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- Julián Castro unveils housing plan.
- Our water infrastructure is crumbling. Congressman Antonio Delgado (D-NY) aims to fix it.
- LA County Museum of Art adds trio from Barack Obama’s crew to its Board.
- Brookings names new VP. Read to the bottom!
- Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas argues against legal precedent. True story.
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CNN's Wolf Blitzer and Jim Acosta in DC last week celebrating Acosta's newly released book, The Enemy of the People.
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Former National Security Advisor Susan Rice flanked by Black Voters Matter co-founders Cliff Albright and LaTosha Brown at the Black Economic Alliance presidential forum in South Carolina on Saturday.
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Bob Menéndez and Norma Torres Want to Make Citizenship Applications Financially Accessible to More
In most cases, the total fee to file a U.S. citizenship application is $725. However, given that a third of middle-class adults can’t afford to pay for a $400 emergency, saving for the application fee -- and possible unforeseen legal costs -- makes applying for citizenship inaccessible for some immigrants. To help with the cost burden, Senator Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-CA) on Monday led a bicameral group of members of Congress in introducing the Citizenship Affordability Act, legislation to preserve and expand access to citizenship by ensuring legal residents who are eligible for naturalization, but struggling to afford its cost, can access waivers to reduce or eliminate fees associated with the process. As of now, legal residents who earn less than 150% of the Federal Poverty Level can apply for a full fee waiver and a reduced fee for those earning less than 200%. However, USCIS is proposing changing the eligibility requirements for fee waivers and to limit access to the naturalization fee waiver. “Becoming an American citizen should not depend on whether or not you can afford a costly application fee,” said Menéndez. “As the son of immigrants, I know how becoming an American citizen can strengthen families and improve lives. Citizenship promotes integration, civic responsibility, and a sense of community, which ultimately benefits all Americans.” Expenses can quickly snowball if people must pay for lawyers, English classes, and civics test preparation -- especially if multiple family members are applying. The legislation would make the full and partial income-based waivers permanent; raise to 250% of the federal poverty level the partial fee waiver; and require the Secretary of Homeland Security to consider the receipt of means-tested benefits as evidence of eligibility for the fee waivers. “Unfortunately, the high cost of the naturalization process can be a financial barrier for many legal permanent residents,” said Torres. “The Citizenship Affordability Act would help make the process more affordable to keep the American dream within reach for everyone who earns it.” More here.
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Antonio Delgado Intros Bill to Repair Country’s Water Infrastructure
The country’s water infrastructure needs an overhaul, and Congressman Antonio Delgado (D-NY) introduced a bill this month to get it started. The Promoting Infrastructure and Protecting the Economy (PIPE) Act, which he introduced with 2020 presidential candidate Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), would create a new grant program so communities across the country invest in critical water system upgrades. “Access to functional, clean, and safe water infrastructure is not a luxury, it is an economic necessity,” said Delgado. The bill would require the EPA to authorize $5 billion over 10 years to provide discretionary grants to state and local governments, tribal governments, and public water utilities for projects related to drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. The legislation has specific language that would ensure the grants are spent on a mix of rural, suburban, and urban projects by capping the maximum amount of the total funding any one state can receive at 20% in each fiscal year. The lawmakers said the PIPE Act would allow communities to continue to provide clean water for their residents and reliable water systems that help promote economic development. There are currently nearly 55,000 drinking water systems and 16,000 wastewater treatment systems across the U.S., many of which are in poor physical condition. Problems now include leaking and/or broken pipes, and associated stormwater runoff that can overwhelm treatment capacity. The EPA estimates that 23,000-75,000 sewage overflows occur each year, resulting in the release of up to 10 billion gallons of untreated wastewater into U.S. surface waters; this does not take into consideration additional stormwater overflows. More here.
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Raja Krishnamoorthi Investigates E-Cigarette Company
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), the chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, is investigating e-cigarette company Juul. Recent reports of skyrocketing Juul use among teens has sparked concern among lawmakers and caused the company political troubles for some time. “The safety and well-being of America’s youth is not for sale,” the Congressman wrote in a letter to the company this month. “I am extremely concerned about reports that JUUL’s high nicotine content is fueling addiction and that frequent JUUL use is sending kids across the country into rehab, some as young as 15.” Krishnamoorthi wants extensive internal records detailing Juul’s advertising strategies, labeling decisions, its knowledge of the health effects of its products, and details of its business arrangements with Altria -- the tobacco giant that purchased a 35% stake in Juul last year. Read Krishnamoorthi’s letter to Juul’s CEO here.
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The View's Ana Navarro-Cárdenas with Broadway performer and Pose star Billy Porter in NYC last week.
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Presidential candidates Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) and entrepreneur Andrew Yang on the campaign trail in Iowa last week.
