Rep. Joyce Beatty Elected Congressional Black Caucus Chairperson

U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) has been elected the 27th Chair of the powerful Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). Immediately following the vote, she said:

“It is the honor of a lifetime to be voted by my peers to lead the Congressional Black Caucus in the 117th Congress. Right now, our nation is facing three pandemics that have disproportionately impacted the lives of Black Americans: COVID-19, economic turmoil, and social injustice. As Chair, I will work with the Biden Administration, House and Senate Leadership, as well as my congressional colleagues, to defeat the pandemic and ensure better days lie ahead for all of us. Moreover, I will use my voice to address enduring economic and health disparities and fight to break the chains of systemic racism that have held back the Black community for far too long.

The Caucus will mark its 50th anniversary in 2021, and I will do everything in my power to build upon our previous successes, work to create racial wealth equity and sustainability, increase access to affordable healthcare, housing and education, reform our criminal justice system, and clean up our environment.

Together—standing on the shoulders of the 13 CBC founders—we will continue to fight for our families, fight for our communities, and fight for justice for all.”

Since its establishment in 1971, the CBC has been committed to using the full Constitutional power, statutory authority, and financial resources of the federal government to ensure that African Americans and other marginalized communities in the United States have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. As part of this commitment, the CBC has fought for the past 49 years to empower these citizens and address their legislative concerns. For the 117th Congress, the CBC will be comprised of a historic 57 members in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

Biden picks Susan Rice as Domestic Policy Advisor and Director of the Domestic Policy Council

President-Elect Joe Biden has selected Ambassador Susan E. Rice to serve as Domestic Policy Advisor and Director of the Domestic Policy Council. In her position, Rice, 56, will play a large role in implementing Biden’s Build Back Better agenda, a wide-ranging set of policy proposals that would invest trillions of dollars in American infrastructure and manufacturing, clean energy, caregiving, education and racial equity.

Rice is among the nation’s most senior and experienced government leaders, bringing unparalleled skill in harnessing the power of the federal government to serve the American people. Rice served as National Security Advisor from 2013-2017, where she directed and implemented the Obama-Biden Administration’s national security policy in all areas including: global health, climate policy, international trade, development and economic issues, relationships with allies, competition and cooperation with China and Russia, and managing U.S. foreign relations with all regions of the world. As U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and a member of the Cabinet from 2009-2013, Ambassador Rice won major concessions and sealed important agreements with America’s toughest adversaries and worked to advance U.S. interests and to promote global development, democracy and human rights.

Rice responded to the appointment on Twitter:

I am humbled and excited by this call to serve. The scale of the challenges ahead demands a government that works for all Americans. We must restore trust in government through strong and equitable domestic policy that builds back better here at home. Let's GO!

Joy Reid Joins Howard University as 2021 Hearst Visiting Professor

Award-winning Political Analyst for MSNBC and Host of “The Reid Out,” Joy Reid, will join the journalism sequence in the Department of Media, Journalism and Film in the Cathy Hughes School of Communications as a Hearst Visiting Professor to teach a master class in Spring 2021 for junior and seniors studying journalism.

“I’m so excited to be the incoming Hearst Visiting Professor at Howard University, teaching a course on the impact of race and gender on political coverage,” said Reid. “Particularly in this era of virtual media, and deep partisanship and political division, it’s never been more important that journalists incorporate a thorough and honest historical context in our coverage. I can’t wait to interact with the brilliant students at Howard and share ideas with them on how we as an industry can be better and do better.”

The master class, titled Covering Race, Gender & Politics in the Digital Age, will introduce students to concepts of political media coverage, focused on issues of race and gender, and discuss how those topics land in today’s increasingly ideologically siloed, digitally influenced newsroom. Some of the relevant topics of the course include digital disinformation and Black voters and the racial roots of journalistic objectivity vs. fairness. The course comes on the heels of a historic election that has left Americans more polarized than ever and journalists more needed than ever. With her wealth of experience as a journalist, political analyst and author, Reid will bring a timely tutelage to our aspiring media professionals.

“Joy Reid is a great addition to our faculty as Hearst Visiting Professor in Spring 2021," says Grace Lawson-Borders, Ph.D., dean of the Cathy Hughes School of Communications. “Ms. Reid brings a depth and breadth of experience on the current media and political landscape to examine issues in a digitally enhanced academic and professional environment.”

