Congressional Black Caucus Elects Executive Committee for the 119th Congress

Chair-elect Yvette D. Clarke

The Congressional Black Caucus held member elections for the CBC Executive Committee for the 119th Congress. The CBC will begin the 119th Congress on January 3, 2025, with 62 members – the largest membership in the caucus’ history.

Here is the CBC Executive Committee Leadership for the 119th Congress:

Rep. Yvette D. Clarke will serve as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Rep. Clarke represents New York’s 9th district and currently serves as a senior member on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Rep. Troy A. Carter, Sr., will serve as First Vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Rep. Carter represents Louisiana’s 2nd district and currently serves on the House Homeland Security Committee where he is the Ranking Member of the Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee. Rep. Carter also serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Rep. Lucy McBath will serve as Second Vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Rep. McBath represents Georgia’s 7th district and currently serves on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Rep. Marilyn Strickland will serve as Secretary of the Congressional Black Caucus. Rep. Strickland represents Washington’s 10th district and currently serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as well as the House Committee on Armed Services.

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove will serve as Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus. Rep. Kamlager-Dove represents California’s 37th district and currently serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and House Committee on Natural Resources.

Chair-elect Yvette D. Clarke made the following statement after being elected:

“I want to thank my peers for electing me to serve as Chair. In my capacity as Chair, I will ensure that our Caucus' goals are accomplished by focusing on voting rights, education, criminal justice reform, women’s rights, healthcare equity, and economic equality. We must be attentive in completing our purpose of addressing and enacting policy to uplift our community and keep our promises. Since its formation in 1971, the CBC has constantly pursued its mission of supporting and enforcing laws that protect and enrich the Black community. The CBC will have a record 62 members in both the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives during the 119th Congress. And for the first time in history, two Black women will serve together in the Senate—elevating our position in Congress to combat blatant racism and policies intentionally overlooking more diverse and minority communities—proving our diversity is our strength, and our unity is our power,” said Chairwoman Clarke.

“Make no mistake. In this volatile political landscape, the CBC must stand as the resistance to the extremist ideologies of Project 2025 as the consciousness of Congress to advocate and advance the Black diaspora. The authors of Project 2025 will write America’s story for the next four years, and we must be prepared to use every legislative and communicative tool to oppose their agenda. I am committed to working with my colleagues to call out this extremist agenda and fight like hell for a pathway forward."

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries calls for Biden to give more pardons

Washington, DC – Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement:

Throughout his life, President Joe Biden has fought to improve the plight of hardworking Americans struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. Many of these people have been aggressively prosecuted and harshly sentenced for nonviolent offenses, often without the benefit of adequate legal representation. Countless lives, families and communities have been adversely impacted, particularly in parts of Appalachia, Urban America and the Heartland.

During his final weeks in office, President Biden should exercise the high level of compassion he has consistently demonstrated throughout his life, including toward his son, and pardon on a case-by-case basis the working-class Americans in the federal prison system whose lives have been ruined by unjustly aggressive prosecutions for nonviolent offenses. This moment calls for liberty and justice for all.

Mildred Crump a Newark political pioneer and icon has died

Mildred Crump, a longtime Newark councilwoman and pioneer for Black women in city politics, has died at age 86.

Crump became the first Black woman elected to Newark City Council in 1994 and the first Black woman named council president in 2006. She served as a Councilwoman from 1994-1998, and again from 2006-2021.

Crump became the first Black braille teacher in Detroit, her hometown, before relocating to the Garden State. She was also a founding member of the New Jersey Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., the National Political Congress for Black Women of Newark, and the Global Women’s Leadership Collaborative of New Jersey, dedicated to women’s issues in Africa.

[SOURCE: NJ.COM]

Thomas Brown named interim head coach of the Chicago Bears

The Bears announced Friday that Matt Eberflus has been relieved of his duties as head coach. Thomas Brown has been elevated to interim head coach.

"This morning, after meeting with [chairman] George [H. McCaskey] and [President and CEO] Kevin [Warren], we informed Matt of our decision to move in a different direction with the leadership of our football team and the head-coaching position," said Bears general manager Ryan Poles. "I thank Matt for his hard work, professionalism and dedication to our organization. We extend our gratitude for his commitment to the Chicago Bears and wish him and his family the best moving forward."

"I support Ryan and the decision that was made this morning. We understand how imperative the head-coaching role is for building and maintaining a championship-caliber team, leading our players and our organization," said Warren. "Our fans have stood by us and persevered through every challenge, and they deserve better results. Our organizational and operational structure is strong, focused, aligned and energized for the future."

Brown has led the Bears offense for each of the last three weeks, a unit that has totaled a league-high 22 third-down conversions and has scored 46 second-half points, third most in the NFL, since Week 11. Brown previously spent three seasons on the staff of the Los Angeles Rams (2020-22), serving in the role of assistant head coach over his final two seasons. In his first season as assistant head coach/running backs (2021), Brown helped lead a Rams unit that collected an NFC West Division title and ended the season with a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

Brown joined the Bears in 2024 as offensive passing game coordinator, one season removed from serving as offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers (2023), where the 14-year coaching veteran contributed to offensive play-calling efforts. Brown spent the first nine seasons of his coaching tenure at the collegiate level, which included three seasons as offensive coordinator at Miami (Fla.), leading the Hurricanes offense from 2016-18.

The Decatur, Ga., native played collegiately at Georgia, where he finished his career as the fifth-leading rusher in program history, totaling 2,646 career rushing yards, along with 26 total touchdowns.

Yvonne L. Mays makes history as first Black woman to lead NJ National Guard

Colonel Yvonne L. Mays, the Adjutant General of New Jersey was promoted to Brigadier General and is now the first Black woman to lead the NJ National Gaurd. watch the story below.

https://www.africanamericanreports.com/2024/11/yvonne-l-mays-makes-history-as-first.html