(Washington, DC)—Today, at a press conference in Washington, D.C. the Congressional Black Caucus announced its leadership team for the 110th Congress. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II was unanimously chosen to serve as Second Vice-Chair of the powerful group. “I am honored to have been recruited by the CBC Leadership to serve as an officer in an organization that has distinguished itself as 'the conscience of the Congress' for 35 years.” 

“With an A+ on the legislative report card issued annually by the National NAACP, I believe that my votes are in harmony with Black America,” continued Cleaver.
 
“My report card scores from other groups are similar.  This shows, contrary to conventional thinking, that voting for issues important to Black Americans is not out of tune with the Non-African American voters of the Fifth Congressional District.  We are moving closer to but still several miles away from becoming one society.”
 
Cleaver added, “My principal role is to support the Chair and use my voice of civility and comity to the many decisions of the Executive Committee.” He added that he was not necessarily moving toward chairing the Caucus.  

Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI), will serve as the new CBC chair, which is expected to refocus on urban and poverty issues. 

Rep. Kilpartick, whose son Kwame Kilpatrick is mayor of Detroit, will chair the Caucus as Democrats return to power in the House and many CBC members will lead key House committees. She replaces Rep. Melvin Watt (D-NC) as chair of the influential organization.

Other members of the new CBC leadership team include Rep. Barbara Lee of California who will serve as First Vice-Chair, Rep Danny Davis of Illinois, Secretary, and Rep Shelia Jackson-Lee from Texas as Whip of the Caucus.

Congressman Cleaver’s top priority as an officer for the CBC will be to end the state election laws that require voters to present state-issued identification to vote. "Congressman Ike Skelton, my friend and Member of Congress for 30 years, couldn't vote because he showed up at the polls and didn't have a driver's license -- Ike has polio and can't use his arms and has no need for a license. That kind of foolishness has to stop." 

Rep. Cleaver hopes the CBC will move Democrats to address several issues, such as police misconduct, HIV/AIDS, mandatory minimum jail sentences and other issues that have been ignored for decades.

Rep. Cleaver said he soon expects the group to announce its legislative agenda for the first 100 hours of Congress to go in tandem with the issues House Speaker-Elect Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will announce for the whole House of Representatives. 

The Congressional Black Caucus was formed in 1969 when the 13 African-American members of the U.S. House of Representatives joined together to strengthen their efforts to address the legislative concerns of black and minority citizens.

Today, there are 43 members of the Congressional Black Caucus representing many of the largest and most populated urban centers in the country, together with some of the most expansive and rural congressional districts in the nation.   These members, now as in the past, have been called upon to work as advocates for America's varied constituent interests--developing an ever-expanding legislative agenda -- as well as addressing the concerns of their own particular districts.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Belton, Raymore and Peculiar, Missouri. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee.