Engaging Black America

Members of the 119 th Congress - 1 st Session on Engaging Black America

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ENGAGING

BLACK

AMERICA 119TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION

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Urban One is the USA’s largest minority-controlled and operated fully integrated media company distributing Black and urban content.

For more than 40 years, we have been the leading voice addressing Black America—first as the largest local urban radio network and then as the largest syndicator of urban programming. No other multi-media company reaches two out of three Black Consumers.

In addition to its 72 radio and broadcast stations, Urban One operates TV One, its awardwinning cable television network targeting an African American audience, and CLEO TV, its lifestyle cable network targeting millennial and GenX women of color. Our iOne digital platform boasts some of the most iconic and informative digital brands, such as Hello Beautiful, NewsOne, Black Planet, and Bossip.

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Contents

Contents

Urban One, Inc. would like to thank the participating Members of Congress for their contributions to Engaging Black America on key issues impacting the African American community.

Urban One, Inc. would like to thank the particpating Members of Congress for their contributions to Engaging Black America on key Pageimpacting the African American community. issues

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Donald Trump’s Plan for American Families Is as Ugly as It

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Building the Future: Ensuring African-Americans President Trump’s America-First Agenda Will Make Black Have Access to High-Quality and Affordable Higher America Prosper - House Majority Leader, Steve Scalise Education Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) Building a Stronger Future for Underserved Communities How To Tim HelpScott Our Students, Not The Education Senator Establishment Rep. Mark Walker Childbirth Costs (R-NC) Hit Black Americans Especially Hard –

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6 5 7 6

Gets - Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer

Congress Should Pass the Bipartisan Supporting Moms and Can We Turn Disparities into Equity?

Babies ActKelly - Senator Rep. Robin (D-IL) Tim Kaine

10 7

Building an On Economy that In Works Our Health The Ballot 2018for All - Senator Chris Van Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) Hollen

9 11

Creating Job Opportunities In The Energy Sector Financial Literacy: Empowering Black America to Close the Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) Wealth Gap - Congresswoman Joyce Beatty We Don’t Have to Settle for This Dirty Energy Agenda Republicans Put People’s Healthcare on Chopping Block Rep. Donald McEachin (D-VA) Congresswoman Robin Kelly

10 12 12 13

The Black Unemployment Rate is Low. From Redlining to Reform: A New Chapter for Housing Policy But Technology Could Change That.

CedricLisa Richmond (D-LA) -Rep. Senator Blunt Rochester

13 14

Restoring Hope & Opportunity Republicans’ Unfair Tax and Spending Bill Leaves the Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) Working Families Behind - Congresswoman Angie Craig

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Fixing America’s Broken Criminal Justice System is Cutting Barriers Weatlh in America - Senator Angela the Moral Test oftoOur Generation Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) Alsobrooks

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Criminal Justice Reform Building Bipartisan Momentum Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC)

18 Borrowing While Black: A Financial System That Leaves African Behind for their outlook and support A special thanks to allAmericans the participants Sen. Sherrod Brown on key issues affecting the(D-OH) African American community. The views, information, assumptions and opinions set forth or expressed in this 19 The High Cost of the Federal Reserve’s Lack of publication are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily Diversity reflect the views, ideas, or opinions of Urban One, Inc. or any of Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) its affiliates or employees and are set forth in our capacity as a media and/or entertainment organization. Urban One, Inc. makes no representations or warranties about the reliability, completeness A thanks to allof participants for their outlook and on in keythis issues publication affecting the African orspecial accuracy any information setsupport forth American community. The views, information, assumptions and opinions set forth or expressed in this publication are solely those of the author(s) and do necessarily reflect the views, ideas or for and all such information should benotused and/or considered opinions of Urban One, Inc. or any of its affiliates or employees and are set forth in our capacity as a entertainment purposes only. media and/or entertainment organization.

Urban One makes no representations or warranties about the reliability, completeness or accuracy of any information set forth in this publication and all such information should be used and/or considered for entertainment purposes only.

Cover Photo: Adobe Stock Photo

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April 25, 2018 | Engaging Black AmericaSupplement Supplement Engaging Black America

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Members of the 119 th Congress - 1 st Session on Engaging Black America

Donald Trump’s Plan for American Families Is as Ugly as It Gets By: Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer Across American history, our greatest Presidents have marshalled government to provide for the common welfare of all our citizens.

President Roosevelt offered America a New Deal.

President Obama created the Affordable Care Act. Under President Biden, and when I was Majority Leader, we helped America emerge from COVID, ushered lower prescription drug prices, and invested in a cleaner America.

Donald Trump is running in the opposite direction. He has no new deals, he is not expanding prosperity, and he is certainly not helping Americans from communities of color secure the blessings of liberty.

Rather, he is focused entirely on helping the billionaire class. He’s cutting their taxes. He’s putting billionaires in his cabinet. And until their recent public meltdown, he handed the keys of government over to Elon Musk and the special interests.

But nowhere else is Donald Trump’s cruel agenda clearer than in his so called Big Beautiful Bill.

The goal of Donald Trump’s signature bill is very simple: cut taxes that overwhelmingly benefit the highest income earners in America, and have middle class and working Americans pick up the tab.

