Congressional Black Caucus to propose policing reforms

The Congressional Black Caucus is at work on a package of policing reforms the House could advance later this month in response to the death of George Floyd, Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., the chair of the caucus, told ABC News.

A federal chokehold ban, a review of police training standards and a reform of the legal doctrine that shields police officers from legal liability are some of the proposals circulating among the group, which House Democratic leaders have tasked with leading the chamber's response to Floyd's death and the ongoing protests.

"We are going to do everything we can, while the nation has a height of awareness on the issue, to pass transformative legislation," said Bass. "We want to make sure that, in this time period, we are very visible so that African Americans around the country understand that this is our experience as well."

SOURCE: ABC NEWS

Congressional Black Caucus Swears In Largest Member Group In History

On Thursday, the day of the official swearing-in of the 116th Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus swore in its own group of members, a total of 55 ― its largest number in history.

This year’s CBC surpasses its previous record of 49 House and Senate members in the 115th Congress.

“With the largest caucus in history... the CBC is poised to play a leading role in standing up to the Trump Administration and pressing forward on key issues like protecting voting rights and the Affordable Care Act,” executive director Kevin Harris said by email.

Established in 1971, the Congressional Black Caucus states as its mission “to ensure African Americans... have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.” Its legislative priorities include reforming the criminal justice system and combating voter suppression.

[SOUCE: HUFFPOST]

2019 Congressional Black Caucus will be biggest ever

The 2018 mid-term election have added a number of African Americans to the United States Congress and in turn more members to the Congressional Black Caucus.

The newcomers to Congress will include nine more African-American members. With turnovers, the CBC is expected to have a record 54 members in the next Congress, four times as many as in 1971 when 13 Congress members formed the Caucus.

As a result, the CBC, which includes two senators, will rank among the largest caucuses in Congress.