As a former executive producer at CNN, Associate Professor and Journalism Sequence Coordinator Jennifer Thomas is particularly excited to welcome Reid, who will bring a wealth of insight into the industry that finds itself under intense scrutiny.

“We are so honored to have Ms. Reid as a Hearst Visiting Professor. As a the only Black woman to anchor a prime-time news show on any major network, she will be able to share her unique perspective with our Howard students on timely and critical issues during this pivotal time in history.”

Biden selects Rep. Marcia Fudge as HUD Secretary

President-elect Joe Biden has selected Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge as his housing and urban development secretary.

Fudge did not confirm her selection on Tuesday evening, telling CNN, "If I were to be named, certainly it's an honor and a privilege to be asked to be in a President's Cabinet. It is something that probably in my wildest dreams I never would have thought about."

"So if I can help this President in any way possible, I'm more than happy to do it," Fudge said. "It's a great honor and a privilege to be part of something so good."

The Secretary manages multiple programs that have thousands of employees. One of the primary duties of the HUD Secretary is to advise the President on issues regarding housing. The Secretary makes policies, creates rules, and coordinates the efforts of HUD, so that headquarters and all offices serve the same mission.

Biden picks Lloyd Austin, retired Army general as his nominee for defense secretary

President-elect Joe Biden has reportedly selected Lioyd Austin III, a retired four-star Army general who most recently led the fights in Afghanistan and Iraq, as his nominee for defense secretary.

Austin would become the first Black leader of the department if confirmed, but likely faces a steep path because he will require a waiver from Congress due to his recent service, an exception granted to only two secretary nominees in the last century.

Austin joined the Army in 1975, but his career is defined by post-9/11 conflicts. He was on the ground early in Iraq, where he was assistant division commander for the 3rd Infantry Division, and Afghanistan, where he commanded the 10th Mountain Division (Light). In 2008, he was named commander of Multi-National Corps-Iraq. Austin also served as director of the joint staff, and in 2012 became vice chief of staff of the Army.

His career culminated as the head of U.S. Central Command, which he led from 2013-2016.

According to Title 10 of the United States Code, the defense secretary is among nine Senate-confirmed roles at the Pentagon that would require a waiver if the nominee has been a military officer in the last seven years. Austin retired from the Army in May 2016.

The waiver requires approval by Senate and House majorities, and the president’s signature.

[SOURCE: DEFENSE NEWS]

Civil rights leaders urge Governor Newsom to pick Black woman for U.S. Senate

A coalition of African American civil rights leaders say it would be a “step backward” if Gov. Gavin Newsom does not pick a Black woman to replace Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in the U.S. Senate.

In a letter to Newsom, 28 civil rights leaders urged him to pick either U.S. Rep. Karen Bass from Los Angeles or U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee from Oakland. Both are Black women.

Newsom gets to pick who replaces Harris for the final two years of her Senate term. He is facing pressure from various groups, including those wanting him to appoint California’s first Latino U.S. senator.

The letter was signed by leaders from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California, Al Sharpton’s West Coast National Action Network, and the Los Angeles chapter of the NAACP, among others. It says while one Black woman in the Senate is not enough, “zero is unacceptable.”

“We would find any appointment other than Karen Bass or Barbara Lee to carry out the remainder of Vice President- Elect Harris’ term as a step backwards in our struggle for equity and justice for all,” the letter said.

[SOURCE: KTLA]

Cory Booker Introduces Resolution Calling for First United States Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation

U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) has introduced the United States Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation resolution, urging Congress to form the first commission acknowledging and examining the systemic racism that has disenfranchised Black Americans throughout U.S. history and the racial inequities that persist today. Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced the resolution in the House in June.

“This year has brought to bear the harsh reality that systemic racism is ever present in our political, legal, environmental, economic, health, and social institutions,” said Senator Booker. “As a nation, we must acknowledge and grapple with the systemic racism and white supremacy that have been with us since our country’s founding and continues to persist in our laws, our policies and our lives to this day. The first ever Congressional commission on truth, racial healing, and transformation will be a critical compliment to legislative efforts to build a more just and equitable future, including the recent George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and the long time movement to establish a commission to study reparations.”

“A painful and dangerous legacy of white supremacy lingers in our country, and we cannot begin healing until we fully acknowledge and understand how our that legacy facilitates inequality today,” said Congresswoman Lee. “Every crisis we’re dealing with right now – police brutality, mass incarceration, poverty, the COVID-19 public health crisis — disproportionately impact communities of color. I’m pleased Senator Booker will be leading our effort in the Senate to follow the lead of the numerous communities across America that have successfully developed Truth Commissions. Only by understanding our past, and confronting the errors that still haunt us today, can we truly move forward as a people and a country.”

