Congressional Black Caucus: Difference between revisions
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==CBC Institute== | ==CBC Institute== | ||
The Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization chaired by Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS). Its Board of Directors is | The Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization chaired by Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS). Its Board of Directors is composed of corporate leaders, academic leaders, labor leaders and members of the Congressional Black Caucus who facilitate its primary activities: | ||
1) development and training political candidates, leaders and tacticians | 1) development and training political candidates, leaders and tacticians | ||
2) research and analysis relating to the process of redistricting, as well as the preservation of minority voting representation | 2) research and analysis relating to the process of redistricting, as well as the preservation of minority voting representation | ||
Revision as of 14:45, 9 February 2015
| Congressional Black Caucus | |
| Bi-cameral | |
 | |
| Leadership: | Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (OH-11) |
| Established | 1971 |
| Members | 43 |
| Website | Congressional Black Caucus |
The Congressional Black Caucus was formed by 13 House Representatives in 1969 and recognized by President Richard Nixon when he met with the members in March 1971. In this meeting the founding members presented the president with a list of 60 recommendations for governmental action on domestic and foreign issues, the first official act in the caucus' mission to further the interests of African-Americans through the Legislative Branch.
Membership is exclusive to African-Americans. Though it is officially nonpartisan, the CBC is traditionally and unofficially associated with the Democratic Party.
Mission
The mission statement of the Congressional Black Caucus is as follows:
"Since its establishment in 1971, Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have joined together to empower America’s neglected citizens and to address their legislative concerns. For more than 40 years, the CBC has consistently been the voice for people of color and vulnerable communities in Congress and has been committed to utilizing the full Constitutional power, statutory authority, and financial resources of the Government of the United States of America to ensure that everyone in the United States has an opportunity to achieve their version of the American Dream."[1]
History
- 1870: Hiram Rhodes Revels (R-MS) and Joseph H. Rainey (R-SC) are the first African-Americans to serve in the House and Senate, respectively.
- 1971: After the election of 1970, the Congressional Black Caucus is formed with thirteen congressional members.
- 1996: With the election of 1996 came the 100th African-American Congressperson, as well as an addition to record 41 African-American members seated in the 104th Congress.
- 2006: The Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act was passed, much through the efforts of the CBC.
- 2008: Senator Barack Obama is elected President of the United States.
Issues
Ferguson grand jury decision
- See also: Shooting in Ferguson, Missouri
After the grand jury released the decision to not indict the officer who shot Michael Brown in a highly publicized shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, the CBC released a statement the same evening. "This decision seems to underscore an unwritten rule that Black lives hold no value; that you may kill Black men in this country without consequences or repercussions," chair Marcia Fudge wrote.
The decision came during a time of civil unrest in the city due to the shooting.[2]
Judicial diversity
The Congressional Black Caucus criticized President Barack Obama because of a perceived lack of diversity in Obama administration judicial nominees. The CBC wrote to the White House in January 2014, expressing concerns that nominees were not representative of the diversity of the states.[3][4] The White House responded that 18 percent of Obama's confirmed judges were African-American.[5]
Steny Hoyer
In February 2014, Steny Hoyer agreed with members of the Congressional Black Caucus who were concerned with the diversity of judicial appointments.[3]
“I certainly share the CBC’s concerns. I think the Senate, you know, has customs and deference to the incumbent senator in each state, and I understand that, but I would hope [Majority Leader Harry] Reid and Senate leadership would look to the best interest of the country, in the broad spectrum of beliefs in the country and to have that be represented on the bench...Clearly, federal judges who serve for life have, undoubtedly have a policy impact. So I’m sympathetic to the concerns of the Congressional Black Caucus,” Hoyer said.[3]
2014 elections
In southern states, the CBC sent prominent caucus members to stump in key races in place of President Barack Obama due to his unpopularity in the South. Reps. John Lewis, Jim Clyburn and Elijah Cummings focused on the U.S. Senate races in Louisiana and North Carolina.[6]
Members
113th Congress
Tim Scott
Despite being the only African American senator in the 113th Congress, Republican Sen. Tim Scott (FL) elected not to join the CBC. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, chair of the CBC, told reporters, "He chose not to join the Congressional Black Caucus because he realized that the policies we would embrace would not be in harmony with the policies of the Republican Caucus of which he’s a member."[8]
Task forces
The Congressional Black Caucus is made up of the following task forces, which represent issues of greatest concern to the African American community and consituents:[9]
- Africa
- Education and Labor
- Budget, Appropriations, and Taxation
- Education Reform Working Group
- Civil Rights and Judiciary
- Energy, Environment, and Agriculture
- Justice System Reform Working Group
- Foreign Affairs and National Security
- Prison Telecomm Reform Working Group
- Healthcare
- Voter Protection and Empowerment Working Group
- Healthcare Reform Implementation Working Group
- Diversity Taskforce
- Immigration Reform
- Judicial Nominations Working Group
- Poverty and the Economy
- Economic Development and Wealth Creation
- Technology and Infrastructure Development
Goals
Healthcare reform
In 2009, CBC members joined national African American leaders at the U.S. Capitol today to support the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act and to counter protesters.
