Washington, DC - Three dozen Congressional Black Caucus Members endorsed Rep. Edolphus “Ed” Towns (D-NY) today in his bid to become Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, releasing a letter noting both his seniority and record of accomplishment. 

Rep. Towns is currently the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement and is the senior Democratic member eligible for the chairmanship.  He has served on the committee for 26 years.

“I look forward to working with House leaders and meeting with the Steering and Policy Committee.  There is a real need for government oversight and reform, and the Committee will hit the ground running in the 111th Congress,” said Rep. Towns.

No challenge to Towns’ candidacy has been announced.

             The text of the letter follows:

As members of the Congressional Black Caucus, we are supporting our colleague Rep. Edolphus Towns to succeed Rep. Henry Waxman as chair of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Ed Towns has used his 26 years of experience in the Congress to build a record of achievement on issues important to all Americans, and especially communities of color.  He is the most senior eligible Democrat on the committee and his distinguished service as a subcommittee chairman makes his elevation to the chairmanship of the full committee imperative. 

Ed Towns has always enjoyed excellent working relationships with members from all parts of our caucus and indeed with members from across the aisle.  He is someone who gets things done, and we need Ed Towns’ leadership on issues of oversight and government accountability in the next Congress.

We ask that you join us in supporting Ed Towns for chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in the 111th Congress.

                            Sincerely,

John Conyers, Jr.                      Yvette Clarke
Donna Christensen                    Chaka Fattah
Bobby Rush                              Laura Richardson
Maxine Waters                          G. K. Butterfield
Danny K. Davis                          Sheila Jackson Lee
Bennie Thompson                      Diane Watson
Al Green                                   Sanford Bishop
Emanuel Cleaver                        Gregory Meeks
Charles Rangel                          Eddie Bernice Johnson
William Jefferson                        Mel Watt
David Scott                                Artur Davis
Wm. Lacy Clay                          Bobby Scott
Corrine Brown                            Eleanor Holmes Norton
Donald Payne                            Hank Johnson
Alcee Hastings                          Marcia Fudge
Elijah Cummings                        Barbara Lee
John Lewis                                Carolyn Kilpatrick
Donna Edwards                         Kendrick Meek

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