WASHINGTON, CMC—Caribbean American Democratic Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the brand new chair of the USA Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), swore in members of the Black legislative physique within the 119th Congress on Friday.
“I’m immensely honored to turn out to be the tenth lady to function chair of the Congressional Black Caucus throughout its largest-ever class within the 119th Congress,” Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the predominantly Caribbean ninth Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York, informed the Caribbean Media Company (CMC) instantly after the swearing-in ceremony.
“Because the successor of numerous extraordinary Black ladies from Brooklyn, together with my mom, Dr. Una S.T. Clarke, and my predecessor in Congress, Shirley Chisholm, I can not assist however mirror with pleasure and humility on the work of all these unbelievable people whose efforts paved the trail to at the moment,” added Clarke, who mom was the primary Caribbean-born lady to be ever elected to New York Metropolis Council.
The late Chisholm, the daughter of Jamaican and Guyanese immigrants, was the primary lady to hunt the Democratic Occasion’s nomination for President of the USA.
“This historic Caucus is really a manifestation of our ancestors’ energy, braveness, tenacity, and perseverance,” mentioned the youthful Clarke. “As a result of they have been, we’re. As a result of they prevailed, so should we.
“As our nation readies for no matter challenges the years forward might carry, I’m grateful for the chance to guide the Congressional Black Caucus by means of this pivotal second in its lengthy historical past, grateful for the help of my colleagues and chair-emeritus Steven Horsford, and grateful to the ancestors for the power and resilience of all our folks. I’m so very happy with the motion my CBC,” added Clarke, who succeeded Horsford, a Nevada congressman whose mom is a Trinidadian immigrant.
Clarke, who was elected to guide CBC in early December in the course of the member elections for the CBC Government Committee for the 119th Congress, mentioned she was gratified by the actions her colleagues have taken “to date to guard the communities closest to our hearts and advance an agenda that places their futures on the forefront.
“I’m sure that, collectively, we’ll guarantee this Caucus’ legacy as Black People’ most distinguished, most succesful, strongest political software will persist and that we are going to make our forebears proud,” she mentioned. “Now, let’s get to work!”
The CBC mentioned it begins the 119th Congress with 62 members – the biggest membership within the caucus’ historical past.
“I wish to thank my friends for electing me to function chair,” mentioned Clarke, who beforehand served as first vice chair in the course of the 118th Congress. “As chair, I’ll be certain that our caucus’ objectives are completed by specializing in voting rights, training, prison justice reform, ladies’s rights, healthcare fairness, and financial equality.
“We should be attentive in finishing our objective of addressing and enacting coverage to uplift our neighborhood and hold our guarantees,” added Clarke, a senior member of the Home of Representatives Committee on Vitality and Commerce and the Home Committee on Homeland Safety.
Since its formation in 1971, Clarke mentioned the CBC has “continuously pursued its mission of supporting and imposing legal guidelines that shield and enrich the Black neighborhood.
“The CBC can have a report 62 members in the USA Senate and the USA Home of Representatives in the course of the 119th Congress. And for the primary time in historical past, two Black ladies will serve collectively within the Senate—elevating our place in Congress to fight blatant racism and insurance policies deliberately overlooking extra various and minority communities—proving our range is our power, and our unity is our energy,” Clarke mentioned.
“In our pursuit to push laws and funding — looking for bipartisanship in challenge areas that may profit African People — we should turn out to be extra aggressive in our try to help Rep. Hakeem Jeffries as Minority Chief of the Home,” she added. “We should stand behind his imaginative and prescient and belief his management to barter the very best outcomes for our communities.
“Make no mistake, on this risky political panorama, the CBC should stand because the resistance to the extremist ideologies of Venture 2025, because the consciousness of Congress to advocate and advance the Black Diaspora,” continued Clarke, stating that the authors of Venture 2025, the Republicans Conservative’s agenda, “will write America’s story for the subsequent 4 years, and we should be ready to make use of each legislative and communicative software to oppose their agenda.”
She mentioned she is “dedicated to working with my colleagues to name out this extremist agenda and combat like hell for a pathway ahead.”
Horsford, who represents Nevada’s 4th Congressional District, congratulated the members of the 119th Congress’s Government Committee.
“Fifty-three years after our caucus’ founding, our work to enhance the lives and situations of Black folks in America is extra necessary than ever earlier than,” he mentioned. “It has been the consideration of a lifetime to function chair of the Congressional Black Caucus throughout such a pivotal time in our nation. Collectively, now we have faithfully served because the conscience of our Congress, centering problems with justice and fairness for all People.
“I stay deeply honored to function a member of the Home of Representatives and particularly a member of this storied caucus,” he added. “As we glance towards the longer term, our caucus will enter the 119th Congress with the biggest membership in our historical past — a report 62 members within the Home and Senate.
“To steer this historic membership will likely be a colleague and buddy of immense capabilities and the best chief to tackle the challenges that can confront the American folks within the years to return,” Horsford continued. “I couldn’t be prouder to move the baton to the gentlelady from New York, Consultant Yvette Clarke.”
He mentioned Clarke will stick with it the CBC’s legacy “and guarantee we push again towards the erosion of our elementary rights and construct a future the place everybody can thrive and obtain their full potential.”