Senate Co-sponsors: Markey, Sanders, Blumenthal, Menendez, Coons, Klobuchar, Warren, Duckworth, Whitehouse, Brown, Durbin

House Co-Sponsors (169): Lead Rep. Barbara Lee; Holmes-Norton, Moore, Hastings, Espaillat, Clarke, Brown, Tlaib, Bass, Garcia, McGovern, Omar, Fudge, Jayapal, Barragan, Thompson, Blunt Rochester, Meng, Blumenauer, Hayes, Trone, Khanna, Lowenthal, Maloney, Sanchez, Connolly, Haaland, Watson Coleman, Lewis, Scott, Jackson Lee, Clark, DeSaulnier, Sewell, Bishop, Pressley, Raskin, Sarbanes, Ocasio-Cortez, Meeks, Payne, Rush, Cox, Pingree, McNerney, Cohen, Smith, Beatty, Carson, Horsford, Casten, Schakowsky, Cooper, Lowey, Castro, Adams, Kennedy, Davids, Ruiz, Velazquez, Butterfield, Richmond, Trahan, Pallone, Engel, Grijalva, Evans, Takano, Serrano, Vela, Speier, Escovar, Gallego, Napolitano, Cardenas, Panetta, Lieu, Sires, Luria, Neguse, Dingell, Maloney, McEachin, Wilson, Kelly, Lamb, Ryan, Levin, Bonamici, Welch, Vargas, Price, Crist, Lofgren, Keating, Wasserman Schutlz, Sabian, Clay, Roybal-Allard, Thompson, Eshoo, Chu, DeGette, Kirkpatrick, Johnson, Swalwell, Krishnamoorthi, Neal, Aguilar, Sherman, Pocan, Cicilline, Suozzi, Doggett, Jeffries, Waters, Green, Deutch, Kaptur, Huffman, Crow, Castor, Rouda, DeLauro, Cisneros, Brownley, Kuster, Matsui, Lawrence, Davis, DeFazio, Veasey, Visclosky, Garcia, Boyle, Cuellar, Kim, Lawson, Kilmer, McCollum, Soto, Cleaver, Reppersberger, Dean, Yarmuth, Porter, Phillips, Doyle, Weton, Shalala, Beyer, Kildee, Delgado, Levin, Scheider, Tonko, Bera, Frankel, Quigley, Wild, Garamendi, Stevens, Davis, DelBene, Heck, Torres, Correa, Schiff, Gomez, Peters

Earlier this year, Senator Booker and Representative Lee re-introduced their bicameral bill the Confederate Monument Removal Act. The legislation would remove all statues of people who voluntarily served the Confederate States of America from the National Statuary Hall Collection.

The full text of the resolution can be viewed here.

Rep. Payne, Jr. Votes to Decriminalize Marijuana

Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. voted for the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act today. The bill (H.R. 3884) would decriminalize marijuana nationwide, require federal courts to delete prior marijuana convictions for Americans, and save taxpayers at least $3.6 billion per year.

“This bill is long overdue,” said Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. “There are too many Black and Latino men languishing in prison for offenses that are now legal in most states. This bill would right the social and legal wrongs that put them there. In addition, marijuana has been found to help with a variety of medical conditions and even can bring relief to veterans who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I am proud to support this bill and hope the Senate passes it soon.”

The bill would reverse a drug law that has existed since 1937. Since then, dozens of medical studies have shown that marijuana has significant health benefits when taken in controlled quantities, such as post-surgery and chronic pain relief. In addition, marijuana drug enforcement arrests more minorities and subjects them to longer prison sentences than white offenders for the same crimes. Studies have shown that Blacks are four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession and Latinos are almost seven times more likely to receive a federal sentence for it than their white counterparts. Currently, 47 out of the 50 U.S. states have reclassified marijuana and many states have made small amounts legal for recreational use.

marijuana

Congressman David Scott Named First African American Chairman of House Agriculture Committee

On December 3, 2020 Congressman David Scott (GA-13) was approved by the Democratic Caucus to serve as the first African American Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. The committee is empowered with legislative oversight relating to the U.S. agriculture industry, forestry, nutrition, and rural development.