The Republican bill calls for the biggest cuts to healthcare in American history—sixteen million people are at risk of losing insurance.

It would make never-before-seen cutbacks to SNAP benefits.

It would decimate Medicaid and unravel much of the Affordable Care Act. And the consequences for Black Americans will be especially stark.

If Republicans pass their bill, as many as six million Black children and teens will see their health and nutrition benefits threatened.

Hospital and health centers will close because of cuts, and closures will hit hardest in diverse communities and neighborhoods.

This bill would also mean nearly 5 million American children lose eligibility for the full Child Tax Credit – impacting nearly 51% of Black children. All so that those at the very top can pay less in taxes.

For Donald Trump to call his signature bill “Big and Beautiful” is ludicrous. It is the very opposite of beautiful. It is more accurately described as a betrayal. The consequences for Black Americans will be particularly harmful.

As public servants, it is our duty to work to create a better future for American children, not pass legislation that will make them sicker,

hungrier, and worse off for the future. Instead of calling this one big beautiful bill, Republicans should tell the truth: it is an immoral betrayal of the American people.

Not a single Senate Democrat will support this destructive piece of legislation. We will continue to fight. We will continue to be the party

committed to the values that Americans across the country care about most—values that deeply matter to Black Americans: expanding

economic opportunity, protecting health care, defending voting rights, investing in hardworking communities, and building a future where every child—no matter their race or background—can thrive. We will keep fighting for progress, equity, and dignity for all.

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Senator Chuck Schumer is the Senior U.S. Senator from New York and serves as the Senate Minority Leader and a Member of the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Members of the 119 th Congress - 1 st Session on Engaging Black America

President Trump’s America-First Agenda Will Make Black America Prosper By: House Majority Leader, Steve Scalise Last year, President Trump and House Republicans campaigned on putting America First and making our nation prosperous again. We committed to undoing Biden’s border crisis, unleashing American energy, lowering inflation, cutting taxes, combating crime, and returning common sense to Washington.

In just six months, this unified Republican government has taken significant strides to make those commitments a reality.

In May, House Republicans advanced President Trump’s America-First agenda using the reconciliation process to pass President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will fulfill our promises to the American people and improve the lives of every American.

The One Big Beautiful Bill prevents the largest tax hike in history, reestablishes American energy dominance, secures the border, provides vital resources to enact the President’s immigration agenda, restores Peace through Strength, and includes historic levels of spending reductions while protecting essential programs.

The bill builds on and reauthorizes the first Trump Administration’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which benefited Americans by reducing federal tax rates for households at every income level while increasing the share of taxes paid by the top one percent.

Under TCJA, incomes for Black Americans reached all-time highs and unemployment fell to historic lows. TCJA produced real wage growth for Black Americans, expanded the Child Tax Credit to provide financial relief for Black families, cut the corporate tax rate increasing investment and job creation, and provided Black Americans with greater economic opportunities. There’s no doubt about it: TCJA delivered for Black America.

However, these tax cuts are set to expire – we can’t let that happen. The One Big Beautiful Bill reauthorizes the TCJA tax cuts so your taxes won’t rise, while lowering the deficit through over $1.5 trillion in savings, putting America on a path of fiscal sanity and undoing years of inflation-driving spending.

When this legislation becomes law, you wouldn’t just hear about the benefits – you’d feel them. It includes crucial tax cuts that will improve financial stability for Black families, and provides increased Child Tax Credit benefits, making it easier to afford childcare. Additionally, our bill stimulates economic growth by encouraging small business formation and investment in domestic manufacturing, creating jobs and lowering unemployment in Black communities, as well as implementing President Trump’s promises like no tax on tips.

Simply put, if the TCJA provisions expire, you will have less money in your pockets. Without passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, you’ll see taxes rise on average by 22 percent, the Child Tax Credit slashed in half for 40 million families, the guaranteed deduction cut in half for 91 percent of taxpayers, and small businesses experience substantial tax increases.

Furthermore, the One Big Beautiful Bill contains significant border security and deportation resources, protecting communities from criminal aliens and safeguarding taxpayer resources for American citizens.

Under President Biden, communities were overrun with illegal immigrants who weren’t properly vetted from over 160 countries, including countries on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. This resulted in deadly drugs like fentanyl flooding our neighborhoods and a rise in human trafficking, drug cartels, and violent gang activity. Many of the negative impacts of Biden’s open border disproportionately affected Black communities. With the One Big Beautiful Bill, we’re undoing the damage of the last administration and making your neighborhood safe again.

The legislation funds 10,000 more ICE agents, the rest of the border wall, and a historic deportation effort, and gives Border Patrol agents necessary tools to stop migrant crime and remove millions of illegals who entered our country under Biden.

Additionally, we cut illegal immigrants from essential programs like Medicaid to protect these benefits for Americans who need them.

Currently, the government spends around $9,000 on social services for every illegal immigrant – more than we spend on some Medicaid recipients. Illegal immigrants shouldn’t receive welfare funded by taxpayer dollars – only Americans should. House Republicans are removing illegals from your tax bill.

A vote against this historic and comprehensive legislation is a vote for huge tax increases, inflation, open borders, energy dependence, fewer jobs, and less money in your pocket.

