Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Senator Raphael Warnock to receive 2021 NNPA National Leadership Award

For his tireless work for the citizens of Georgia and all Americans, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock has been selected to receive the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) 2021 National Leadership Award, saluting excellence and innovative leadership in Black America.

The NNPA is a trade association of the more than 200 African American-owned community newspapers from around the United States.

“Thank you to the Black Press of America and the National Newspaper Publishers Association for this gracious award,” said Sen. Rev. Warnock.

“To my brother, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., Chair Karen Carter Richards, National Correspondent Stacy Brown, and the countless others who do the important work to keep our communities informed, engaged, and motivated through these unprecedented times.

“This award is not about me, but the millions of Black Americans in Georgia and across the country who continuously display their courage, perseverance, and fortitude as we navigate increasingly challenging times in our communities and throughout our world. Know that I will continue to do my part in the United States Senate to uplift Georgia voices in the continual march toward what Dr. King called the beloved community.”

[ATLANTA VOICE]

Congresswoman Cori Bush Introduces Legislation to Expand Access to Emergency Rental Assistance Funds

Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), has introduced legislation to improve and expand access to emergency rental assistance by allowing individuals to apply for funds at public schools, libraries, transit systems, housing authorities, the United States Postal Service, and other public entities. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Improvement Act of 2021 would direct the Department of Treasury to provide guidance and funding to the state and local agencies responsible for distributing funds so they may set up these access points. Earlier this year, the Congresswoman helped secure $21.6 billion in emergency rental assistance funding through the American Rescue Plan  — bringing the total ERAP funds to $46.5 billion. So far, only 11 percent of funds or $5.1 billion, has been distributed to those facing eviction. 

“It is our duty as lawmakers to ensure the 11 million households currently at risk of eviction can safely remain in their homes for the duration of this deadly global pandemic,” said Congresswoman Cori Bush. “The Supreme Court’s failure to protect these individuals and families has only increased the urgency with which Congress must act to get emergency rental assistance to those who need it most. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program Improvement Act will help make these funds more accessible by allowing individuals and families to apply for assistance at places that are central to their communities — schools, libraries, the post office, among others. As someone who has been evicted and unhoused, I know the trauma these families are facing. This crisis demands compassionate solutions and I urge my colleagues to consider the humanity of our neighbors who could soon find themselves without a home unless drastic action is taken.” 

The ERAP Improvement Act of 2021 will:

  • Direct the Department of Treasury to provide guidance to state and local agencies to expand access to the emergency rental assistance application in the following public places within 30 days of the legislation being enacted:
    • K-12 public schools,
    • public libraries,  
    • public housing agencies,
    • public transit systems,
    • courts that handle eviction matters,
    • state departments of motor vehicles,
    • the US Postal Service, and
    • federal, state, and local social service providers.
  • Encourage ERA distributors to collaborate with these public entities to store, distribute, and assist with individual applications.
  • Allow up to 15 percent of ERA-1 funds available from the Consolidated Appropriations Act to be used for increasing administrative capacity for the following activities, up from the current 10 percent cap:
    • training staff or other designated institutional representatives; 
    • maintaining both physical and electronic copies of the application;
    • establishing communication methods between grantees, public entities, and individual households;
    • developing community outreach materials, programs, and initiatives; and
    • collecting and storing data on-site or via third parties.

As someone who was previously unhoused, Congresswoman Bush has fought tirelessly to keep people in their homes for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic: 

  • In March, Congresswoman Bush helped pass the American Rescue Plan which provided approximately $21.6 billion in emergency rental assistance funds. 
  • On May 18, Congresswoman Bush led nearly 30 members of Congress in sending a letter to the CDC calling on the agency to strengthen and extend the moratorium on evictions. 
  • In June, the Congresswoman led a group of more than 40 lawmakers in sending a letter urging the Biden administration to extend and strengthen the eviction moratorium, which the administration extended through July 31st.
  • On July 28, Congresswoman Bush introduced the Unhoused Bill of Rights, a resolution calling on Congress to permanently end the housing crisis by 2025. 
  • On July 30, the Congresswoman sent a Dear Colleague to the Democratic caucus urging Members to remain in Washington and vote in favor of legislation to extend the federal eviction moratorium.
  • On July 31, ahead of the moratorium expiration deadline, the Congresswoman and several of her colleagues sent a letterreiterating their ongoing calls for President Biden and the CDC to extend the eviction moratorium.  
  • From July 30 to August 3, the Congresswoman led an action on the steps of the U.S. Capitoland worked with Democratic colleagues to successfully secure a new eviction moratorium from the Biden Administration.
  • On August 27, Congresswoman Bush denounced the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the eviction moratorium and led more than 60 of her House colleagues in sending a letter to Congressional leadership, urging them to advance legislation for a new moratorium.
  • On September 13, Congresswoman Bush’s provisions within the ERAP Improvement Act will be marked up by the House Committee on Financial Services as part of Chairwoman Waters’ larger package of reforms to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, H.R. 5196.

For full text of the bill, click here.
For a one pager on the bill, 
click here.

Sen. Cory Booker to receive NNPA Leadership Award

Sen. Booker, who served two terms as Newark mayor before his election to the Senate, will receive the 2021 National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) National Leadership Award for excellence and innovative leadership in Black America.

The NNPA, the trade association of more than 230 African American-owned newspapers and media companies.

"I’m humbled and honored to be honored by the National Newspaper Publishers Association,” Sen. Booker remarked.

“The members of the NNPA provide an invaluable service to their communities, shining a light on issues that affect Black Americans and our families.

“I stand with the NNPA and its membership in their efforts to inform, educate, and advance their mission of promoting a more just, equal society.”

[SOURCE: AMSTERDAM NEWS

Sunday, September 12, 2021

Sterling K. Brown wins Creative Arts Emmy

Sterling K. Brown has won an Creative Arts Emmy for "Outstanding Narrator" during the Sunday afternoon Creative Arts Emmys ceremony. He won for his work in Lincoln: Divided We Stand, episode 5 "The Dogs Of War".

Brown has now won three Emmys. He won two others, one for "Best Actor" in a Drama Series for his role as Randall Pearson in "This is US", and another for "Best Supporting Actor" in a miniseries or movie for his role as Christopher Darden in The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story.

Lincoln Divided We Stand is an CNN Original Series produced by Glass Entertainment Group.

Maia Chaka becomes first Black female official in NFL history

Maia Chaka made history on Sunday, as she became the first Black woman to officiate an NFL game.

Officiating in Sunday's New York Jets at Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, North Carolina, Chaka is the third on-field female official in the NFL, joining Sarah Thomas, the first permanent female game official, and Shannon Eastin, who was the first woman to officiate an NFL game.

Chaka, a health and physical education teacher, spent time as a referee in the NCAA's Pac-12 conference and Conference USA, as well as in the short-lived Alliance of American Football in 2019.

She entered the NFL's Officiating Development Program in 2014, a program designed to offer top officiating prospects in the collegiate ranks "exposure to in-game experiences that NFL officials face, to determine if they have the ability to succeed," according to the NFL.