Into this breach steps Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the first woman ever elected to serve as Speaker of the House. What a tremendous accomplishment for Speaker Pelosi and this Nation. I believe Speaker Pelosi has several advantages that work in her favor to be an effective leader of the House. First, Speaker Pelosi's ability to rise through the ranks of the rough and tumble world of federal politics to the 3rd Highest Office in the land speaks volumes about her organizational skills, integrity and management style. Second, Speaker Pelosi inherited the very best of a family work ethic, which was forged on the tough, blue-collar streets of Baltimore, Maryland. Hardball politics pales in comparison to that kind of life experience at a formative age. Finally, Speaker Pelosi has effectively tailored her role as a Matriarch to unite a large group of diverse legislators together for a common goal. Bottom line: Speaker Pelosi's congressional district might be on the "Streets of San Francisco", but her "heart" was grounded on the mean streets of "B-more".
Majority Whip Clyburn
Joining Speaker Pelosi in the House Majority Leadership Group is CBC member Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), the new Majority Whip. Among other things, the Majority Whip is responsible for "counting the votes" and enforcing party discipline when everything is on the line. Black America has a friend in Majority Whip Clyburn (a long-time teacher), and if the 101st hour turns out to be meaningful, you can be sure Rep. Clyburn would have been a big part of ensuring that we are represented at the table when we need it most.
CBC Chairwoman Cheeks Kilpatrick
Another strong feather in Black America's cap is that the Congressional Black Caucus ("CBC") has grown to a membership of 43 members (42 House Members and one Senator). In its new Chair, Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI), the CBC has gained a highly respected consensus builder with a strong Midwestern work ethic to get the job done right for all Americans. Like Speaker Pelosi, Rep. Cheeks Kilpatrick also has "worked her magic" as the Matriarch and mentor to Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. These varied skills should serve our Community well as the Old Guard matches wits with the new breed of Democrat that has emerged on the Hill.
Additionally, a record number of CBC members now serve as Chairpersons on both Full Committees and Subcommittees (Note: as of January 9, 2007, the complete full Committee and Subcommittee assignments have not been completed). Consequently, the CBC is poised to be as influential and important a voting block in the 110th Congress as anytime in the history of the caucus.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is widely believed that if you fail to plan; you plan to fail. So, we can hardly be shocked or disappointed if at the 101st hour draws near, we have not articulated a menu of long neglected issues that our leaders must analyze, investigate and, if necessary, enact laws to combat further disenfranchisement, dispossession and despair in our Community.
To help you get organized during this vital time in our Nation's history, we have briefly highlighted some of the most important issues, as well as some of the key players in the CBC who will attempt to set the legislative agenda during the 110th Congress.
THE KEY ISSUES
A.) Domestic Relations
1. The Economy
-Payday Lending (are these Vultures weakening our Military)
-Consumer Debt (e.g., student loan crisis/Sallie Mae oversight; revisiting the Bankruptcy Reform Act);
-Job Losses in the Industrial Midwest (can "The Big 3" avoid Bankruptcy with massive job losses);
-Outsourcing jobs overseas (e.g., Congress must incentive building and buying at home)
2. The Budget
-"Pay as you Go" (can we really afford to tighten the belt on those most in need after a decade of neglect)
3. Education
-"No Child Left Behind" (e.g., oversight of the Dept. of Education);
-School Busing (e.g., Resegregation cases now before the Supreme Court; is Brown v. Board in jeopardy)
4. Oil Prices
-Pain at the Pump
-Rollback of Excise Taxes
-Industry Business Practices
5. Health Care
-Universal Care
-Prescription Drugs
-AIDS (the epidemic must be confronted in Africa and America)
-Stem cell Research (an idea whose time has come)
-Medical ID theft
6. Real Property/Housing Issues
-Post-Katrina Displacement
-Predatory Lending and Rising Foreclosures
-Eminent Domain (e.g. Kelo)
7. Criminal Justice & Civil Litigation
-Death Penalty Reform
-Drug Sentencing Disparity
-Balancing the War on Terror with the Right to Privacy (e.g., The Patriot Act)
-Identity Theft
-Tort Reform (How much is too much)
B.) Foreign Affairs
1. Iraq & Afghanistan
2. China
-Trade
-Concentration on Africa: Friend or Opportunist for Neo-Colonization
3. Southern Hemisphere
-Cuba (Are we prepared for the post-Fidel Era)
-Venezuela (e.g., Hugo Chavez & Cheap Oil in the States)
4. Trade (e.g., Illegal Drugs & NAFTA)
5. Africa
-Health Care (e.g., AIDS)
-Genocide (e.g., Darfur)
-Exploitation of Natural Resources (e.g., Conflict Diamonds)
-Increased political influence of China
THE PLAYERS
CBC Members who are Chairing Committees:
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means
* Jurisdiction includes taxes, tariffs, Social Security, and Medicare
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)
Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary
* Jurisdiction includes the court administration and judges, Constitutional amendments, immigration, patents and trademarks, interstate compacts
Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.)
Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security
* Jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security and related laws
Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH)
Chairwoman of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (Ethics)
* Jurisdiction over all matters relating to the Code of Official Conduct; can investigate and recommend actions to establish or enforce the Code
Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA)
Chairwoman of the House Administration Committee
* Committee has oversight of federal elections and the day-to-day functions of the House of Representatives
Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI)
Chairwoman of Congressional Black Caucus
* The Congressional Black Caucus was formed in 1969 when the 13 black members of the U.S. House of Representatives joined together to strengthen their efforts to address the legislative concerns of black and minority citizens.
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