On the recordJune 1, 2015
I first want to start by thanking my colleague from Illinois, Congresswoman Kelly, for coanchoring this Special Order with me. Thanks also to the members of the Congressional Black Caucus that will be joining us, and a special thanks to everyone watching at home. It is wonderful to be here to talk about our shared priorities. Tonight, as stated by my colleague, we are going to address two of the most pressing issues for African American communities, jobs and economic development. Since the Recession ended, much of the United States has experienced economic recovery. However, African American communities continue to face significant challenges to securing jobs, escaping poverty, and accumulating wealth. It is a disturbing and unacceptable reality and a reminder that Congress has a moral responsibility to create avenues of economic prosperity for African American communities. Our focus must be on the economic issues that matter most to African American communities, including employment, income, and wealth. According to an April report by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, at 10.1 percent, the unemployment rate for African Americans is double the rate for White Americans. African Americans are 2.5 times more likely than White Americans to face long-term unemployment, and over 20 percent of African Americans in their early twenties are still unemployed. This hurts earning prospects and long-term employment.…
