Congressman Cleaver Elected as First Vice-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus
Washington, D.C. – Today, at a press conference in Washington, D.C. the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) announced its leadership team for the 111th Congress. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II was unanimously chosen to serve as First Vice-Chair of the powerful group. Officers of the CBC serve two-year terms. With his elevation, Congressman Cleaver is position to become Chair of the Black Caucus in the next session of Congress. “I am honored to be selected by my colleagues to assist the new Chair, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9). Our Caucus has always been one of historic firsts, and in the next Congress we break new ground again as one of our members will be sworn in as President of the United States.”
“I believe I bring a slightly different perspective to the Caucus because I do not represent a typical CBC district. My election to this new post is recognition that the challenges facing America affect us all regardless of race and it is more important than ever to reach beyond our historic voting blocs and work together to find solutions,” said Cleaver.
“With an ‘A’ on the legislative report card issued annually by the National NAACP, I believe that my votes are in harmony with Black America,” continued Cleaver. “It is telling, however, that I also have received high marks from groups like the Children’s Defense Fund, the Disabled American Veterans and the Sierra Club. I think this demonstrates, contrary to conventional thinking, voting for issues important to black Americans is not out of tune with the non-African American voters of the Fifth Congressional District.”
The Congressional Black Caucus was formed in 1969 when the 13 African-American members of the U.S. House of Representatives joined together to strengthen their efforts to address the legislative concerns of black and minority citizens.
Currently, there are 42 members of the Congressional Black Caucus, not including the President-Elect who stepped down from his Senate seat last weekend. They represent many of the largest and most populated urban centers in the country, together with some of the most expansive and rural congressional districts in the nation. These members, now as in the past, have been called upon to work as advocates for America's varied constituent interests--developing an ever-expanding legislative agenda -- as well as addressing the concerns of their own particular districts.
Along with Chairwoman Lee and First Vice Chair Cleaver the Caucus also elected Congresswoman Donna Christensen (D-VI) as Second Vice Chair, Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) as Secretary, and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) as Whip.