Congressional Black Caucus
"The Conscience of Congress since 1969"
www.congressionalblackcaucus.net

(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Representative Melvin L. Watt (D-N.C.), Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), will deliver the weekly CBC "Message to America" radio address this Saturday, January 7, 2005.   Chairman Watt gives a report on the CBC’s accomplishments over the last year and gives a preview of what the CBC plans to do moving into 2006.
 
 The CBC "Message to America" is distributed nationwide to the American Urban Radio Network's (AURN) affiliate stations.

            WHO:        Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Melvin L. Watt (D-N.C.)
            WHEN:      Saturday, January 7, 2005; 12:06 p.m. EST
            WHERE:   American Urban Radio Network Affiliate Stations

Chairman Watt is expected to deliver the following remarks:

“This is Congressman Mel Watt, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, wishing you a Happy New Year.

“Last year, the Congressional Black Caucus began the year by presenting a written Agenda focused on closing the gaps that exist between African Americans and other Americans in every aspect of life.  This has been the core mission of the Caucus since it was formed and will continue to be our focus as we move forward into 2006. 

“Last year was an extremely busy year.  Unfortunately, the CBC spent a disproportionate part of our time fighting against proposals, policies and events that would increase, not close, the gaps our Agenda focused on eliminating, including:

• Fighting funding cuts and policy changes in programs designed to close the gaps between African Americans and others in education, health care and other basic human needs;
  
  
• Fighting tax cuts and policies that drained resources from the federal government that could have been used to help close some of the disparities gaps;
  
  
• Fighting the disproportionate drain of resources to tear down and rebuild Iraq when these resources were so desperately needed right here at home;
  
  
• Fighting against the confirmation of biased, unfriendly nominees to the federal bench.  Nominees such as Janice Rogers Brown, William Pryor, John Roberts, Samuel Alito and others, who have demonstrated through their writings, decisions and actions that they have no interest in efforts to close the gaps in justice we have been fighting to close, and; 
  
  
• Fighting to expose the astonishing level of poverty in our country and the disproportionate impact it has on African Americans and how it forces them to make bad decisions every day of their lives on education, on health care, on crime and even when faced with the immediate, devastating force of a hurricane.

“Amidst all these fights, we still can’t help but remember 2005 fondly for important, substantive steps the Congressional Black Caucus took, including:

• Partnering with the CBC Institute in our first ever “Bringing Congress to the People" bus tour during which we were met with overwhelming crowds in Mississippi in some of our country’s poorest areas.  During that tour, the CBC focused attention on closing disparities in health, education, employment, retirement security and justice for all;
  
  
• Refocusing the CBC Foundation’s annual legislative conference on what it would take to meet the needs of Hurricane Katrina victims and then to use the information and ideas we gathered to craft and introduce the CBC’s Hurricane Katrina Relief bill.  The bill is the only comprehensive legislation that focuses on recovery, reclamation, restoration and reconstruction of the Gulf Coast region and on the return and reunion of families in that area;
  
  
• Obtaining the approval of Congress for the body of Rosa Parks to lie in honor in the Rotunda of the United States Capital, and;
  
  
• Obtaining an unprecedented, emergency meeting with FEMA to get assurances that the Hurricane Katrina evacuees would not be evicted from hotels and other temporary housing as the federal government continued to take steps to meet their housing needs. 

“This summary of what the Congressional Black Caucus focused on in 2005 is also a preview of what we must do in 2006.  We have our work cut out for us.  But, be assured that we will continue to stand and fight for you.  As we do so, the CBC solicits your continued support and prayers throughout the new year. 

“This is Congressman Mel Watt wishing you, on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, a happy new year filled with peace, joy, hope and progress.”
 

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