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- Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) wants more access to a key HIV-prevention drug.
- A person of color now leads the nation’s largest LGBTQ lobby.
- Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) leads the charge to stop the president from launching a military strike against Iran without Congress’ approval.
- Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-NM) wants Congress to rescind the Medals of Honor for Wounded Knee Massacre.
- CNN names new VP of global programming. Read to the bottom!
- Dominican American slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo has become the first ever writer of color to win the UK’s most prestigious children’s books award. Check it out in Blogs!
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CNN's Fareed Zakaria with the Aspen Institute's Warwick Sabin in NYC earlier this month.
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Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) with a supporter at the Yemeni Day Parade in NYC earlier this month.
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Lucille Roybal-Allard and Norma Torres Aiming to Stop Family Separations and Protect Children
It has been a year since Donald Trump signed an executive order overturning his own policy of separating migrant children from their families at the U.S. southern border, which resulted in more than 2,800 children being detained and held in centers away from family. But in the 12 months since the policy reversal, another 700 children have been separated from their parents or family members and put into foster care or inhumane camps without basic sanitary necessities like toothbrushes, diapers, and soap. Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) wants to stop the practice of unnecessary family separations with two new bills she introduced on Tuesday. The Help Separated Families Act, which she introduced with Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (D-CA), would take new steps to prevent the permanent separation of children from their immigrant parents, including helping to ensure that these children can remain with other family members while their parents are detained or deported, and strengthening the likelihood that the children can ultimately be reunited with their parents. Roybal-Allard's Humane Enforcement and Legal Protection (HELP) for Separated Children Act seeks to reduce the devastating trauma inflicted on the children who are torn away from their parents by immigration officials by letting parents communicate with their children before being separated and while the parents are in ICE detention. It would also require ICE to consider the best interests of the children in the detention, release, or transfer of their parents. “As President Trump threatens to carry out a new wave of ICE raids that will lead to further heartrending separations of immigrant families, it is vital that we fight to keep families together, and support the children who are being torn from their families by this administration’s despicable family separation policies,” said Roybal-Allard. Torres added, “We should be doing everything in our power to minimize their trauma and ensure they are welcomed into the arms of a loving parent or guardian.” There are currently over five million children in the U.S. living with at least one unauthorized immigrant parent. The vast majority of these children are U.S. citizens. When parents facing detention are not given the opportunity to make arrangements for the care of their children, in addition to the avoidable trauma, the kids are needlessly taken into the custody of state or local child welfare agencies. More here.
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Deb Haaland Seeks Some Form of Restitution for Wounded Knee Massacre
The Wounded Knee Massacre -- which occurred on December 29th, 1890 -- resulted in the killing of 150–300 Native American men, women, and children of the Lakota Tribe by U.S. soldiers in the area of Wounded Knee Creek in southwestern South Dakota. At least twenty soldiers from that battle were awarded the Medal of Honor. Native American groups for years have made efforts to rescind the medals of honor calling them “medals of dishonor.” Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-NM), one of the first Native American women elected to Congress, on Tuesday introduced the Remove the Stain Act, legislation to formally retract the 20 Medals of Honor. The announcement of the legislation comes on the 143rd anniversary of the Battle of Greasy Grass, also known as the Battle of Little Big Horn. “I believe the introduction of this bill today shows the continued work and strength of the Native American people who have fought for over a century for the United States to acknowledge the genocide of our people that has taken place on this soil,” Haaland said at a press conference announcing the legislation. “It has been a privilege and an honor to help serve to raise the visibility of Native American communities, our culture, and our heritage because we remain strong through massacres like this one that we are addressing today.” Efforts to rescind these Medals of Honor have been going on for decades. Need a history lesson on what exactly happened? Brace yourselves. U.S. forces, boasting nearly 500 men and four Hotchkiss guns, rounded up the Lakota people and moved them to the Wounded Knee Creek area, where the Lakota remained peaceful. But a misfired gun led to open fire and initiated a slaughter. Soldiers dumped the bodies of men, women, and children in mass graves. The Massacre was praised by the colonizers and media. Haaland was joined in introducing the bill by Congressmen Denny Heck (D-WA) and Paul Cook (R-CA). More here.
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Ro Khanna Teams with Unlikely Ally to Block Trump from Striking Iran Without Congress’ Okay
Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) crossed the aisle on Tuesday to team up with Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) -- a staunch Donald Trump ally -- to unveil an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to stop the president from launching a military strike against Iran without Congress’ approval. The bipartisan amendment would prohibit funding for military action unless Congress has declared war or enacted another specific statutory authorization against Iran. “Last week, we watched President Trump come within minutes of striking Iran and involving the United States in yet another trillion-dollar war in the Middle East,” Khanna said. “President Trump campaigned on ending costly wars overseas, but given the advisors he chose and his recent risky actions, he is not living up to that promise.” While constitutional scholars disagree with him, Trump on Monday told Hill.TV that he does not think he needs congressional authorization to launch a military strike on Iran. This amendment would certainly clarify this further for him. Meanwhile, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and other members on Tuesday announced the No War With Iran Caucus (NWIC). The NWIC will be a home to organize, disseminate information, and help unify the Caucus behind efforts to de-escalate tensions with Iran. More here.