“I am honored to have been chosen by my colleagues in the Democratic Caucus to serve as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee,” said Congressman Scott. “I was born on my grandparents’ farm in rural Aynor, South Carolina, during the days of segregation, and the hardships, of those, on whose shoulders I now stand. I owe this historic selection as the first African American Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee to a diverse coalition of members from across our nation. And I will use this critical opportunity to represent the values of our entire caucus and advance our priorities for trade, disaster aid, climate change, sustainable agriculture, SNAP, crop insurance, small family farms, specialty crops, and rural broadband. The fault lines dividing our rural and urban communities are running deep, and climate change is now threatening our nation’s food supply. As Chairman, I will lead the fight to rise up and meet these challenges.”

Congressman David Scott has served as a Member of Congress and the House Agriculture Committee since 2003. In his various leadership roles on the House Agriculture Committee, Congressman Scott has chaired the Subcommittees on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit as well as Livestock and Foreign Agriculture. Scott played a key role in ushering through the three last Farm Bills, including by serving as a conferee, securing critical disaster aid for our farmers, strengthening the food and nutrition programs that help our families, seniors and school children and securing $80 million for new scholarships for students attending 1890 African-American land-grant colleges and universities.

Congressman David Scott grew up living and working on his grandparents’ farm when his parents moved north to find work. During his 18 years in Congress, he has developed a deep understanding of the critical issues facing farmers today and the practical challenges posed by an agricultural lifestyle. He also understands the critical role agriculture plays in our economy and the importance of policies that preserve our place as the #1 exporter of agricultural products.

Rep. Meeks Becomes First African American Chair of House Foreign Affairs Committee

On December 3, 2020 Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was elected to Chair the House Foreign Affairs Committee, becoming the first African-American Chair in the committee’s history.

Meeks released the following statement:

“I am incredibly honored to be elected Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, a committee that I have served on throughout my tenure of service in Congress. There is extraordinary talent across the committee and Democratic caucus, and I look forward to working closely with Members as we look ahead to a new era of US global affairs.

“The committee under the next Congress will preside over an historic shift in US foreign policy, and there is no shortage of work ahead of us. Not only will we need to re-engage with a world that has felt the marked absence of US global leadership, but we must also rethink traditional approaches to foreign policy.

“This will not be a return to normal, but a leap towards a new way of doing business. We will broaden our scope and outreach to parts of the world we’ve historically overlooked. We will return as partners to our European allies, but we will also need to build new multilateral relationships in the Western Hemisphere and Africa. We can only address the systemic challenges posed by Moscow and Beijing with the help of like-minded friends.

“We will work to rejoin the JCPOA and WHO, but we will also need to establish new coalitions to address the existential crisis of climate change and emerging threats. In pushing further on the fight for human rights across the world, we must lead by humble example with the weight of US moral credibility. We will need to take back Congress’ constitutional authority, tightening the scope of AUMFs that have led to ambiguous forever wars.

“None of that work, however, can be completed without a considerable rebuilding of our Department of State. Diplomacy must be moved front and center as the primary tool for conducting US foreign policy, no longer second to military action. The Foreign Affairs Committee must take a leading role in how we rebuild the State Department. We will broaden the conversation, hearing testimony from organizations and non-traditional diplomats. We will press for greater diversity so our diplomatic corps looks more like the America it represents abroad, strengthening the initiatives that serve as a pipeline for diverse communities.

“In order to deepen the expertise of the committee and prepare for the challenges ahead of us, there is no substitute for on-the-ground experience, engaging with foreign governments and the people they’re meant to serve, through bi-partisan delegations. As Chair, I will utilize the expertise of our Committee members both in the Committee room and abroad, repairing old relationships and establishing new ones.

“We can no longer be America first, but America forward. Our challenges before us are global in scale, and it will require global cooperation, spearheaded by American leadership. I am eager to begin work with my colleagues on the committee, and look forward to working with the new Biden-Harris administration on the tasks ahead of us.”

'He Lost': Ex-Hillside Police Captain Sues Township and Loses in Court, Vindicating Former Mayor Garretson

(Union County, NJ, Dec. 4, 2020) The Township of Hillside won a major victory against a former disgruntled police captain early this week.  A Superior Court Judge also declared that former Mayor Angela Garretson acted appropriately in choosing the Hillside Police Chief in 2017.  The controversy arose after the captain was rejected for the Chief position by Garretson.  The former Mayor stated that “the personnel structure was reminiscent of the good old boys’ network that had been in place throughout the 20^th century.” She also recognized that the department lacked women in upper leadership.  

