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- Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) wants to help more students of color study abroad.
- #TBT: We’re throwin’ it back to our first interview with Julián Castro and more. Read to the bottom!
- Helping an aging loved one? Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (D-CA) introduced a bill that may help.
- The nation’s largest labor union just named a new executive director.
- Get this: a woman in AL was indicted for murder after being shot and miscarrying her baby. And the shooter went free. Get this story in Blogs.
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|  | Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-NM) with a supporter at the Congressional Women’s softball game last week in DC.
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Obama Foundation's My Brother's Keeper's Michael Smith with Dr. Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, last week in FL.
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Cities with Innovative Transportation Solutions May Get Cash Under Catherine Cortez Masto Bill
Traffic can be a pain in the E-ZPass. The average commuter wastes 42 hours and $960 snarled in traffic each year, according to a recent study from the Auto Insurance Center. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) contends that technological advances must be able to ease the congestion. She introduced the Moving and Fostering Innovation to Revolutionize Smarter Transportation (Moving FIRST) Act last week, which would create a competitive grant program for large and medium-sized cities as well as rural communities to seek federal grants for the creation of efficient, creative and innovative transportation projects. “My legislation promotes more innovative problem solving by allowing local communities to compete for grants that allow them to address local transportation challenges,” Cortez Masto said. The measure would authorize the 2015 Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Cities Challenge program, a competitive grant program once administered by the Department of Transportation. This grant program would direct these communities to find innovative solutions to a variety of transportation challenges faced by communities including reducing congestion, helping first responders to assist public safety, and improving the environment. Allocations under the Moving FIRST Act would award large- and mid-sized cities two awards annually, up to $50 million per jurisdiction of each size, capped at $80 million total annually. Rural community and regional partnerships could get two awards annually, totaling up to $20 million total, with a requirement that no less than 20% of the available funding goes to rural projects. Cortez Masto was joined in the bill’s introduction by Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Cory Gardner (R-CO). More here.
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Eddie Bernice Johnson Aims to Help Students of Color Study Abroad
The number of Americans studying abroad has tripled over the last two decades as students increasingly see the academic, social, and professional advantages of overseas experiences, and university officials shore up their international programs in response. However, for low-income students who can’t afford things like passport fees, traveling overseas to study is not an option. Unless, that is, new legislation from Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) passes. She introduced the Passport Assistance for Disadvantaged Students Act on Wednesday with Congressman Don Young (R-AK). “This legislation intends to break down systematic barriers which prevent certain students from studying abroad while in college. The opportunity to travel and learn in a foreign country allows students to advance their studies in a globalized environment,” said Johnson. “I believe all students should have equal access to opportunities like study abroad regardless of race or socioeconomic status. This is why I am proud to introduce this bill.” The measure would establish a pilot program between the Department of Education, the Department of State, and three public universities -- including one HBCU and one Hispanic-Serving Institution. Students at these designated universities who receive Pell Grants and are accepted for a study abroad program would have the opportunity to receive a U.S. passport at no cost. The school would cover the upfront cost, and the Department of State would reimburse the institution after they have reported relevant information to the Department of Education. At the end of this pilot program, the two agencies would submit a report to Congress about the program and consider a potential expansion to a broader population of students. More here.
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G.K. Butterfield Targets Robocalling Scammers
You’ve likely experienced a robocall in the last 24 hours. They’re infuriating and often part of a scam. Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) wants to track efforts by phone service providers to trace and stop illegal robocalls. The Tracing Back and Catching Unlawful Robocallers Act would require the FCC to publish an annual report on the telecommunication industry’s efforts to trace suspected illegal robocalls to their origins and provide a list of voice service providers who are not sufficiently participating in efforts to stop illegal calls. "These fraudulent calls are not only disruptive and annoying, they have the potential to expose citizens to costly financial scams,” Butterfield said. “The crooks behind these criminal calling operations are growing more sophisticated and efficient by the day. Some can make thousands of calls to thousands of numbers in a matter of seconds. Unlawful robocalls cannot be allowed to continue unchecked.” More here.
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Earth, Wind, & Fire's Verdine White with former White House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers in Chicago on Tuesday.
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Congressman Juan Vargas (D-CA) cheering on the U.S. team as they participate in the FIFA Women's World Cup from his Capitol Hill office last week.
