Senate passes bill to award Capitol Police officer, Eugene Goodman Congressional Gold Medal

The Senate on Friday passed legislation to award Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman the Congressional Gold Medal for his actions responding to the violent Jan. 6 riot.

The Senate passed the legislation unanimously as it wrapped up the fourth day of former President Trump's impeachment trial, injecting a rare moment of bipartisanship in what has been a week marked by deep political divides.

The Senate broke out in applause for Goodman, who was in the chamber as they passed the bill, minutes before passing the bill by unanimous consent.

The bill still needs to pass the House, where Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has said that Democrats will soon grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the officers on duty guarding the Capitol when it was attacked on Jan. 6.

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

FedEx gifting $5M to HBCUs in Miss., Tenn.

Three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Mississippi and one in Tennessee are getting a nice donation from FedEx.

Wednesday, the shipping company announced a pledge to commit $5 million to Tennessee State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, and LeMoyne-Owen College.

FedEx says each school will receive a $1M donation.

The remaining $1M will be divided among the schools to assist students, faculty, and staff impacted by COVID-19. FedEx says each school will be able to use their discretion on how to use the additional funds.

[SOURCE: WLBT]

Vice President Harris Meets with African American Mayors

Vice President Harris and Members of the national African American Mayors Association participated in listening session, with the focus being on the Biden administration’s proposed $1.9 trillion COVID relief package, dubbed the American Rescue Plan.

Watch the listening session below:

Cory Booker and Tim Scott Introduce Resolution Celebrating Black History Month

U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced a bipartisan resolution celebrating Black History Month and the important contributions made by Black Americans throughout United States history.

The resolution “acknowledges that all people of the U.S. are recipients of the wealth of history provided by Black culture” and “recognizes the importance of Black History Month as an opportunity to reflect on the complex history of the U.S., while remaining hopeful and confident about the path ahead.”

It also “acknowledges the significance of Black History Month as an important opportunity to commemorate the tremendous contributions of African Americans to the history of the U.S.” and “encourages the celebration of Black History Month to provide a continuing opportunity for all people in the U.S. to learn from the past and understand the experiences that have shaped the U.S.”

Full text of the resolution can be viewed here.

The resolution is cosponsored by: Dick Durbin (D-IL), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D- CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), John Ossoff (D-GA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), James Risch (R-ID), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Richard Shelby (R-AL), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Rob Portman (R-OH), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Mike Braun (R-IN), Todd Young(R-IN).

Kendall Jackson Of Becomes First African-American Female Eagle Scout

This month, one Northwest Indiana teenager isn’t just celebrating Black History – she has become a part of it.

Kendall Jackson has become the first ever female African-American Eagle Scout.