The One Big Beautiful Bill is one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in history, embodying the full America-First agenda and the promises Republicans and President Trump campaigned on. Americans can’t afford a massive tax hike, nor should they continue suffering the consequences of President Biden’s actions. This legislation will significantly benefit the lives of Black Americans by creating a fairer economy, safer communities, and promoting economic growth.

Congressman Steve Scalise, who is the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, represents Louisiana’s 1st Congressional District.

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Members of the 119 th Congress - 1 st Session on Engaging Black America

Building a Stronger Future for Underserved Communities By: Senator Tim Scott

When I walk the halls of Congress, I carry with me not just the lessons of my own life, but the aspirations of millions of Americans who feel like they have been left out of the promise of prosperity. Their stories are not too distant from mine. I grew up in a household led by a single mother. We lived paycheck to paycheck, moving frequently in search of stability we could rarely afford. My grandfather’s wisdom became my compass. One of his favorite sayings still echoes in my mind: “You can be a victim, or

you can be victorious, but you cannot be both.” That mindset has guided my life and my work in the Senate. Talent is everywhere – in every neighborhood, on every block, in every zip code. But opportunity? That’s a different story. Too often, we’ve built invisible fences

around prosperity – keeping families out simply because of where they live. God doesn’t hand out potential based on your zip code. But government policies and too much of our politics still do.

I didn’t read about poverty in a textbook – I lived it. I grew up in a neighborhood where opportunity wasn’t hard to find – it was nowhere to

be found. That’s why I fought to create Opportunity Zones in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017. The goal was simple: channel private capital into distressed communities, where it could do the most good. They’re not some academic theory or government handout – they’re one of the most transformative tools we’ve put in place – bringing real investment and real jobs into communities long ignored by Washington.

To date, the program has driven more than $80 billion in investment into nearly 9,000 underserved census tracts across the country, from

forgotten industrial towns and inner-city neighborhoods to rural communities that have too often been left behind. These investments have breathed new life into struggling areas, bringing jobs, housing, and renewed hope.

In my hometown of North Charleston, Opportunity Zones helped launch Morrison Yard, a $300 million mixed-use development that’s

creating new housing and economic energy for a long-overlooked part of the city. But that’s just one example, and I’m pushing to extend and improve it – so we can unlock $2 trillion in private investment over the next decade for the communities that need it most. For too

many families, the biggest obstacle to owning a home isn’t bad credit or a lack of savings – it’s the government. Bureaucracy, red tape,

and outdated policies have turned homeownership into a pipe dream, especially for poor and minority families. That has consequences.

Homeownership isn’t just about a roof over your head – it’s the foundation of generational wealth. It can either close the racial wealth gap or deepen it. My ROAD to Housing Act is a clear, targeted blueprint to tear down the barriers and make the American Dream attainable again. Why is it so darn hard to get a loan for a home or to start a business in America? Not because people lack drive – but because Washington is stuck in the past.

The government still defines housing through a narrow, outdated lens that ignores affordable, modern solutions like manufactured homes – even though they’ve worked in communities across the country for decades. We’ve got to fix that. That means expanding access to smalldollar mortgages, updating the definition of manufactured housing, and removing arbitrary caps that block private investment in public

housing. If we change the rules, we can unleash billions in revitalization – rebuilding neighborhoods, creating ownership, and giving families a shot at stability and success. The 2008 financial crisis taught us something painful: you can own a home and still lose it if no one teaches you how to keep it.

That’s why my plan doesn’t just expand access to homeownership, it also strengthens financial education – giving families the tools they need to succeed after they sign the dotted line. Because the American Dream should be a foundation, not a trap door. In South Carolina

and across the country, I’ve listened to small business owners who are brimming with ideas but blocked by a lack of capital. In too many communities, raising capital feels like breaking the law. That shouldn’t be the case – but for far too many entrepreneurs, it is. Today, it’s harder than ever for new and minority business owners to access the capital they need to grow. Whether you’re a white farmer in rural

America or a Latino entrepreneur in an urban neighborhood, the barriers are real – and the consequences are devastating. That’s why I introduced the Empowering Main Street in America Act – to make it easier for local investors to back local businesses. This bill expands

access to capital markets in communities that Wall Street overlooks and Washington forgets. It cuts the red tape and opens the door for

startups to raise money where they live, from people who believe in them. As we write the next chapter of America’s economic future, we have a choice: carve it in stone for a privileged few – or build it with the hands of every American. That means we can’t keep leaving our most underserved communities behind. They don’t need scraps, they need straps. Give people the tools, and they’ll pull themselves up.

I’m living proof.

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Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Senator Scott is the longest-serving Black Senator in the nation’s history, as well as the first Black chairman of a Senate standing committee.

Members of the 119 th Congress - 1 st Session on Engaging Black America

Childbirth Costs Hit Black Americans Especially Hard – Congress Should Pass the Bipartisan Supporting Moms and Babies Act By: Senator Tim Kaine

Every parent knows that having a kid can be stressful and expensive. Huge medical costs associated with childbirth can push families to the financial brink or be a barrier to accessing important health care before, during, and after pregnancy – and this affects Black Americans to a disproportionate degree.