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Cedric Richmond and Anthony González Want to Help Students Get JOBS
America spends $139 billion on federal student aid each year, but only 14% goes to skills training programs for students. This creates a gap in workforce development since approximately 80% of jobs require some form of postsecondary education or training. Congressmen Cedric Richmond (D-LA) and Anthony González (R-OH) are hoping to address this issue with their bipartisan bill, the Jumpstart Our Businesses By Supporting Students (JOBS) Act. The measure would help students access training for the 7.3 million vacant jobs that are unfilled in part due to a shortage of qualified workers. The JOBS Act would close this “skills-gap” by expanding Pell Grant eligibility to cover high-quality and rigorous short-term job training programs so workers can afford the skills training and credentials that are in high demand in today’s job market. “The demand for a skilled workforce far exceeds the supply in today’s economy,” said Richmond. “In an evolving workforce, we must work to meet the needs of middle-skill jobs. The JOBS Act accomplishes that goal and makes a meaningful investment in the development of America’s talent.” Under current law, Pell Grants -- needs-based grants for low-income and working students -- can only be applied toward programs that are over 600 clock hours or at least 15 weeks in length, even though many job training programs are shorter term. “With employers clamoring for more qualified employees, these jobs are untapped opportunities for our workers, our students and our children,” said González. “The JOBS Act is critical.” More here.
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Linda Sánchez’s New Bill Would Help Keep Aging Loved Ones in the Comfort of Their Own Home
Dealing with aging parents is so very challenging, especially if you have limited means. Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (D-CA) has introduced a bill that she hopes would provide relief to families trying to keep their aging loved ones at home. She introduced the Community-Based Independence for Seniors Act on Tuesday, which is aimed at creating a new Community-Based Institutional Special Needs Plan demonstration program that would target home and community-based services to low-income Medicare beneficiaries who need help with activities of daily living. “Seniors and their families have to make difficult decisions when it comes to deciding whether or not to stay in the comfort of their home or move into a nursing home. I know this reality firsthand,” Sánchez said. “This bill would enable seniors to maintain their independence by providing them with the home and community-based services they need to thrive.” Without community-based long-term services and supports -- which are not typically covered by Medicare -- seniors frequently experience negative health outcomes, lose their ability to live independently, and often turn to Medicaid for coverage of long-term care expenses. This bill would allow seniors to receive services specific to their needs, such as home-delivered meals, transportation services, adult day care services, and homemaker services. By targeting services to at-risk seniors, this bill would also help keep federal and state governments’ costs down as seniors under this program would not need to deplete their resources to be eligible for Medicaid in order to receive home and community-based services. Joining Sánchez in introducing the bipartisan bill were Congressmen Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and Mike Kelly (R-PA). Read the legislation here.
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Raúl Ruíz Wants to Put an End to Surprise Medical Bills
Among people with health insurance, one in five working-age Americans reports having problems paying medical bills in the past year that often cause serious financial challenges and changes in employment and lifestyle, according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation/New York Times survey. The situation is even worse among people who are uninsured: half (53%) face problems with medical bills, bringing the overall total to 26%. To help fight surprise medical bills, Congressman Raúl Ruíz (D-CA) has introduced the bipartisan Protecting People from Surprise Medical Bills Act, legislation that will protect patients from unfair and expensive surprise medical bills. Ruíz crossed the aisle to introduce the new bill with fellow doctor and Congressman Phil Roe (R-TN). The legislation would protect patients from surprise bills by adopting an arbitration model -- similar to a measure adopted by New York State in 2015 -- which according to a 2018 study, saw out-of-network bills declined 34% just three years after the state passed arbitration legislation. Patients would be held harmless for unanticipated costs arising from emergency care or care where they reasonably should have believed that the care they received was in-network. If providers and insurers cannot agree on a payment rate, they must engage in an independent dispute resolution process (IDR). Under IDR, insurers and providers submit the best estimate of the cost for the patient’s care to a neutral arbiter, who chooses the fairer price. This model creates an incentive for both parties to choose reasonable numbers to cover the cost of treatment. “Our bill creates the most fair and transparent system to end surprise bills – without picking winners or losers. This bill is the best solution to protect middle-class families from the severe anxiety, depression, and financial ruin that can result from receiving an unexpected and very expensive bill from an out-of-network provider,” Ruíz said. The legislation is building bipartisan support, with a total of 32 original cosponsors from both sides of the aisle on key committees of jurisdiction, including Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) and Donna Shalala (D-FL). “The Protecting People from Surprise Medical Bills Act is gaining momentum because it includes the strongest patient protections of any surprise billing legislation proposed in the House or Senate,” Ruíz added. More here.
