Congressional Black Caucus
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| Congressional Black Caucus | |
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| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Washington, D.C. |
| Type: | 527 group |
| Top official: | Joyce Beatty, Chair |
| Year founded: | 1971 |
| Website: | Official website |
The Congressional Black Caucus is a 527 political group of Black members of Congress, who seek to be 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 the American Dream."[1]
Mission[edit]
The mission statement of the Congressional Black Caucus is as follows:[1]
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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.[2] |
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Background[edit]
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) was founded in 1971 as an advocacy group seeking equality for Black Americans, especially in under-served communities. The membership is composed of members of Congress. The goals and agenda outlined by the group are as follows:
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Founding members[edit]
The 13 founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus were:[3]
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Organizational structure[edit]
The organization is composed of 18 task forces, each focusing on a specific aspect of the CBC's agenda. The following is a list of the CBC's task forces:[4]
- 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[edit]
Healthcare reform[edit]
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.”[5]
CBC outreach[edit]
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[edit]
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.[6]
Alternative energy[edit]
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.
Work[edit]
The CBC has been vocal in its stance on various issues. Below are some of the CBC's statements concerning those stances.
Ferguson grand jury decision[edit]
- 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.[7]
Judicial diversity[edit]
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.[8][9] The White House responded that 18 percent of Obama's confirmed judges were African-American.[10]
Steny Hoyer[edit]
In February 2014, Steny Hoyer agreed with members of the Congressional Black Caucus who were concerned with the diversity of judicial appointments.[8]
“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.[8]
Political activity[edit]
2016 presidential endorsement[edit]
✓ Congressional Black Caucus endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic primary in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[11]
- See also: Endorsements for Hillary Clinton
January 17, 2016, Democratic debate[edit]
In October 2015, the Democratic National Committee announced that the CBC Institute would sponsor the fourth Democratic presidential primary debate. The debate was also co-sponsored by NBC News and YouTube. The debate took place on Sunday, January 17, 2016 in Charleston, South Carolina.[12][13]
2014 elections[edit]
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.[14]
Leadership[edit]
As of December 13, 2022, the leadership of the Congressional Black Caucus was:[15]
- Joyce Beatty, Chair
- Steven Horsford, First Vice Chair
- Brenda Lawrence, Second Vice Chair
- Hank Johnson, Whip
- Frederica Wilson, Secretary
- Sheila Jackson Lee, Parliamentarian
- Joe Neguse, Member-At-Large
Membership[edit]
117th Congress[edit]
116th Congress[edit]
115th Congress[edit]
114th Congress[edit]
113th Congress[edit]
Tim Scott[edit]
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."[21]
Related programs[edit]
CBC Political Education and Leadership Institute[edit]
The Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization chaired by Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.). The organization, according to their website, has two primary missions, which are as follows:[22]
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Educating Voters – The primary activities of the Institute geared to educating voters include: (1) research and analysis relating to the redistricting process and the preservation of minority voting representation; and (2) conducting public policy conferences, town hall meetings, presidential primary debates, and other programs which advocate public policy engagement, voter participation and education Training Tomorrow’s Political Leaders –The Mission is two-fold: (a) to create opportunities for young African American and other minorities whose backgrounds, interests, and aspirations guide them toward public service and (b) generating a cadre of minority professionals who are well-qualified with regard to public and private sector policy issues and the conduct of successful political campaigns. This mission is accomplished by the conduct of an annual intensive 10- day training program “Boot Camp”. Boot Camp graduates, now totaling nearly 400 as of July, 2010, have assumed responsible roles in their communities, including holding elected offices, managing major political campaigns, serving as program directors and community leaders, as well as becoming highly regarded professionals in their respective public and private sector positions. In addition, the Institute has also held and is prepared to hold a short term (one to two day) Boot Camp program on college campuses.[2] |
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CBC Foundation[edit]
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.”[23]
CBC PAC[edit]
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.
In March 2016, ColorOfChange.org (COC) asked the Congressional Black Caucus to reconsider the board composition of its CBC PAC. COC argued that the PAC's ties with lobbyist for private prisons, tobacco and restaurants are problematic. COC stated "The depth of corporate influence over the CBC PAC is so troubling because its endorsements carry the name of the Congressional Black Caucus, trading off a name that is wrapped in the moral authority of the civil rights movement. Black caucus members should be leading, not following the disastrous trend towards more corporate control over government."[24] COC cited former Maryland congressman, now lobbyist, Dickstein Shapiro, who formerly represented Lorillard Tobacco, and Akin Gump employees' contributions to the PAC, which lobbies for Corrections Corporation of America.[24] In response, the PAC's chairman, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), stated that "concerns are overblown because the board members are there to represent themselves, not their companies or clients, and they support the PAC's mission and want to give back to the community."[24]
Media[edit]
Recent news[edit]
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Congressional Black Caucus. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also[edit]
- Charleston, South Carolina NBC News/CBC Democratic debate (January 17, 2016)
- Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee
- Democratic National Committee
- Hillary Clinton
External links[edit]
- Congressional Black Caucus website
- Facebook page
- Twitter feed
- YouTube channel
- CBC Institute
- CBC Foundation
- CBC PAC
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Congressional Black Caucus, "About," accessed January 11, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Congressional Black Caucus, "History," accessed May 19, 2020
- ↑ CBC, "CBC Taskforces," accessed January 11, 2016
- ↑ "National African-American Leaders and Congressional Black Caucus Members Hold Press Announcement at U. S. Capitol"
- ↑ CBC Newsletter
- ↑ Politico, "Congressional Black Caucus denounces Ferguson grand jury," November 24, 2014
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 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
- ↑ NBC News, "Congressional Black Caucus PAC Endorses Clinton," February 11, 2016
- ↑ NBC News, "Democrats Announce 2016 Primary Debate Schedule," August 6, 2015
- ↑ CBC Institute, "Democratic Primary Debate Sponsored by the CBC Institute," accessed January 11, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Black caucus stumps where Obama can't," August 25, 2014
- ↑ Congressional Black Caucus, "Leadership," accessed December 13, 2022
- ↑ Congressional Black Caucus, "Membership," accessed December 13, 2022
- ↑ CBC.House.gov, "Membership," accessed May 15, 2019
- ↑ CBC.House.gov, "Membership," accessed February 20, 2018
- ↑ Congressional Black Caucus, "Member Directory," accessed January 11, 2016
- ↑ Congressional Black Caucus, "Member Directory," accessed December 20, 2013
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Who is Tim Scott?" accessed September 4, 2013
- ↑ CBC Institute, "About Us," accessed January 11, 2016
- ↑ About CBC Foundation
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Politico, "Lobbying the Trump administration?" March 2, 2016
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