That’s why I, along with my colleagues Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and

Josh Hawley (R-MO) in the Senate, and Representatives Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Jared Golden (D-ME-02), Young Kim (R-CA-40) and David Valadao (R-CA-22) in the House of Representatives, have introduced the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act to eliminate the out-of-pocket cost of childbirth.

Many moms-to-be in the U.S. receive coverage through private insurance – often through their job or a spouse’s job. But these insurance plans can impose cost-sharing requirements for prenatal care, childbirth itself, and postpartum care. As a result, between deductibles,

coinsurance, and copays, the average out-of-pocket cost of labor and delivery, as well as maternal and newborn hospitalization, under commercial insurance is about $3,000. That’s just the average – one out of every six new moms pays more than $5,000 out of pocket. In contrast, most childbirth and pregnancy-related care under Medicaid has zero cost.

The costs of childbirth start well before – and end well after – setting foot in the maternity ward. That’s why, in addition to childbirth itself, this bill would require that private insurance companies cover the costs of prenatal, neonatal, perinatal, and postpartum health care for

enrollees with no cost-sharing requirements – bringing commercial plans up to the same standard as Medicaid in this regard. That would mean no more deductibles, coinsurance, or copays for this important care.

Childbirth costs are a problem across the board, but they hit Black Americans even harder: one study found that Black patients pay an average of 74 percent more than white patients for prenatal care like regular checkups and sonograms.

Unexpected and high costs related to childbirth can be devastating. A $3,000 medical bill can wreak havoc on families’ household finances

right at the moment when they are trying to make sure mom and baby are healthy and safe. At the very least, the cost of childbirth cuts into new parents’ financial cushion as they are caring for a growing family and adds unnecessary pressure to an already-stressful time. But at the very worst, it can put moms’ and babies’ lives at risk.

This is where the cost of childbirth ties into one of the biggest health problems facing our country today: the unacceptably-high rate of

maternal mortality among Black women in the United States. The high cost of health care is a barrier to access to quality care. High costs

often layer on top of existing systemic factors that make it harder for Black women to get the health care they need. The high cost of health care can in some cases force moms-to-be to choose between going to the doctor or meeting another financial obligation like rent or mortgage payments, groceries, gas, or a car payment.

It’s simple and has been repeatedly demonstrated with hard data – lower access to quality health care directly translates to worse health

outcomes for moms and for babies. The maternal mortality rate for Black women in the U.S. is nearly three times the national average. It is a stain on our national character that this is the case, and Congress has a moral obligation to address this crisis with concrete action.

When parents decide it’s the right time to grow their family, the cost of childbirth should not be an obstacle to moms’ health and families’ financial security. And while reducing the cost of health care for moms and babies isn’t the only step that the federal government and

society should take to address the Black maternal mortality crisis, it is an important one that will make a real difference. The Supporting

Healthy Moms and Babies Act will make pregnancy and childbirth safer, healthier, and less financially-burdensome for American families.

I am pleased that this bill has sponsors from both parties in both chambers of Congress – because safe and healthy moms and babies

should be an area of universal agreement regardless of party. I urge the rest of my colleagues in the Senate and House of Representatives from both parties to pass this bipartisan, commonsense legislation.

Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) is a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Armed Services; Foreign Relations; and Budget Committees.

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Members of the 119 th Congress - 1 st Session on Engaging Black America

We’ve committed $1 billion to provide digital opportunities and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. comcastcorporation.com/projectup

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Members of the 119 th Congress - 1 st Session on Engaging Black America

The barriers to connectivity are complex — and they’re keeping Americans sidelined.

Nearly one-third of American workers lack basic digital skills.

Millions can’t use a web browser.

Millions don’t understand how to send e-mail.

Millions have no one they trust to teach them.

Local experts hold the key to unlocking digital skills.

Comcast is investing in programs that connect people to Digital Navigators, trusted community members who help people get online, use devices, and learn digital skills.

This commitment is expanding internet access and driving economic mobility. respondents said they 65% ofobtained internet access with the guidance of a Digital Navigator.

85%

of respondents said they used the internet more frequently.

a new job or earned 1 in 3 found a higher income.

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Members of the 119 th Congress - 1 st Session on Engaging Black America

Building an Economy that Works for All By: Senator Chris Van Hollen Every day, our nation’s Black-owned and -operated businesses serve our communities and help grow our economy. In my home state of Maryland, over a quarter of companies are minority-owned—the

sixth-highest rate in the nation. These businesses, from local shops to America’s largest Black-owned media company, strengthen our communities and promote shared prosperity. We all have a stake in

building on these success stories and defending this progress against those who would turn back the clock.

Black entrepreneurs and business owners have long faced systemic discrimination, including a lack of access to banking services

through redlining. That’s why, over the years, we’ve built a legal framework, including passing the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, to prohibit

discrimination in lending. Still, Black-owned businesses continue to be disproportionately turned down for loans and face predatory rates.

To counter this, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has strengthened our ability to enforce fair lending laws, and last year the CFPB also moved to identify gaps in lending to women-owned and minority-owned small businesses. We’re also working to support Blackowned businesses directly, including by providing access to capital and technical support through Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). In 2021, we permanently enshrined the MBDA into law and expanded its resources within the infrastructure modernization law.