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Latino Victory co-founder actress Eva Longoria Bastón leaving NYC last week.
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The Daily Show's Jaboukie Young-White in business casual garb while filming a skit during Pittsburgh, PA's Pride Parade this month.
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Obamas' First Netflix Film Premieres in August
American Factory, the first Netflix project produced by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, will debut August 21st, the streaming service announced Wednesday. The documentary focuses on post-industrial Ohio, where a Chinese billionaire opens a new factory in the husk of an abandoned General Motors plant, hiring 2,000 blue-collar Americans. Early days of hope and optimism give way to setbacks as high-tech China clashes with working-class America. The Obamas were impressed by the movie following the film’s 2019 Sundance premiere. The couple, who launched their Netflix-partnered Higher Ground Productions last spring “to harness the power of storytelling,” inked a multiyear deal with Netflix in 2018 to produce films and series. “We are drawn to stories that celebrate the human spirit through struggles and triumphs,” Higher Ground co-heads Tonia Davis and Priya Swaminathan told IndieWire. Higher Ground’s slate is focused on inspirational projects that touch on a variety of subjects including race, class, democracy, civil rights, and more. Among the Obamas’ initial Netflix projects is an adaptation of Michael Lewis’ The Fifth Risk and a Frederick Douglass biopic. More here.
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$300M for Minority-Owned Businesses Given to Companies Owned by Whites Claiming Native American Heritage
An investigation by the Los Angeles Times found the federal government and authorities in 18 states have awarded more than $300 million to white-owned companies despite the funds being authorized under minority contracting programs. The owners made unsubstantiated claims of being Native American. In applying for the minority programs, 12 of the 14 business owners involved claimed membership in one of three self-described Cherokee groups. However, those three groups -- the Northern Cherokee Nation, the Western Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri, and the Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory, which are all based in Missouri -- have no government recognition and are considered illegitimate by recognized tribes and Native American experts. “It’s infuriating,” said Rocky Miller, a MO state lawmaker and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. “They’re enriching themselves based on a nonexistent recognition.” The LAT’s investigators reached out to the companies it identified as well as the jurisdictions that certified their minority-owned status. In response to questions from the outlet, St. Louis officials held a hearing earlier this month and moved to strip five contractors of their minority status. And in California, a Times investigation last year uncovered that a company owned by in-laws of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) -- whose brother-in-law claims membership in one of the three unrecognized groups -- won more than $7 million in federal contracts. Most of the work awarded was for military projects in and around McCarthy’s district, including projects he championed in Congress. McCarthy and William Wages, whose sister is married to McCarthy, said they did nothing wrong. Wages claims to be one-eighth Cherokee though Census and birth records by the LAT dating to 1850 show no Cherokees among his ancestors. In another case, the Times reports that the Small Business Administration continued to approve members of the Northern Cherokee Nation as minority contractors even after another federal agency, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, barred the group since at least 2003 from selling their wares as Native American-made because it is not a recognized tribe. “It’s taking those resources not just from our community, but from all communities of color,” said Rebecca Nagle, a community organizer and citizen of the Cherokee Nation. “It’s really problematic.” Read the LAT’s in-depth investigation here.
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Hip-hop's first billionaire, JAY-Z, when he was in elementary school circa the 1970s.
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Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA) (right) with his father on graduation day in the 1980s.
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Queens Political Upset in the Horizon
Political newcomer Tiffany Cabán, a NY public defender, is poised to win Tuesday’s Democratic primary in the Queens district attorney race. As of now, the results are still too close to call but Cabán is claiming victory. With 98% of the vote reported, progressive nuyorican led Queens borough president Melinda Katz in a razor-thin 1,229-vote margin, in a field of six candidates. “When we started this thing, they said I was too young. They said I didn’t look like a district attorney,” Cabán said Tuesday at her election-night party. “They said we could not build a movement from the grassroots. They said we could not win. But we did it, y’all.” About 3,400 absentee ballots remain to be counted. The final results may not be known until July 3rd, according to the New York Times. “I am a 31-year-old, queer Latina public defender whose parents grew up in the Woodside Housing projects,” she continued. “And I decided to run. I ran because for too long, too many communities in Queens hadn’t had a fair shot in our criminal justice system.” Cabán says the criminal justice system is rigged against the poor and she campaigned as a “decarceral” prosecutor, promising to oppose the construction of new jails, end cash bail, decriminalize sex work, subway turnstile jumping, and other crimes of poverty, and set up an internal unit to review wrongful convictions. The 2008 Penn State graduate, who completed NYU law school in 2012, was endorsed by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). More here.