Captain Lomonte’s case raised claims of unlawful retaliation and hostile work environment in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.  Based on the strong evidence and credible testimony from Mayor Garretson, the Union County Judge dismissed the case of Nicola Lomonte v. Township of Hillside, indicating that the matter had no basis.  “In the court’s opinion, there is not a scintilla of evidence in the trial record that would support the conclusion that Mayor Garretson unlawfully strayed when she bypassed Captain Lomonte.”.  On that basis the case was dismissed.   By following Garretson’s lead to oppose any monetary settlement and proceed to trial, the Township saved over a half million dollars in damages fees and costs. 

The claims in the case were politically motivated by police brass and their associates against the former Mayor.  In a similar case, the current Mayor chose not to follow the guidance of former Mayor Garretson regarding the same promotional list and the township awarded money damages to another disgruntled police executive.  Both cases centered on the selection process for the position of Police Chief.   The Judge’s legal analysis refuted every claim against Garretson.

It was clear that the police allegations and various oppositional encounters were engineered to derail Mayor Garretson’s political career.  However, it did not work.  She came out stronger garnering a seat on the Union County Freeholder Board immediately after her mayoral term ended in 2017.  In the November 3, 2020, election, she was a top vote getter in the County.  Her reputation and legacy were exalted even higher as she demonstrated a high level of political acumen to get the governor and the entire state legislature to acknowledge racial equity in changing the slave era term of “Freeholder” to be renamed as “County Commissioner”.

Retired Captain Nicola Lomonte, a white, male, 25-year member of the force, complained that he was not promoted to serve as Chief of Police based on discrimination and that he was subjected to a hostile environment and retaliation at the hands of former Mayor Garretson, a Black female.  Lomonte demanded to be paid a lucrative six-figure confidential settlement in damages from the taxpayers of Hillside.  However, Mayor Garretson opposed any settlement on the matter of promotions and demanded a trial to be heard in open court under oath.  The Judge scoured the record and stated that [Lomomte’s] contradictory testimony more than six years later cannot now morph the matter into an issue of race. 

Read the judge's order below:

ORDER 12-1-20 by Councilman George L. Cook III on Scribd

Byron Allen To Launch TheGrio.TV Television Network

Byron Allen's Allen Media Group is proud to announce its recently-acquired MGM over-the-air broadcast television network Light TV will officially transition to TheGrio.TV television network on January 15, 2021 – the start of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend. The newly-rebranded broadcast television network TheGrio.TV will feature African American-focused content reaching over 100 million U.S. households via over-the-air broadcast television stations, cable/telco/satellite platforms, and free digital streaming.

TheGrio.TV – with its new network brand slogan "Our Culture Forever" – will feature movies, sitcoms, dramas, concerts, talk shows, variety shows, game shows, news, and lifestyle content.

At one time owned by NBCUniversal, TheGrio.com was purchased by Byron Allen in 2016 when it had less than 1 million monthly active users. In Summer 2020, TheGrio.com achieved its peak of over 10.5 million monthly active users. TheGrio.com is now one of the most visited news and entertainment sites for the African-American community, and is the largest employer of African-American journalists.

"The Grio – which means 'storyteller' in Africa – is the first platform to offer an online digital news destination, a free streaming app providing local news, weather, sports, traffic, and entertainment content geofenced to the user's zip code, and an over-the-air broadcast television network," said Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. "TheGrio.TV is especially important to me as it will both serve and uplift all viewers. TheGrio.TV is the first and only 100 percent African American-owned and targeted broadcast television network and free digital platform – making us truly authentic, without being filtered or controlled by others outside of the community."

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman wants Biden to do better with African Americans appointments to his administration

During an MSNBC interview, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ, 12th District) said that while she's been impressed with Pres-Elect Biden's appointments so far, she is concerned that qualified Black candidates, especially black women, are being assigned to 2nd tier positions.

Watch her full interview below:

While I've been impressed with Pres-Elect Biden's appointments so far, I'm concerned that qualified Black candidates, especially black women, are being assigned to 2nd tier positions. pic.twitter.com/S450m7gWH8

— Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (@RepBonnie) December 2, 2020

Barack Obama discusses African American Doubt About the COVID-19 Vaccine

During an interview with SiriusXM's View Channel with Joe Madison host of The Joe Madison Show, former President Barack Obama discussed the doubt about any Covid-19 vaccine in the African American community. Obama also stated that he trusted Dr. Anthony Fauci and would take any vaccine that Fauci said was safe.

