Congressional Black Congress - History & Agenda

HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS


1870 Hiram Rhodes Revels (R-MS) and Joseph H. Rainey (R-SC) are the first African Americans to serve in the House and Senate, respectively.	1971 After the election of 1970, the Congressional Black Caucus is formed with thirteen congressional members.	1996 The election of 1996 ushers in the 100th African American Congressperson, in addition to a record 41 African American members seated in the 104th Congress.	2006 The CBC leads the effort to pass the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act.	2008 Senator Barack Obama is elected President of the United States..

AGENDA OF THE 111th CONGRESS

Empower & Mobilize America's Youth

Empower through Development

Strengthen pipelines of leadership for young people of color on Capital Hill
Connect young people of color to legislative process and civic engagement trainings

Empower through Action

Prioritize legislation and funding fundamental to the quality of life of America’s youth (education, job training, health care, etc.)
Engage young leaders in the 2008 elections by connecting to voter registration, education and campaign opportunities

Empower through Dialogue

Host inter-generational dialogues via the Internet & symposia on youth-centered policies

Build an International Internet Communications Portal

Build International CBC Web Presence

Utilize web portal as means of disseminating information in the CBC and black America
Develop partnerships to build exposure & presence

Build Interactive Dialogues through New Technologies

Build Constant Communications through the Bi-Monthly CBC Newsletter

CBC Outreach Program

Outreach through Issue Education

Host six 1 1/2 day issue-based sessions throughout the country and eight CBC Symposia on Capital Hill focused on CBC priorities
Utilize black media outlets in outreach efforts

Outreach through Civic Engagement

Work with progressive Civil Rights organization to register 100,000 new voters by October 2008
Promote Progressive public policy legislation with progressive civil rights organizations

Outreach through Celebrating Black History

Host annual CBC Black History Month Program
Lead CBC International CODEL’s & cultural missions throughout the African Diaspora

Impact the Alternative Energy Discussion

Support African American Role in Major Alternative Fuel Sources

Support Renewable Energy Solutions

Reduce dependence on coal burning power through the development and use of wind and solar power solutions
Support research, education and training for people of color in renewable energy solutions

Support Climate Stabilization and Community Cleanup Efforts

Stabilize greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere to a level that would prevent dangerous interference with the world climate system (Kyoto Treaty)
Assist in reducing the number of Brownfield’s (site with hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants) in the United States