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Financial Abuse Allegations Rock Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló asked Treasury Secretary Raúl Maldonado to resign following comments Maldonado made to a local radio station claiming there was an "institutional mafia" and that people tried to bribe him multiple times. Maldonado was also Puerto Rico's chief financial officer and director of the Office of Budget and Management. Rosselló said he wasn't firing Maldonado because of the comments, rather because he lost confidence in him. The governor said they were serious allegations and ordered an investigation, saying "Maldonado must present all evidence he has to justice officials.” Maldonado’s firing Tuesday set off a series of events including allegations of corruption leveled at the governor by Maldonado’s son. In a social media post, Maldonado’s son alleged Rosselló had ordered that an audit requested by his father looking into a foundation with ties to Rosselló's wife be altered. The audit -- which looked into the alleged mishandling of supplies meant for Hurricane Maria survivors -- ultimately found no wrongdoing. Rosselló’s wife had served as the foundation’s spokesperson and played no role in its management. Puerto Rico Justice Secretary Wanda Vázquez ordered Maldonado to meet with prosecutors on Friday to give them evidence to support the bribery claims; his son was ordered to appear next week. The FBI would not confirm or deny any investigations, but last month, it arrested the executive director of Puerto Rico's Senate Office of Government Affairs and two advisors accused of creating an alleged billing scheme for professional services never rendered. More here.
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Racial Slurs Not Investigated by NYPD
There were at least 2,495 complaints from members of the public about biased policing based on race, national origin, sexual orientation, and other classifications filed between 2014 and the end of 2018, the New York Police Department of Investigation and NYPD Inspector General Philip Eure found. Yet, NYPD officials confirmed this month that the Department has never substantiated an allegation of biased policing. Complaints generally accused cops of taking or failing to take an action, such as making an arrest, because of someone's race, gender, sexual orientation, or other protected status, officials said. But, shockingly, the probe found that the NYPD doesn't investigate cases of cops using racial slurs or other offensive language as biased policing. The ACLU found in 2018, that the NYPD stopped more young Black men than there are young Black men living in the city. The inspector general's office examined a sample of 888 biased policing complaints filed between late 2014 and early 2017. Among those, 68% accused cops of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color or national origin, the report says. Black people filed about 66% of those allegations, according to the report. The NYPD determined nearly two thirds, or 569, of the reviewed complaints were "unfounded.” The inspector general's found evidence of cops misclassifying bias complaints and failing to conduct interviews with officers and complainants involved. The report made 23 suggestions to improve the city’s handling of the complaints, including amending department rules to categorize the use of racial slurs and other offensive language associated with a protected status as “bias policing,” according to the NY Post. More here.
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New Mexico Governor Michelle Luján Grisham centered by constituents in Alburquerque this month.
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CBS News' Michelle Miller with chef Lior Lev Sercarz in NYC last week.
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Kim Anderson Named Executive Director of NEA
The National Education Association (NEA) on Wednesday announced that Kim Anderson would serve as the next executive director of the organization. Anderson will become the first woman and person of color to serve in the ED role at the NEA, which is America’s largest union, representing more than three million educators. She currently oversees the management of the Democracy Alliance’s programs, staff, and budget. Anderson returns to the NEA, where she worked for over 15 years -- most recently as senior director of the Center for Advocacy & Outreach at the NEA. Prior to that role, she directed the government relations department and served as a manager for issue advocacy in the campaigns and elections department. Before joining the NEA, Anderson served as deputy legislative director and counsel to former VA Senator Charles Robb. She has also worked at the law firm of Covington and Burling. The College of William and Mary graduate received her law degree from George Washington University, where she was the first African American woman to serve as president of the Student Bar Association. “The pursuit of education equity and excellence has always been my greatest passion and I am committed to building on NEA’s strategic vision through collaborative partnerships with our leaders, staff, affiliates, and our many allies. Together, we’ll strengthen our culture of organizing and our commitment to be an active steward of our civic and democratic norms,” Anderson said. More here.
