On the recordApril 30, 2015
The Congressional Black Caucus will present eight or nine speakers on the Democratic side in just a few minutes. I am the first of many who will be speaking. We come to the floor today to express our deepest sympathy and support to the family of Freddie Gray and to the citizens of Baltimore, Maryland. {time} 1030 Mr. Speaker, the events in Baltimore are not just about police misconduct. It is about pervasive poverty. It is about unemployment, lack of opportunity, hopelessness, and despair. Since the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson nearly 9 months ago, more than 25 bills have been introduced by members of the CBC that address the need for law enforcement accountability. Today, I call on my House and Senate colleagues to put aside partisanship and take up some or all of these bills. This issue has an impact on all of us. We must address economic disparities that face Black communities all across the Nation. Baltimore, Mr. Speaker, is not unique. The economic climate in Black America and the divide that has persisted for generations is due largely to our country's history of disparate treatment of African Americans and lack of opportunity. While much of the country has experienced an economic recovery over the last 6 years, it has not reached the African American community. Recently, the CBC and the Joint Economic Committee released a report on the economic challenges facing African Americans.…
