(Washington, DC) It’s a New Day….. In the US House of Representatives and US Senate. Today, we assume that you may not remember or be aware of how the actions of the elected representatives in US government willimpact your lives from 2019 – 2021. For every member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, we want to highlight ways that we have historically and can, in the future, minister to the whole people of God and serve humanity. So, we start with a brief historical perspective.
Members of the AME Church were among the first African-Americans elected to serve in the United States Congress during the post-Civil War Reconstruction period in the 1860-1870s including the first African-American Senator Hiram Rhodes Revels, Jr. of Mississippi and Representative Richard Harvey Cain of South Carolina, later elected a Bishop in the AME Church. the Forty-eight years ago (1971) when 13 members of African descent serving in the US House of Representatives established the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) no AMEs were in the group. Among the current CBC members, five are members of the AME Church: Representatives James Clyburn (D, SC-7), Alcee Hastings (D, FL-20), Gregory Meeks (D, NY-5), Terri Sewell (D, AL-7), Val Demings (D, FL-10)
At 8:00 am on January 3, 2019 the 1,847 seat Warner Theater in Washington, DC was filled for the ceremonial Swearing-In of CBC members to the 116th session of the US Congress. We were about to “see with our own eyes” 55 fellow Americans elected to serve as legislators for 2019 – 2021. 57 persons of African descent (Representing every region of the country, over 78 million people in 28 states and US territories) now make policy including nine new members in the class of 2019 (Representatives Bill Hurd (R, TX-32) and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) are African-American, but do not participate with the CBC).
Their collective caucus signals a new day in public policy for all people, but especially those whose voices are unheard, whose needs continue to be unmet, and their rights are suppressed/ignored. Finally, their legacy of working to insure equal access and equity for all people continues.
The leadership of the House of Representatives rests with the Democrats (aka the “majority” party) so AMEs in House Leadership are leading the House. Notable are:
House Majority Whip– Rep James E Clyburn. He is the highest ranking African American lawmaker in Congress and number three in House leadership.
Chief Deputy Whip– Rep Terri Sewell
AMEs areamong the CBC chairs of the 28 sub-committees and details will be forthcoming.
Finally, a key role as Interim Director of the CBCis filled by AME’s Dr. Elsie Scott. She returns to insure the viability of this organization after having previously served for several years and taking the CBC to new levels of engagement.
Their collective voices will be heard as visionaries and their individual cries as prophetic leaders signaling their Calling for such a time as this. We urge you to make the special effort to reach out, congratulate them, and affirm the partnership that the AME Church has in key issues such as Voting Rights, 2020 Census, Climate Change, Economic Justice, Civic Engagement, Affordable Healthcare, Mass Incarceration, and Public Education.
Tell them “we got your back”! Find specific ways we can be supportive. “Stay woke”. Don’t wait for them to come to you – let them hear from you.
The Congressional Black Caucus elected as its chairperson for the 116thsession (2019-2021) Rep Karen E. Bass (D, CA-37). Eight AME Churches in the Los Angeles area are in her Congressional District giving the AME Church direct access to Congresswoman Bass in her tenure as CBC chair. Having served as the first Black female Speaker of the California State Assembly, she is prepared to negotiate on behalf of the CBC and the people whose voices have been muted to date. In her acceptance speech, she emphasized the partnership in the year of the 400-year anniversary of our ancestors’ arrival on these soils. She noted the amazing resilience of our people, “finding a way out of no way” and suffering while others take credit for our work. To mention a few efforts led by CBC “hidden figures”, she listed the creation of thousands of Black owned businesses, end of Apartheid, Affordable Care Act focus on health disparities, financial aid for students attending HBCUs, and finally the fact that a former CBC member was elected President of the USA. The goal is to move the needle forward with governance, resistance, and end hateful leadership. Chairwoman Bass pledged to provide hope by keeping the public informed of the work of the CBC as it makes a course correction.
Remembering the words of the Episcopal Salutation to the Discipline from 1976-2008: “Let us affirm again. That the AME Church must fully identify with the poor and the oppressed in their struggle for human dignity. That this participation in human development is not optional, nor is it an addendum to an already crowded agenda. It must be the very heart of the life and work of our church”.
Stay tuned for Action Alerts and Issues Briefings from your Social Action Commission. Be poised for ACTION. You must continue to be and/or become the community education gurus, informing our community stakeholders. You must consider public service (as elected officials, commissioners and key administrators). #WeAreAMEs
Committees Chaired by CBC Members
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform– Rep Elijah E. Cummings (MD-7)
The Committee’s government-wide oversight jurisdiction and expanded legislative authority make it one of the most influential and powerful committees in the House. The Committee serves as Congress’ chief investigative and oversight committee, and is granted broad jurisdiction. The chairman of the committee is one of only three committee chairmen in the House with the authority to issue subpoenas without a committee vote or consultation with the ranking member.
Science, Space and Technology Committee– Rep Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30)
It has jurisdiction over non-defense federal scientific research and development. Specifically, the committee has partial or complete jurisdiction over the following federal agencies: NASA, the Department of Energy, EPA, ATSDR, NSF, FAA, NOAA, NIST, FEMA, the U.S. Fire Administration, and USGS.
Committee on Education and the Workforce– Rep Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-3)
The Committee on Education and Labor oversees federal programs and initiatives dealing with education at all levels—from preschool through high school to higher education and continuing education. The purpose is to ensure that Americans’ needs are addressed so that students and workers may move forward in a changing school system and a competitive global economy. while insuring access to good public education & equitable distribution of resources
Committee on Homeland Security– Rep Bennie G. Thompson (MS-2)
Homeland Security is the largest agency in federal government to reveal who is benefitting from contracts. It conducts oversight and handles legislation (and resolutions) related to the security of the United States. The committee may amend, approve, or table homeland security related bills. It also has the power to hold hearings, conduct investigations, and subpoena witnesses. Additionally, the committee has authorization and policy oversight responsibilities over the Department of Homeland Security.
Committee on Financial Services – Rep Maxine Waters (CA-43)
Empowered to subpoena tax returns and financial records of the US President, the Committee on Financial Services, also referred to as the House Banking Committee and formerly known as the Committee on Banking and Currency, is the committee of the United States House of Representatives that oversees the entire financial services industry, including the securities, insurance, banking and housing industries. The Financial Services Committee also oversees the work of the Federal Reserve, the United States Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and other financial services regulators.