Lee and Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League and Chair of the Black Leadership Forum led the speeches on September 9, 2009.
“As the Members of Congress who represent millions of disproportionately under- and uninsured Americans whose health and wellness have suffered because of the numerous gaps in our nation's health care system reform is a top priority,” said Lee. “We will continue to work with President Obama and our leadership to fight to reform America's broken health care system.”
“As the health care debate continues to heat up, African-American leaders need to be more vocal about why health care reform is needed in this country,” stated Morial. “With 46 million people living without health care insurance and about half of those being people of color, and with rising health care costs that are crushing families and small businesses, an overhaul is imminent.”[10]
CBC outreach
The CBC states on its website that it aims to empower and mobilize America's "young people of color" through development, through strengthening pipelines on Capital Hill by connecting these young people to legislative process and civic engagement training. CBC works to prioritize legislation and funding that effects America’s youth through education, job training and health care.
The caucus aimed to engage "young leaders" in the 2008 election through voter registration, education and opportunities at campaigns. They also hope to host inter-generational discussions through the Internet and conferences on youth-centered policies
The CBC promotes education by hosting six one and a half day sessions throughout the country and eight CBC Symposia on Capital Hill focused on CBC priorities.
The caucus uses black media outlets for its outreach efforts as well as funding organizations such as the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.
CBC promoted voting during the 2008 election cycle by working with progressive civil rights organizations to register 100,000 new voters by October 2008.
CBC supports progressive public policy legislation with progressive civil rights organizations.
The caucus hosts an annual CBC Black History Month Program and leads CBC International Congressional delegation's and cultural missions throughout the African Diaspora.
Build CBC web presence
CBC aims to utilize the Internet as the portal for spreading information and dialogue in the CBC and black America and developing partnerships to build exposure and presence.
The CBC blogs (dead link) and podcasts that CBC members make are issue forums and give updates on CBC priorities.
The CBC issues a bi-monthly online newsletter.[11]
Alternative energy
The CBC supports the African-American role in alternative energy, while works to empower black farmers with alternative fuel dialogues and initiate the use of beans, corn, sugar cane, etc. as possible fuel sources.
The CBC promotes wind and solar power as alternative fuel and support research, education and training for people of color in renewable energy fields.
The caucus supports climate stabilization and community cleanup efforts to reduce and stabilize greenhouse gases according to the Kyoto Treaty. It works to reduce the number of sites with hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants in the United States.
CBC Institute
The Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization chaired by Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS). Its Board of Directors is composed of corporate leaders, academic leaders, labor leaders and members of the Congressional Black Caucus who facilitate its primary activities: 1) development and training political candidates, leaders and tacticians 2) research and analysis relating to the process of redistricting, as well as the preservation of minority voting representation 3) increasing the presence of African-Americans in public policy and service sectors.[12]
CBC Foundation
The mission of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is to focus on leadership education, public health, and economic development as the premier organization that “creates, identifies, analyzes and disseminates policy-oriented information critical to advancing African Americans and people of African descent towards equity in economics, health, and education.”[13]
CBC PAC
The mission of the Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee is to increase the number of African-Americans in Congress, to support non-Black candidates who champion African-American interests and to promote African-American participation in the political process, especially young voters.
Recent news
This section displays the most recent stories in a Google news search for the term "Congressional + Black + Caucus"
- All stories may not be relevant to this page due to the nature of the search engine.
External links
- Congressional Black Caucus website
- Facebook page
- Twitter feed
- YouTube channel
- CBC Foundation
- CBC PAC
References
- ↑ Congressional Black Caucus, "Home," accessed December 20, 2013
- ↑ Politico, "Congressional Black Caucus denounces Ferguson grand jury," November 24, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Politico, "Steny Hoyer concerned about judicial diversity," accessed February 4, 2014
- ↑ The Daily Beast, "Congressional Black Caucus Blasts Obama for Not Nominating Enough African-American Judges," accessed February 4, 2014
- ↑ The Hill, "Black lawmakers to go after Obama," January 26, 2014
- ↑ Politico, "Black caucus stumps where Obama can't," August 25, 2014
- ↑ Congressional Black Caucus, "Member Directory," accessed December 20, 2013
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Who is Tim Scott?" accessed September 4, 2013
- ↑ Congressional Black Caucus, "Task Forces," accessed January 6, 2014
- ↑ "National African-American Leaders and Congressional Black Caucus Members Hold Press Announcement at U. S. Capitol"
- ↑ CBC Newsletter
- ↑ About CBC Institute
- ↑ About CBC Foundation
