

Senator Warner also joked that he has combined high school Spanish instruction with personal and business travel across South and Central America into “passable” Spanish language skills. Warner joked that Senate Democratic Hispanic Task Force chairman Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is not the only one who speaks the language:

“Cuando necesiten una persona que hable castellano, no solamente piensen en el Senador Menéndez, sino también en el Senador Warner,” indico el Senador