These programs work. During the Biden-Harris Administration, MBDA helped minority-owned businesses secure over $3.2 billion in contracts and $1.6 billion in capital, creating or retaining over 23,000 jobs. CDFIs bring in $12 of private funding for every federal dollar.

Unfortunately, the Trump Administration is attacking these programs. In March, Trump issued an illegal executive order to terminate the

MBDA. His Administration is also canceling grants at the Small Business Administration (SBA) and trying to eliminate the CDFI. He is trying to shut down the CFPB, halting efforts to protect small businesses against discrimination and consumers against fraud. They are also trying to stop the CFPB’s work to identify gaps in lending to minority businesses.

We can’t let these attempts succeed. That’s why, in Congress, I’m working to push back against these efforts—and to fund programs that support Black entrepreneurs and businesses. As a member of the Appropriations and Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committees,

I’ve confronted Trump Administration officials on their attempts to gut these critical agencies. And, as we work towards passing funding bills in the Appropriations Committee, I’ll fight to protect these vital programs. While many of them have previously received bipartisan support, it’s critical that Republicans take a stand to both ensure that these funds are included in our appropriations bills and that the Administration uses them as directed.

I’m also working to invest federal funds directly in our communities by securing Congressionally Directed Spending (formerly known

as earmarks) to spur economic opportunity in Maryland. With these funds, we’ve worked to help reinvigorate entire communities—for

example, investing in projects ranging from a community center to infrastructure throughout West Baltimore. I’ve also fought to invest in organizations that help launch businesses. For example, I worked to secure $2.5 million in funding for Baltimore Community Lending and $4.5 million to help start the Maryland Business Opportunity Center at the University of Maryland.

Creating an economy that works for all Americans isn’t just about targeted investments or individual programs. It requires an all-

encompassing approach, one that starts well before the launch of a business or an entrepreneur putting forward a new idea. That’s why I

support tax credits for working families and ensuring access to a high-quality education for every child. These are the lifetime investments we must make to truly build out opportunity—but instead, Donald Trump and Republicans are hellbent on cutting many of these initiatives while passing a tax giveaway for the richest of the rich and implementing their across-the-board tariffs that function as a national sales tax.

Between these efforts and Trump’s attempts to gut critical supports for minority businesses and entrepreneurs, it’s clear where their

priorities lie. Instead of an economy that works for everyone, they want an economy that benefits the few. I am going to keep fighting back, because the stakes are so much higher than dollars and cents. These investments help realize the American Dream: they create a more inclusive economy with more shared prosperity.

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Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, Senate Budget Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Members of the 119 th Congress - 1 st Session on Engaging Black America

Financial Literacy: Empowering Black America to Close the Wealth Gap By: Congresswoman Joyce Beatty In a nation where wealth shapes everything from health outcomes to homeownership, we must use

every tool available to close the persistent racial wealth gap between Black and white Americans. That gap didn’t happen by accident, and it will not close on its own.

We know how we got here. For generations, Black Americans were locked out of wealth-building

opportunities. Redlining, discriminatory lending, limited access to capital, and exclusion from retirement

benefit programs created deep structural barriers to wealth. These injustices were written into law and allowed to compound for decades.

While many of these injustices still require urgent action, we continue to face one barrier that we can readily begin to dismantle: financial literacy. Even as doors of financial opportunity open, too many are left without the tools to walk through them. Financial education

empowers individuals to navigate financial systems, avoid costly financial traps, and make informed decisions that help turn income into security and security into generational wealth.

Yet despite its importance, financial literacy continues to be an essential yet often overlooked strategy for economic empowerment, even as literacy disparities limit opportunities to build and protect Black wealth.

Financial literacy means having the skills to manage a budget, control debt, save, and invest for the future. Yet too many Black Americans

have not had the chance to master these personal finance fundamentals. According to a report by the TIAA Institute, Black adults answered only 38 percent of personal finance questions correctly across eight core topics like saving, credit, investing, and insurance—compared to

55 percent for white adults. The gap starts early. Data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) shows that by age 15, white and Asian students already outperform their Black and Hispanic peers in financial literacy.

These gaps are evident not just in research, but also in everyday life: in higher debt burdens, limited savings, and greater barriers to credit and homeownership. Black homeowners face disproportionately high foreclosure rates, but studies show that mortgage counseling and

credit education can help mitigate those outcomes. That’s why I reintroduced the Housing Financial Literacy Act, which would provide first-

time homebuyers with a discount on mortgage insurance after completing a certified financial literacy course. While financial literacy alone won’t dismantle systemic housing injustices, it can open doors by equipping families with the insight to ask the right questions. Because sometimes, the right question is what leads to the right opportunity, allowing more Black families to pursue stable homeownership and build intergenerational wealth.

Greater financial literacy helps people make informed decisions, avoid costly mistakes, and plan with confidence. Understanding credit

scores, interest rates, and borrower rights reduces the chances of falling into predatory lending or long-term debt traps. It also encourages

the use of safer, lower-cost financial services like credit unions instead of payday lenders and is closely tied to stronger retirement savings, emergency funds, and better debt management overall.

