Nationwide — Black lawmakers are making history with a record 67 members in the upcoming session of Congress. This includes 62 members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the largest group of Black federal lawmakers in U.S. history, though 5 Republicans are not part of the CBC.
“We’ve always been the conscience of the Congress, and that’s no matter who’s in charge,” Meeks, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told NBC News. “We always try to work with folks where we can. But we call them out also. And now we have more of these leaders to call truth to power, to make sure that the voices of the voiceless are heard.”
Founded in 1971, the CBC represents 120 million people across the U.S., including 41% of the Black population. It advocates for issues like voting rights, healthcare access, education, and criminal justice reform. Though all its members are Democrats, the CBC is nonpartisan in its mission to fight for Black Americans and marginalized communities.
In the upcoming 119th Congress, Meeks said the CBC would challenge policies affecting Black Americans, such as healthcare and drug costs, with a strong, united voice.
“Instead of just having a quartet, now you’ve got a whole choir,” Meeks said. “And we will be loud, we will be clear, and we’re going to be constant and consistent, because this administration is a danger.”
The CBC plans to oppose efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which could heavily affect Black communities. Meeks said they would call out harmful policies while championing initiatives that benefit everyday people.
Moreover, despite the Republican majority in both the House and Senate, the CBC’s growth in numbers is seen as a powerful step toward influencing future policy.
Niccara Campbell Wallace, executive director of the Rolling Sea Action Fund, said, “Despite the Republicans having the House and the Senate, you feel good about what these historic number of Black Congress members can do in terms of helping influence what comes down the pipe.”