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Ted Lieu Accuses Jared Kushner of Violating Hatch Act
Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) on Monday asked a federal watchdog to investigate whether Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law and White House advisor on all-the-things, broke the Hatch Act -- the law prohibiting federal employees from engaging in political activity as part of their official duties. Lieu and Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) called on Special Counsel Henry Kerner, who leads the independent Office of Special Counsel, to launch an investigation after the NYT reported that Kushner has been engaging in campaign activity from the White House. Kushner organized a meeting at the White House residence between Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale, RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and "a group of big donors" to talk 2020 fundraising, according to the NYT. Media reports also said that Kushner has "multiple daily conversations" with Parscale. "The stated purpose of the Hatch Act is to prevent federal civil servants from using their official authority to help elect candidates to office, and we have strong reason to believe that Jared Kushner is in violation of both the spirit and the letter of that Act," Beyer and Lieu wrote. It might not matter, though, even if Kushner is found guilty. The special counsel recommended White House counselor Kellyanne Conway be removed from her post after repeatedly violating the Hatch Act -- a recommendation Trump ignored. Read Lieu’s full letter here.
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Johanna Hayes Aims to Give Financial Boost to Military Families Who Lost Loved Ones
The families of servicemembers who die in the line of duty, and of disabled veterans who died from a service-connected condition, receive a monthly Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefit from the VA. Congresswoman Johanna Hayes (D-CT) introduced a bill this month to increase the amount these families receive by $300. She says the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Improvement Act would bring benefits for surviving military families more in line with federal employees and the Department of Defense's Survivor Benefits Plan. “I recently visited with Gold Star families across my district, and the offset between survivor benefits and the need for additional financial support were some of the most common issues I heard about,” said Hayes. “The death of a service member should never lead a family to financial hardship, and we owe it to these heroes to give their families the full benefits they have earned. This bill will help us do just that.” Hayes’ bill would also ensure survivors aren’t penalized for receiving these benefits by preventing an unfair offset that denies them the compensation to which they are entitled. More here.
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Spike Lee in Brooklyn celebrating the 30th anniversary of his iconic film, Do the Right Thing, which debuted in the summer of 1989.
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Congressman Juan Vargas (D-CA) celebrating the passage of the Dream and Promise Act with reps from CHIRLA on Capitol Hill earlier this month.
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Julián Castro Unveils Housing Plan
Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro on Monday unveiled the first installment of his three-part housing plan. The former HUD secretary said he would transform and expand housing assistance programs for the poor and give renters a tax credit. “People are experiencing an affordable housing crisis, whether they live in a red or blue community, whether they are white or black. This rental affordability touches the lives of so many,” said Castro. Just 25% of people eligible for housing subsidies like Section 8 actually get vouchers. Castro wants to transform the housing assistance program into a fully funded entitlement program, like Social Security. “Housing is a human right,” he said as his plan calls for a refundable tax credit for low- and middle-income renters if their rent exceeds 30% of their income. The White House hopeful said he would unveil additional parts of his housing plan this week. Be sure to read The Beat this week as we break down the rest of his plan. More the first part here.
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Elizabeth Warren’s Plan to Close Racial Wealth Gap
White House hopeful Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) unveiled a proposal last week that aims to help address the racial wealth gap by issuing $7 billion in grants to entrepreneurs of color. The plan, which she calls the Small Business Equity Fund, says the grants could be used for startup capital to support an estimated 100,000 new minority-owned businesses, potentially creating 1.1 million jobs. “Every American should have a fair shot at starting a small business,” Warren wrote in a Medium post announcing the plan. “The only things that should determine whether a new business succeeds are the strength of the idea and the hard work of the owners and employees.” People of color only own about a fifth of businesses with paid employees in the U.S. despite making up nearly 40% of the population. “The typical Black entrepreneur starts a business with $35,000 in capital — a third of the startup capital for the typical white entrepreneur — and other entrepreneurs of color face similar challenges,” Warren wrote. She said she plans to fund the plan through an “Ultra-Millionaire Tax” -- a two-cent tax on every dollar of wealth above $50 million -- and to grant the funds to entrepreneurs eligible for the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program who have less than $100,000 in household wealth. Read the plan here.
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Kamala Harris Pens Monthly Column for Essence
Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) will pen a monthly column for Essence Magazine, the outlet announced on Monday. “Kamala’s Corner” will publish online in the middle of every month, and serve as a space for the presidential candidate to talk about policy issues and tell stories from the campaign trail. Yesha Callahan, Essence’s editorial director, said she decided to offer this opportunity to Harris because “she is a Black woman, and we are a Black women’s website.” But Callahan said the opportunity to reach millions of Essence readers -- mostly comprised of Black women, a crucial voting bloc for the Democratic party -- is not an endorsement. She noted that Black women are not a monolith and that some disagree with Harris. Essence previously published opinion pieces from other presidential contenders. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) wrote about her policy on maternal mortality rates for Black women and former Congressman Beto O’Rourke penned a piece on health-care access for mothers and women of color. In her first column, Harris writes about why she’s running for president. Read it here.