Financial literacy is not a silver bullet, but it is a powerful tool for change. The U.S. Treasury’s Financial Literacy and Education Commission calls it foundational for full participation in the economy, and I fully agree. As a former Ohio state legislator, I championed legislation

requiring financial education in public high schools, an effort that crossed the finish line after I was elected to Congress. Today, every public high school student in Ohio must complete personal finance coursework to graduate. That’s the kind of policy we should bring to every state.

In Congress, especially as Co-Chair of the Congressional Financial Literacy and Wealth Creation Caucus, I’ve continued to fight for

opportunities that help individuals, families, and communities build lasting stability and prosperity. I’ve pushed for federal funding to help underbanked school districts develop strong financial education programs. I’ve also introduced legislation to help colleges adopt best

practices for teaching financial skills and managing student debt. Much of this work has earned bipartisan support, because economic empowerment should never be a partisan issue.

At its core, financial literacy is about freedom, dignity, and legacy. It should not be a privilege reserved for the few, but rather a bridge to the American Dream for all, empowering Black Americans to take control of their financial future, build the wealth they deserve, and pass it on to the next generation.

Congresswoman Joyce Beatty represents Ohio’s Third Congressional District and is the Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions. She is Chair Emerita of the Congressional Black Caucus.

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Members of the 119 th Congress - 1 st Session on Engaging Black America

Republicans Put People’s Healthcare on Chopping Block By: Congresswoman Robin Kelly The Trump administration and Congressional Republicans are determined to take a chainsaw to

Medicaid. The budget, which U.S. House Republicans passed in May and is now being considered in the

U.S. Senate, slashes Medicaid by nearly $1 trillion, stealing healthcare from at least 16 million Americans.

Medicaid is a lifeline for Americans — no matter where you live. Illinois’s Second Congressional District — which spans from the south side of Chicago to the south suburbs to over 4,500 farms in rural Illinois — is

indicative of the consequences to healthcare across the country if Republicans cut Medicaid. Over 300,000 of my constituents would lose their healthcare due to the Republican budget. That’s nearly half the people living in the Second District.

I’ve heard from an Illinois mother whose son has autism and has been thriving with special education classes and care from Medicaid.

When President Trump was elected, he asked, “What’s going to happen to me and my future?” Less than 100 days into the second Trump administration, she had an answer: Without Medicaid and without special education, her son will not become a successful, independent adult.

I’ve heard from another father who qualifies for a stipend from Medicaid as a full-time caregiver for his son with a rare genetic disorder.

Under the Republicans’ proposed paperwork requirements, he would lose the stipend and his son would lose health insurance.

If his family lost Medicaid, his wife would take on a second job. Then, they’d have to sell their home. As a last resort, they would have to make the difficult decision to give up custody of their son to state care.

These are the non-options Republicans give parents: ignore the care their child needs, endure crippling medical debt, or surrender custody of their child.

This is from the Party who represents so-called family values.

As a mother and grandmother, myself, I know that a loving parent would pay absolutely any cost to save their child’s life and ensure a

healthy future. As a public servant, it is my job to see that parents do not have to pay the highest cost — but receive affordable care that their family needs.

As a sitting member on the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, I fought against Medicaid cuts for over 26 hours in an overnight committee hearing. In another marathon committee hearing that lasted over 22 hours, I again offered my amendment to codify the

lifesaving policy that expands Medicaid postpartum coverage from 60 days to a full year. Cuts to Medicaid, which covers almost half of all births nationwide, threatens mothers and babies. It especially threatens Black women, who are three times more likely to die due to

pregnancy-related causes than white women. We cannot expect someone to recover from childbirth, return to work, care for a newborn,

and scramble to reapply for coverage in 60 days when new mothers are still at risk for infection, hypertension, and postpartum depression.

That’s not healthcare – it’s chaos.

The Republican budget would have a domino effect beyond those covered by Medicaid. Uninsured patients would be forced to look for care elsewhere, placing a heavier burden on federally qualified health centers that are already facing severe funding cuts. Hospitals in rural areas, which are already struggling, would be at risk of immediate closure, leaving communities stranded in healthcare deserts.

Republicans are betraying their own constituents and breaking their own promise to lower costs of living for the middle class.

The cuts to Medicaid are intended to pave the way for a $4.5 trillion tax cut for the wealthy few. The top 0.1% would receive an average annual tax cut of $314,266, compared to only a few hundred dollars for hardworking families.

The Republican budget is cruel. It’s evil. It goes against our mandate as public servants and attacks millions of Americans. Healthcare professionals, hospital administrators and Americans — those covered by Medicaid and those who aren’t — will continue to decry the Republican budget. Together, we will prove that the American people are not behind President Trump’s scheme to cut Medicaid.

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Congresswoman Robin Kelly represents Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District and is a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Members of the 119 th Congress - 1 st Session on Engaging Black America

From Redlining to Reform: A New Chapter for Housing Policy By: Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester Today, Black History is being scrubbed from the pages of textbooks, wiped off displays in museums,

and silenced in national conversations. The erasure of Black stories is a deliberate erasure of American history—and a major obstacle to progress. As a United States Senator, I revere history. I look to it not

only for inspiration, but as a guide for how our country can do better, be better, and fully live up to the great ideals enshrined in our Constitution.

