WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Charles Rangel and members of the Congressional Black Caucus met with President Barack Obama Thursday to encourage action against the disproportionately high rates of urban unemployment. This was the first meeting between the White House and the CBC in the 112th Congress.

"We were able to share with the President that our current unemployment is a crisis for the American people," said Rangel following the meeting. "The three things that were most important to us in our discussion were jobs, jobs and more jobs."

Last month the unemployment rate among African-Americans increased by .6%, bringing the total to 16.1% percent. By comparison the unemployment rate nationwide is nine percent. The gap in educational achievement and the lack of job opportunities in the inner cities are seen as the root causes for the rise in unemployment. The CBC asked President Obama to invest in job training and education programs for the hardest hit areas.

Other topics covered during the White House included redistricting, upcoming 2012 elections, and allocation of federal resources. CBC Members expressed desire for continued support of programs such as 10-20-30, which requires 10 percent of Rural Development investments to communities where 20 percent or more of the population had lived below the poverty line for the last 30 years.

Congressman Rangel indicated that progress was made and that future sessions were in the works. "We're meeting again early next week with Bill Daley, the President's Chief of Staff as well as with his tax people whom I have worked with previously." Rangel said. "We hope we can target those communities that have the highest unemployment, such as my Northern Manhattan congressional district, where we have the high number of kids dropping out of school, and are medically underserved."