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Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM), National Navajo President Jonathan Nez, and Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-NM) on Capitol Hill last week.
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CBS' Gayle King at LAX last week with her brand new grand-dog, Scott.
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Supreme Court Upholds Decision Finding Racial Gerrymandering in Virginia
The Supreme Court on Monday held that the Republican-led Virginia House of Delegates did not have the legal right to challenge a lower court opinion that struck several district maps they had drawn as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Hence, court-ordered maps that favored Democrats will continue to be used. Why is this a big deal? The party that controls Virginia’s General Assembly in 2021 will oversee the next statewide redistricting effort following next year’s Census, which could potentially solidify an advantage in future elections. Former Attorney General Eric Holder, who now chairs the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said in a statement Monday that the Court's decision "is an important victory for African Americans in Virginia who have been forced since 2011 to vote in racially gerrymandered districts that unfairly diluted their voting power." Partisan gerrymandering is not illegal, but racial gerrymandering is. More here.
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Clarence Thomas Argues Against Judicial Precedent
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Monday essentially said the court should not be bound by its prior precedents. In a concurring opinion Thomas issued in Gamble v. United States -- a case where the Court ruled individuals can be prosecuted by the federal government and states without violating the double jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment -- he expressed his view of stare decisis, the principle that courts should follow past decisions. “When faced with a demonstrably erroneous precedent, my rule is simple: We should not follow it. This view of stare decisis follows directly from the Constitution’s supremacy over other sources of law—including our own precedents,” Thomas wrote. “That the Constitution outranks other sources of law is inherent in its nature.” While it may seem like a “simple” rule meant to not “uphold precedents that are demonstrably erroneous,” legal experts say Thomas’ change would simply give the court free rein to get rid of any prior decision that five of its members do not like. It could lead to legal instability and further politicization of the Court. Not only that, but Thomas also said that federal judges in lower courts should also not feel bound to precedent if they feel it is wrong -- even if it’s a Supreme Court decision. That means any lower court could attempt to single-handedly overturn Roe v. Wade, Brown v. Board of Education, etc., causing legal chaos. ThinkProgress takes an in-depth look at the issue here.
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Actors Michael B. Jordan and Chadwick Boseman in LA earlier this month to celebrate Denzel Washington -- who received the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award.
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CA congressional candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar twinning with presidential candidate Julián Castro and Hispanic Caucus Chair Joaquín Castro (D-TX).
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BET Launches Streaming Service with Tyler Perry
BET is the latest outlet to get into the streaming wars. Viacom plans to launch BET’s streaming service called BET+, according to WSJ. The upcoming service, which will launch in the fall, will feature original content from Tyler Perry, who also has a financial stake in the service. This deal expands Perry’s existing five-year production deal with Viacom. The BET streaming service will also feature content from other Viacom properties including MTV, Comedy Central, and VH1. How much will the service cost? No official word yet but, according to reports, it will be more than the $2.99-per-month for Viacom’s children-focused Noggin service. Market research shows African Americans watch more live television, on average, than other demographic groups, and watch more movies and TV shows on streaming services. BET+ will be available on Apple and Android phones, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Apple TV. It will be unveiled to viewers in a series of commercials during the BET Awards on June 23rd. More here.
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Ajit Pai Won’t Collect Diversity Data of Broadcast Staff
FCC Chair Ajit Pai recently sent Congress a letter saying he has “serious constitutional and statutory concerns” about collecting data on the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the broadcast workforce -- signaling he was unlikely to begin gathering the data. It has been 15 years since the FCC collected information from broadcasters on the gender and diversity of their staffs. Pai argued that bipartisan FCC heads have had these same constitutional concerns, “which is why the Commission has not adopted these reforms over the past decade and a half.” Regular Beat readers will recall that Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) urged the FCC to officially begin collecting the diversity data, saying that information could "empower" the commission to improve its oversight of the broadcast industry. The holdup has been whether or not to keep the information confidential, but the lawmakers said that should have been resolved by now and urged the FCC to figure it out. Groups filed a legal challenge to the FCC's media ownership deregulation under Pai, and the agency last week went to court to defend its rule changes against a challenge by Prometheus Radio Project -- which is, in part, arguing that the FCC did not sufficiently take diversity into account. The FCC told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit that the agency’s conclusion that deregulation would have no material impact on women and minority ownership diversity was reasonable and supported by “substantial evidence” -- though it doesn’t actually have the data. And though the court told the FCC to get better diversity data, the agency basically told the court additional studies would not be helpful. “[N]either the record in this proceeding nor the commission’s own efforts have produced additional study designs that we expect would develop the evidence necessary to support race- and/or gender-conscious measures.” More here.