Listen to that segment of the interview below:

Evander Holyfield calls out Mike Tyson

Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield has called out Mike Tyson for a rematch after Tyson's exhibition fight against Roy Jones.

Read Holyfield's statement below:

"My side tried to make the fight happen and we got nothing but excuses,” said Holyfield. “Now I can see why he wanted a tune-up fight before thinking about fighting me.”

“Roy Jones was a good local opponent for Mike,”<\p>

“But a fight with me would be a global event and the only fight that anyone wants to see is a fight between us. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t make it happen.”

No more excuses. This is the fight that must happen for both our legacies. Saturday night you said you were ready to fight me, so sign the contract and get in the ring, Tyson. The world is waiting and it’s on you now. I’m ready.”

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Crystal Mason to appeal her case to the Texas Supreme Court

Crystal Mason, a Black woman in Texas who has drawn national headlines over the years after she was handed a five-year prison sentence for illegally casting a provisional ballot in the 2016 presidential election, is seeking to challenge her conviction.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas (ACLU of Texas), the national ACLU, and the Texas Civil Rights Project joined Mason’s attorneys in filing a petition this week to have Texas’ top criminal court review her case.

Mason was sentenced to five years in prison back in 2018 for casting a provisional ballot in the 2016 election, though the vote was never counted, according to a press release from the ACLU of Texas. At the time, Mason had been on supervised release for a previous federal conviction from years before. Convicted felons are barred from voting in the state if they haven’t completed their sentence.

The group said in the release that an appeals court recently shot down an appeal from Mason’s legal team back in March in the case. But the group added the court’s panel of justices also agreed then that Mason “was not aware the state considered her ineligible to vote.”

According to The Texas Tribune, Mason served time behind bars for several months before being released this past spring to a halfway house.

“The attorneys argue the lower court’s opinion violates Texas law and conflicts with DeLay v. State, a case involving former Republican U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, in which the Court of Criminal Appeals threw out his conviction on the basis that an individual must actually ‘know’ that their conduct violates the Election Code,” the group added.

Mason said in a statement this week that she is “more energized than ever before" and refuses "to be afraid.”

“I thought I was performing my civic duty and followed the election process by filling out a provisional ballot,” she said. “By trying to criminalize my actions, Texas has shown me the power of my voice."

"I will use my voice to educate and empower others who are fighting for their right to vote," she also said.

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Biden nominates Cecilia Rouse for chair of the Council of Economic Advisers

President-elect Joe Biden intends to nominate Cecilia Rouse, Dean of the School of Public and International Affairs (Princeton University) as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers ( according to The Wall Street Journal. If confirmed by the Senate, Rouse would be the first woman of color to chair the Council.

Operating within the Executive Office of the President, the CEA “is charged with offering the President objective economic advice on the formulation of both domestic and international economic policy,” according to The White House.

Karen Jean-Pierre named as Deputy Press Secretary for the President in Biden Administration

Karine Jean Pierre has been selected to serve as a principal deputy press secretary for the president-elect in the Biden Administration.

Jean-Pierre was Senior Advisor to President-Elect Joe Biden and Chief of Staff to Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris on the Biden-Harris Campaign.

Jean-Pierre released the following statement on her appointment:

I am profoundly honored to be the Principal Deputy Press Secretary for Joe Biden. I am especially thrilled to work alongside Jen Psaki whose leadership and stellar instincts will ensure we are positioned to effectively communicate the Biden-Harris agenda to all Americans.

Symone Sanders Named Senior Advisor and Chief Spokesperson for the Vice President

Symone Sanders, has been picked to become the senior adviser and chief spokesperson for Vice President, Kamala Harris.

Sanders worked on the Biden campaign as a senior adviser after previously working for campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders.

Sanders released the following statement on her appointment:

Ready to serve accurately describes how I feel. Thank you Madam Vice President-elect Kamala Harris for entrusting me with this charge. It has been the honor of my life to work for Joe Biden & I am elated to have the opportunity to continue to that work in the PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

VP-Elect Kamala Harris statement om Small Business Saturday

Vice-Presidential Elect Kamala harris released the following statement on the importance of supporting small nusinesses on Small Business Saturday:

Small businesses need our support now more than ever before. This Small Business Saturday and throughout the holidays, please shop local and do your part to help the backbone of our communities and our economy.