Press Releases

Representative Karen Bass, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement on the eve of the Senate’s procedural vote on Senator Tim Scott’s Justice Act: “We have reached a critical juncture in our history where the steps we take can change a generation. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act championed by the Congressional Black Caucus is the first ever comprehensive legislation to reform law enforcement but also empower communities to reimagine what just and equitable ... Read more

Every year on June 19, we celebrate “Juneteenth” to honor the day that the enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were informed of the end of the brutal Civil War and the beginning of their freedom in 1865. This day was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which had become official on January 1, 1863. As we commemorate this day we must acknowledge that we are also entering a new era where reexamining our history and acknowledging that the physical reminders of w... Read more

Nur Omar Mohamed was the father of Congressional Black Caucus Member Rep. Ilhan Omar, but he was also someone very dear to many of us who met him during a congressional delegation trip to Morocco. He welcomed us all and ensured that we truly felt at home. Reflecting on that trip, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Karen Bass stated: “When I think of him, I smile remembering him sitting in the back of the classroom reciting the Quran with the students and how much joy he brought to all... Read more

Today, President Trump announced an Executive Order on Safe Policing for Safe Communities in response to national calls for law enforcement reform. The President’s Executive Order falls woefully short of the long overdue demands for accountability and transparency in our police departments. During the announcement today, the President claimed the Executive Order would set standards "as high and as strong as there is on Earth" on the use of force, and that he would prioritize federal grants to po... Read more

Transformative legislation supported by 166 Representatives, 35 Senators Today, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass (D-CA), Senators Corey Booker (D-NJ) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) introduced theJustice in Policing Act of 2020,the first-ever bold, comprehensive approach to hold police accountable, change the culture of law enforcement and build trust between law enforcement and our communities. Chair Bass:"What we are witnessing is... Read more

The Congressional Black Caucus released the following statement regarding today’s call led by Rep. Stacey Plaskett (US Virgin Islands) between the members of the Congressional Black Caucus and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray to discuss the actions being taken by the FBI during this time of unrest in our country: “America’s history of racism and racially motivated violence continues to live on through generations. That systemic racism is evident in the disproportio... Read more

Below is a readout from a virtual congressional briefing held today at 5:30 p.m. ET. Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Congressional Black Caucus Chair and House Judiciary Crime Subcommittee Chair, along with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), convened a briefing with national advocacy organizations for House Judiciary Committee Democratic Members and congressional staff. Nearly 100 participants, including Members of Congress, staff, and advocates, joined the virtual briefing... Read more

Below is a readout of Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Bass’s remarks on today’s Democratic Caucus call. The Chairwoman opened by providing the context of police brutality in American and giving a sense of urgency for the Caucus to advance a wholistic legislative reform package to address the issue and broader issues of injustices and inequities faced by the black community. She mentioned that the CBC held an emergency meeting today to discuss next steps, and laid out a three-part strategy ... Read more

Today, the Congressional Black Caucus, released the following statement on the murder of George Floyd by officers of the Minneapolis Police Department: This time his name was George Floyd. His crime, being a Black man in America. On Monday evening, George Floyd was killed at the hands of racist police officers, who insisted on using unnecessary force, which included kneeling on his neck, until he could no longer breathe. Within minutes and despite his cries out because he could not breathe, Floy... Read more

As the spread of coronavirus in America continues to impact communities of color, the effect on the prison system has been widely underscored. Inmates and staff have been exposed to COVID-19 at alarming rates, with minimal relief, despite the directive to reduce prison populations by releasing low-risk offenders. However, when the release of Paul Manafort, the former campaign manager for President Trump, takes priority over the needs of everyone else, it is evident that the executive powers have... Read more