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She the People's Aimee Allison with Congresswomen Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) in Oakland on Saturday.
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Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) last week in her Capitol Hill office with a rep from Indivisible Brooklyn.
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LA County Museum of Art Adds Trio from Obama Crew to Board
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has named financiers Mellody Hobson and Robbie Robinson to their Board. Regular Beat readers are familiar with Hobson, president of Chicago-based Ariel Investments. She’s also a regular contributor on CBS News; writes a column for Black Enterprise Magazine; serves as vice chair of the Board of Starbucks Corp.; holds the title of director of JPMorgan Chase; and a former Board chair of DreamWorks Animation. "LACMA is deeply dedicated to scholarship, engagement, and education,” Hobson said. “The museum's ambitious building project encapsulates its thoughtful, democratic approach in bringing art to every person in the region, and I look forward to being a part of the museum's transformation as it continues to anchor L.A.'s vibrant cultural landscape." Robinson is a partner at the merchant bank BDT & Company and serves as an advisor to former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Prior to BDT, the Morehouse graduate spent close to a decade at Goldman Sachs in New York and Chicago working in investment, advisory and financing capacities. "I am pleased to join this group of civic leaders who are committed to supporting LACMA and Michael Govan’s broad vision of bringing a modern arts center to life through impactful investment and a deep connection with the communities it serves,” Robinson said. They are joined by Bold and the Beautiful producer Colleen Bell, who was recently appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsome to serve as the director of the California Film Commission. She also has ties to President Obama, having served as his Ambassador to Hungary. With the trio’s election to the board, it now includes 51 trustees. More here.
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Brookings Names New VP of Development
Lucy Kim will join the Brookings Institution as VP of development, where she will work closely with the president to provide philanthropic strategy, vision, leadership, and guidance to help the institution’s research and programmatic activities achieve their financial goals. She is currently the deputy vice dean of development at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where she oversees all levels of fundraising and development strategy. Kim, who speaks Korean and English, has previously held fundraising and management responsibilities at Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. The Boston University graduate holds a Master’s from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and one from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. Kim will begin at Brookings in August 2019. More here.
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W.K. Kellogg Foundation Adds to Leadership Team
Dr. Paul Martínez has joined the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) as its chief leadership and human capital strategist. In this role, Martínez will provide executive coaching, organizational development, and capacity building, and work with the leadership team in support of WKKF leadership fellows programs and alumni. Before joining the Foundation, Martínez served as an executive coach with the Center for Creative Leadership and also owned his own consulting firm. Prior to that, he held various leadership positions with the U.S. Army, Blockbuster Music, State Farm, and USAA. The University of Colorado graduate holds a Master’s from Regis University and a Ph.D. from the University of the Rockies. He began his new role on June 3rd. More here.
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| FOMO
Wednesday, June 19th, 8A: LatinoJustice PRLDEF hosts their 10th annual Latina Trailblazers Breakfast to honor the achievements of Latina women who have paved the way for future Latina leaders. Tribeca Rooftop, 2 Desbrosses St, NY. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, June 19th, 6P: Muslim Public Affairs Council hosts its 6th Annual Empowering Voices Awards. This year's honorees include political commentator Mehdi Hasan, Yemeni American educator and activist Dr. Debbie Almontaser, and the Department of Justice's Eric Treene. Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave, N.W., DC. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, June 26th - Sunday, June 30th: The National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women's Annual Legislative Conference, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders for thought-provoking conversation around real issues that directly affect Black women and their families. Chicago, IL. Click here for more information.
Thursday, June 27th, 7P: Management Leadership for Tomorrow’s 15th Anniversary Awards Gala Dinner, celebrating underrepresented minorities who are advancing to senior leadership roles in their organizations and communities. The evening honors those working to advance African American, Latinx, and Native American women and men. Grand Hyatt, 109 E 42nd Street, NYC. Click here for more information.
Tuesday, July 9th, 6:30P: The Multicultural Media Correspondents Dinner. Honorees include Congresswoman Val Demings (D-FL). National Press Club, 529 14th St N.W., DC. Click here for more information.
Saturday, July 20th - Wednesday, July 24th: The 110th NAACP Annual Convention, convening policymakers, activists, and organizers to strategize about the work NAACP has to do to ensure that the integrity of our democracy and shape the wellbeing of our communities. Cobo Center, 1 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI. Click here for more information.Thursday, July 25th: APAICS hosts the 2019 Women’s Collective Summit, bringing powerful AAPI women together to share, to inspire, and to take bold action towards creating a more representative democracy. Pavilion, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., DC. Click here for more information.
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