Understanding where we come from is critical to knowing where we are and where we must go. This is especially true when we think about the story of housing in America and the enduring aftermath of redlining, segregation, and structural racism built into our housing policies.

As someone who has dedicated almost a decade in Congress, I have built a robust, bipartisan record on housing policy. This has been

driven, in part, by my own family’s ability to move from public housing to purchasing our first home. I’ll never forget the moment we walked through that doorway. I believe every American should experience this feeling.

Last year, Americans considered housing one of the most significant issues on their minds. In fact, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center, a majority of Americans agree that elected officials must pass legislation to increase the supply of affordable homes and bring down

housing costs. If we are serious about addressing our housing crisis on behalf of the American people, we must identify the beginning. One of the pivotal turning points in our housing crisis began in 1944 with the G.I. Bill.

The G.I. Bill was landmark legislation, designed to honor the sacrifice of our nation’s veterans in one of the world’s deadliest wars. This legislation was sweeping, assisting veterans with education, housing, and employment.

The actual implementation of the bill fell short of its intended promise. Deep racism enabled universities to deny returning Black veterans a chance at a college degree, vocational programs refused to provide Black veterans with resources to be set up for success, and big

banks and lenders systematically prevented Black families from loan opportunities. In 1947, over three thousand veterans across thirteen

Mississippi cities applied for the VA-guarantee program established by the G.I. Bill. Of that number, only two loans went to Black borrowers.

But this was only one facet of the crisis. For hundreds of years, redlining and intentional segregation perpetuated deep inequalities in

homeownership. We can trace this back to the 1862 Homestead Act or the 1933 New Deal, both of which reinforced racial discrimination in housing. Over time, our housing crisis ballooned, worsened by the exacerbated wealth gaps, the inability of families to buy in some neighborhoods, population changes, and the lack of investment in communities.

The good news is that we can – and must – reverse this.

My first bill in the Senate, the bipartisan Housing Supply Frameworks Act, is a step toward rectifying these inequities. This bill aims to cut

through the red tape that prevents the development of new homes. It does so by empowering states and localities to eliminate barriers to

building affordable homes. It also provides resources to change outdated zoning practices. The last time the federal government embarked on providing new model zoning frameworks was in the 1920s, over a century ago. There is momentum on housing legislation. Over 140

advocacy organizations – from progressive to right-leaning - have endorsed my bill. Including the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Up for Growth, and the National Multifamily Housing Council.

But we must be clear-eyed. There is no better perspective on how to legislate this issue than the collective history of Black Americans, who

have borne the brunt of some of the most egregious housing policies of the 20th century. We cannot begin to solve the homelessness crisis facing our Veterans without first examining how the GI Bill, post-World War II, excluded Black veterans and their families from purchasing homes.

We cannot reform our housing codes without reckoning with how predatory lenders intentionally targeted Black communities with high-

interest loans. And we cannot reimagine our housing regulatory framework without first admitting that exclusionary zoning practices still exist today. They are in large part to blame for the lack of generational wealth building for Black Americans. We can fix these things, but

it starts with being honest about how we got here. We cannot rewrite, erase, or sanitize this history. I’m ready to write the next chapter of American housing policy. With history in mind, I call on everyone to work together to redeem the American dream.

Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) is a member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Engaging Black America Supplement Page 13 of 16

Members of the 119 th Congress - 1 st Session on Engaging Black America

Republicans’ Unfair Tax and Spending Bill Leaves the Working Families Behind By: Congresswoman Angie Craig Six months into the Republican Party’s control of the federal government, one thing has become clear:

working families are being left behind. If you need evidence, look no further than the policies pushed by President Trump and congressional Republicans.

The Republican tax and spending bill increases the deficit by over $2 trillion and is paid for by cuts to

basic needs programs that working families rely on to afford health care and food. The money cut from

these programs is being used to pay for tax breaks for the most wealthy in our nation. Our tax system should reward hard work, but today, it is tilted in favor of the already rich.

As the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, I am particularly concerned with the cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition

Assistance Program (SNAP) included in the tax and spending bill. My family needed food assistance at times in my childhood, so I mean it when I say: these programs are worth fighting for. Yet, Republicans are trying to cut SNAP by nearly $300 billion, putting millions of

Americans at risk of going hungry. We should be making the system work better for families in need, not cutting the heart of these programs and jeopardizing food and health for our communities to provide more handouts to people already benefiting from a system that favors those already at the very top.

If you want to focus on creating upward economic mobility for Americans, strengthen career programs and education. Don’t cut

food assistance programs like SNAP, which help families keep food on the table at a time when groceries already cost too much. Our

communities do better when America’s children, seniors and disabled have enough to eat. Students focus better at school, older Americans have lower health care costs and people with disabilities can live more independently when they can access healthy, nutritious food. That’s not only good for individuals, but that’s also good for our businesses.

Every $1 invested in SNAP benefits generates around $1.50 in economic activity – meaning more money spent at the local stores, more trucker and delivery jobs and more jobs on the farms that grow America’s food.