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The Leadership Conference Names Head of Field and Member Services
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and The Leadership Conference Education Fund have named Vanessa N. González as EVP of field and member services. In this role, she will work to maximize the coalition’s reach and effectiveness at the local, state, and federal levels. González was most recently the assistant VP for strategy and outreach for Southern New Hampshire University. Previously, she worked as the associate director for work and family advocacy at the Center for American Progress; served as the director of outreach and engagement in the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs for the Obama Department of Education; was director of Latino leadership and engagement for Planned Parenthood Federation of America; served in the administration of former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano; was communications director for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; and held various high-profile political campaign positions, among other experiences. The Sul Ross State University graduate -- who holds a Master’s from Arizona State University -- is currently on the Boards of Inclusv and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. More here.
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Affordable Housing Org Names New CEO
Priscilla Almodovar has been named CEO of Enterprise Community Partners, a nonprofit organization that works with partners nationwide to finance, build and advocate for affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families. Almodovar was a managing director and co-head of the Real Estate Banking business at JPMorgan Chase. Prior to that, she led Community Development Banking at JPMC and served on its Real Estate Council. Previously, the Hofstra University graduate -- who holds a law degree from Columbia University -- was the CEO and president of the New York State Housing Finance Agency/State of New York Mortgage Agency during the Great Recession and before that, a corporate partner at White & Case LLP, a global law firm. “Enterprise has always been an important voice on issues of opportunity, inequality and housing. And these issues are personal to me. I still remember as a 5-year-old moving into our first home. My family’s house was in a working-class Puerto Rican neighborhood in Brooklyn, connected to solid public schools, doctors, transit and more. Today, there are too many families being left behind. ... I look forward to continuing my career by helping others at Enterprise,” Aldomovar said. More here.
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Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) with a young supporter in Detroit last week.
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Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) speaking at a housing forum she hosted in Inglewood, CA over the weekend.
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| NEW TO THE BEAT? WE'RE THROWING IT BACK TO SOME OF OUR OLDER STORIES...
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Julián Castro Talks 2020
Back in February 2018, The Beat DC hosted a podcast and sat down with Julián Castro -- who was then just pondering a run for president. He also talked 2018 midterms, which candidates he supported with his then-new PAC, and who he thinks is the GOAT: Tyson or Ali?
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Straight Outta Compton ... Straight Into the Library of Congress (August 2017)
Straight Outta Compton -- the groundbreaking album from rap group N.W.A. and a one-time flashpoint in the nation's culture wars -- has been selected for the prestigious National Recording Registry. The album was one of 25 additions to the registry announced Wednesday by the Library of Congress. The 1988 album influenced a generation of rappers with its raw lyrics about gang violence and the drug trade in south central Los Angeles. Even without radio play, it achieved platinum sales. The track "F--- tha Police" was denounced by right-wing politicians and prompted a warning letter from the FBI to the group’s record label. The album was also one of the first to receive a parental advisory label for explicit content. "NWA helped create a new type of music that reflected the experiences of the artists who produced it, whose voices had been less heard in the world of hip-hop but especially in the broader context of America at that time," said Carla Hayden, the first African American Librarian of Congress. "So it changed the whole genre of hip-hop and people's perception of it. All of the items on the registry reflect their times in some way, and this is no exception." More here.
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Eric Holder Goes to Hollywood (September 2017)
Eric Holder is going to Hollywood! The first Black man to assume the role of Attorney General teamed with top producer Jerry Bruckheimer for Main Justice, a legal drama series project, which has been set up at CBS. Inspired by Holder’s life and work, the show will be centered around the Attorney General and will take viewers into the tumultuous world of the 5th floor of the DOJ where he takes on the biggest legal and investigative cases in the country, all while being the youngest person to ever hold such an esteemed position. Bokeem Woodbine will play the Holder-inspired character. More here.
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| FOMO
Today - 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.
Today, 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.Wednesday, July 24th - Saturday, July 27th: The National Urban League hosts its 2019 Annual Conference, Getting 2 Equal: United Not Divided. NUL will host the nation's leading political, business, and community leaders to convene, share ideas, and discover solutions to issues that have historically plagued underserved urban communities across the country. Indianapolis, IN. 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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