Congresswomen Barbara Lee leads our U.S. Congressional Black Caucus in the 111th Congress

WASHINGTON -- The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) today hosted a ceremonial swearing-in for the 41 members of the Congressional Black Caucus at the U.S. Capitol, renewing an honored tradition in the realm of African-American leadership and politics.

Rep. Barbara Lee, a Democrat from the 9th Congressional District of California, took the helm as the CBC's 21st chairperson. Now in her seventh term representing a district that includes Oakland and surrounding communities, she is the fifth woman to lead the Caucus and succeeds Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick of Michigan. Rep. Lee served as a member of the Caucus' leadership during the three previous sessions of Congress, first as the whip and then as first vice chairwoman.

The CBC was founded in 1971 and includes all 41 African-American members of Congress. President-elect Barack Obama was a CBC member during his four years as a U.S. senator from Illinois. The Caucus includes Rep. James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, the majority whip of the House of Representatives and the third-highest ranking Democrat in Congress. It also includes four members beginning their first full two-year terms on Capitol Hill: Reps. Laura Richardson of California, Andre Carson of Indiana, Donna Edwards of Maryland and Marcia L. Fudge of Ohio.

"I want to thank my distinguished colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus for this awesome honor to serve as your chair for such a time as this," Rep. Lee told an audience of 400 in the Congressional Auditorium of the new U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. "The CBC leads this Congress on each and every issue with intelligence, commitment and power, yet continues to be the 'Conscience of the Congress' and the voice of the voiceless. I thank the new officers for agreeing to be a part of my leadership team and all of our prior chairs for their visionary leadership."

The other CBC officers during the 111th Congress are Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II of Missouri (first vice chairman); Del. Donna M. Christensen of the U.S. Virgin Islands (second vice chairwoman); Rep. G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina (secretary) and Rep. Yvette Clarke of New York (whip).

"The CBC is the 'Conscience of the Congress' for persistently focusing attention on the difficult challenges faced by Americans, and for providing solid and workable solutions that advance the nation with respect to its social and economic agendas," said Rep. Kendrick B. Meek of Florida, chairman of the CBCF Board of Directors. "I am proud of our collective efforts over the years and look forward to crafting and implementing a bold agenda as we face the challenging times ahead."

The Speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, and Martin Luther King III, president and chief executive officer of Realizing the Dream, offered congratulatory remarks to the CBC during the program. Johnnetta B. Cole, Ph.D., president emeritus of Bennett College, served as the event's mistress of ceremonies and Grammy Award-winning gospel singer Tramaine Hawkins performed two of her signature songs, "Change" and "Oh Happy Day." The Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith Jr., senior pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in San Jose, Calif., delivered the invocation and the Hon. Judith W. Rogers of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia administered the ceremonial oath of office.

Four CBC members will serve as chairmen of full committees in the 111th Congress. They include Reps. John Conyers Jr. of Michigan (Judiciary), Charles B. Rangel of New York (Ways and Means), Bennie M. Thompson of Mississippi (Homeland Security) and Edolphus Towns of New York (Oversight and Government Reform). Reps. Conyers and Rangel are two of the 13 founding CBC members. Mr. Conyers entered Congress in 1965 and Mr. Rangel began serving in 1971. In addition, 15 CBC members will continue to lead House subcommittees during this session.

"We are proud of the hardworking individuals that make up the CBC," said Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer for CBCF. "We are living in a teetering economy while facing two wars, a deficit gap and housing, education and environmental concerns. There is a lot of work to do among all of us to get America back on track and these are the representatives that the people have elected to get the job done. We are confident that the CBC members will not let them down."