The Congressional Black Caucus is
Honoring Our Commitment to America’s Families
By
Representative Carolyn C.
Kilpatrick (D-MI)
Chair, Congressional Black Caucus
Eight months
ago, I heeded the call to serve as Chair of the
Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). I am both
humbled by and proud of the power and influence
exhibited by this Caucus. Since our inception 36
years ago, our membership has more than tripled
in size. We are represented in the ranks of
House leadership; our members include the
Majority Whip, four full committee chairs, and
17 subcommittee chairs. This marks a major
milestone in our history.
The
Congressional Black Caucus of the 110th Congress
has initiated and supported meaningful pieces of
legislation designed to “Change Course, Confront
Crises, and Continue the Legacy.” We have been
successful in influencing the passage, content,
and language of the following measures, aimed at
strengthening America’s families in several
critical areas:
Minimum Wage Increase: For the
first time in 10 years, the federal minimum wage
has been raised. Nearly 13 million hard-working
Americans will benefit from the new law, which
increases the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to
$7.25 an hour over the next two years. All CBC
Members supported this legislation, which is a
good first step toward growing the economy and
providing prosperity for all of America’s
families.
Stem Cell Research: African Americans are
disproportionately affected by sickle cell
anemia, diabetes, and Multiple Sclerosis. With
increased funding for testing and research,
these diseases and countless others can be
prevented and/or treated in their earliest
stages.
College Cost Reduction Act: This
legislation—the single largest investment in
college financial aid since the GI Bill—helps
make higher education more affordable for
millions of students and families. This bill
increases the Pell Grant by at least $500 over
the next five years and cuts interest rates on
need-based college loans in half. It provides
tuition assistance for excellent undergraduate
students who agree to teach in public schools.
It also makes a landmark investment of $500
million in minority serving institutions,
including Historically Black Colleges and
Universities and Hispanic-serving institutions,
over five years.
Gulf Coast Relief: Two years following the
devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,
millions of Gulf Coast residents remain
displaced and detached from federal assistance.
In an effort to expedite the repair and
rebuilding of homes and affordable rental
housing, the Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing
Recovery Act will invest $1.2 billion in the
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
The
Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act:
This bill, supported by 100% of our membership,
represents a sizeable victory for America’s
families. It enhances the Food Stamp Program and
improves access to programs for 1890 land-grant
institutions and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers
and Ranchers. This bill also includes language
to address outstanding claims from African
American farmers through Pigford v. Veneman.
The
Children’s Health Insurance and Medicare
Protection (CHAMP) Act: Children
and seniors deserve the best health care our
country has to offer. All CBC Members voted in
support of the original bill, which reauthorized
health insurance for 11 million children,
significantly expanding access to health care
for racial and ethnic minorities and
economically disadvantaged children.
Looking ahead,
the CBC will continue to advance our agenda. I
invite you to visit our new interactive website
at
www.thecongressionalblackcaucus.com
to participate in our blog discussions and track
the CBC’s Commitment to America. I look forward
to working with Rev. Smith, the leadership of
Shiloh Baptist Church and the congregation of
this historic branch of Zion. Let us work
together to unleash our collective power and use
it to change the course of our country, confront
the crises facing America’s families, and
continue the legacy of leadership passed on to
us by our ancestors.