Taking food away from our families and communities puts our country on the wrong track. At the same time, Republicans are making life

more expensive for families and businesses by rubber-stamping President Trump’s disruptive tariffs that are increasing costs on everything from housing and child care to groceries and health care.

There is nothing wrong with being successful, but cutting basic needs programs for the many and rewriting the tax code to benefit the very few isn’t a recipe for success. When we think about making changes that support working people, we shouldn’t start with making the tax code even worse, we should be making it fairer. We need policies and politicians that stand up for us.

Serving on the Agriculture Committee has provided me a front row seat to how these decisions – from cutting basic needs programs to

reckless trade wars to making an unfair tax system worse – leave working families behind. An example of this is the Republicans’ decision to abandon the farm bill. This legislation normally invests in rural development, like expanding child care in rural communities, providing microloans to rural entrepreneurs and helping rural health care facilities keep their doors open by refinancing their debt.

Together, these policies encourage and reward work. It’s hard to hold down a job if you don’t have a safe, affordable place to look after

your kids during the workday. Helping rural businesses get off the ground with microloans taps the talent and vision of rural residents and

gives them a chance to start the next business that will bring jobs and paychecks to their community. And health care centers are often the largest employers in rural areas.

Walking away from these programs in favor of a partisan tax and spending package doesn’t create opportunity. It reinforces a system that disadvantages people who work hard and play by the rules. We need to unstack the deck against working people in America – and that starts by saying no to the Republican tax and spending bill that only makes our economic system more unfair.

Engaging Black America Supplement Page 14 of 16

Congresswoman Angie Craig represents Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District and is the Ranking Member of the Committee on Agriculture in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Members of the 119 th Congress - 1 st Session on Engaging Black America

Cutting Barriers to Wealth in America By: Senator Angela Alsobrooks The American dream shouldn’t just be lofty rhetoric that politicians use to extoll the virtues of America’s great promise. It should be a north star for every elected leader—driven by a mission to turn the American dream into a reality for as many Americans as possible.

In my first six months in the United States Senate, I have focused on exactly that.

The most important thing Congress can do to help more Americans achieve their American Dream is slashing barriers to generating wealth.

First, we can look at making it easier for small businesses to succeed. 99.9% of businesses in America are considered “small.” For too long, community businesses have been trapped by red tape and unable to access the capital and support they need. I serve on the Senate

Banking Committee and have introduced the bipartisan Access to Small Business Investor Capital Act. The legislation would cut red tape for Business Development Companies and allow them to inject more capital into our small business. Empowering small business owners

helps not only the owners but the staff they employ and increases the number of jobs they can generate. Right now, only about 3% of small

businesses are Black-owned. Increasing access to capital for Black entrepreneurs will lift all tides and allow for generational wealth that not only uplifts hard working Americans but bolsters our nation’s economy.

Second, we need to cut taxes for working class people. This Administration wants to cut taxes for billionaires—people who’ve already

achieved their American Dream and then some. Instead, we need to pass a permanent child tax credit. We know raising a family is more

expensive than ever. What we also know is passing a permanent child tax credit would “reduce child poverty, alleviate food insecurity, ease household financial hardship, improve physical and mental health outcomes, ease liquidity constraints, and more” (Yale Budget Lab). A tax credit for working families would go a long way towards concretizing the American Dream.

We have to also talk about the state of health care. You cannot show up to work if you don’t have access to the care you need. You cannot care for a family if you don’t have access to the care you need. You cannot fight for, let alone achieve, the American Dream if you do not

have access to the care you need. It’s sometimes hard to build a better life when you’re one emergency room visit away from financial ruin.

So many of us are members of the sandwich generation—raising our children while simultaneously caring for our aging parents. My father was diagnosed with a heart arrhythmia and learned that the medicine he needed was $800. It was cost prohibitive, but thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, he was able to afford it.

Instead of Republican cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and more, we need to be building on the Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act to ensure every single American has access to quality care. The Health Care Affordability Act, of which I am a cosponsor, would make permanent the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits (PTCs) for Marketplace coverage as extended through the Inflation Reduction Act. Keeping health care costs as low as possible goes hand-in-hand with creating clearer pathways to wealth.

Lastly, we know that, for many, smart investments are an important tool to build wealth. And whether that be in stocks, real estate, etc., we need to ensure there are consumer protections in place. Crypto is a rapidly emerging market that many Americans are starting to look at with respect to their portfolios. All too often, Black Americans get left behind in emerging markets, and I think it is critical that we invest in

equitable opportunities in this new space. It’s why I helped lead the GENIUS Act, a bill that would establish a clear regulatory framework for payment stablecoins. Right now, there are no guardrails in place nor substantive consumer protections. Our bill would fix that. As markets change and tools to wealth building evolve, our laws should innovate to keep pace.

These are straightforward steps we can take to cement the American Dream for as many families as possible by helping them build wealth.

The more wealth families build, the more opportunities arise. In helping families build wealth, we are creating a stronger national economy, a more prepared workforce, and a better future for our children and grandchildren.

Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) is a member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and Senate Special Committee on Aging. She is the third elected Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate.

Engaging Black America Supplement Page 15 of 16

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