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Biden 2020 advisor Symone Sanders with a fellow member of The Links, Inc. at the Western Area's Under 40's event in Austin, TX this month.
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A high school constituent with Congressman Mark Takano (D-CA) on Capitol Hill this month.
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Putting a Kid Through College? Marcia Fudge’s New Bill May Impact You
Direct Parent PLUS loans are made via a federal loan program and are available to the parents of dependent eligible undergraduate students. To be eligible, the student must be enrolled at least half-time in school. In its current form, the Higher Education Act (HEA) requires any borrower that takes on this type of loan to pay interest at 4.6% or 10.5%. Borrowers are also charged a 4% origination fee. Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-OH) wants to improve this formula with legislation she reintroduced last week. The Parent PLUS Loan Improvement Act would amend the HEA and help fill the gap between Pell Grants awarded and the substantial tuition costs that often remains. “The rising costs associated with a college education already pose a significant barrier to earning a degree. Pell grants and Stafford Loans are not enough to fully cover college expenses, which can leave parents and students with a hefty financial burden,” said Fudge. “As PLUS Loan interest rates continue to climb, it is the duty of Congress to ensure parents and families are not crippled by staggering college costs. The Parent PLUS Loan Improvement Act allows for greater access, flexibility, and transparency during the student loan process, and provides much-needed relief for Parent PLUS Loan holders nationwide.” The bill would lower and cap current interest rates, allow for an income-based repayment option for families, and eliminate origination fees. More here.
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Kamala Harris Bill Aims to Create Better Access to HIV Meds
Approximately 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV, and about 15% of them (1 in 7) are unaware they are infected. The disease disproportionately impacts gay and bisexual men, transgender women, and, in particular, people of color. A breakthrough medication, pre-exposure prophylaxis -- known as PrEP, when taken daily reduces the risk of HIV infection by up to 92%. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) wants to make sure everyone who needs it has access to this medication. She introduced the PrEP Access and Coverage Act last week, which would require all public and private health insurance plans to cover the drug -- as well as all required tests and follow-up visits -- without a copay, just as the Affordable Care Act requires insurance to cover contraception and other preventive services. “For too many in our country, lack of insurance coverage and steep costs have put PrEP out of reach—and that needs to change,” said Harris. “We must also provide the resources necessary to help people without insurance access PrEP. Nearly four decades since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS crisis that took so many lives and caused countless others to live in fear, we can and will stop the spread of this disease.” The measure would also fund a public education campaign to reduce disparities in access to and use of PrEP by educating the public -- particularly high-need communities in which PrEP is underutilized -- about the safety and efficacy of the drug and to combat the stigma associated with using PrEP. And it would prohibit companies selling life insurance, disability insurance, and long-term care insurance from denying coverage to customers who take PrEP or charging them higher premiums. Those who lack access to PrEP are overwhelmingly gay men of color, especially in the South, according to the CEO of AIDS United. A generic form of PrEP is expected to enter the market in 2020, but the high cost of the medication still creates some barriers. Harris said this bill would change that. More here.
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Mazie Hirono Wants to Offer a Prize to Save Coral Reefs
Because oceans are heating so quickly, nearly all of the world’s corals are projected to be dead by 2050. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) is trying to stop that with new legislation introduced this month. The Coral Reef Sustainability Through Innovation Act, which she introduced with Congressman Ed Case (D-HI), would direct the 12 federal agencies on the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to use existing cross-agency funding to carry out a coral health prize competition. Additionally, the legislation would allow federal agencies to work with private entities to both fund and administer the prize competition. Coral reefs are currently facing a number of threats in addition to climate change -- they’re threatened bleaching, disease, overfishing, and pollution, among other issues threaten. “The waters surrounding Hawaii are home to more than 620 square miles of coral reef and a quarter of the world’s marine life, including thousands of native species found nowhere else in the world. Hawaii’s coral reefs generate nearly $800 million in economic activity each year for our state. We cannot afford to sit by as the health of our oceans continues to decline,” Hirono said. “This bill encourages federal agencies as well as the private sector to come together to find innovative solutions to help our declining reefs. Collaborative partnerships such as these are desperately needed to ensure that our marine environments and the numerous services they provide will be around for future generations.” More here.
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Inside Edition production assistant Michael Harney with The Daily Show's Roy Wood, Jr. in NYC over the weekend.
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Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) addressing the Young Invincibles 10th Anniversary conference in DC this month.
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Justice Department Sues Omarosa
The DOJ is suing former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman, alleging she failed to file a legally required financial disclosure after she was fired from her post. In a civil complaint filed in federal court in DC on Tuesday, DOJ said Manigault Newman failed to file the report -- which is required of employees who leave government jobs -- despite several emails reminding her to do so. DOJ is seeking a $50,000 penalty against the reality TV villain. But her attorney, John Phillips, accused the White House of using the Justice Department to retaliate against Manigault Newman and said allegations that she "knowingly and willfully" did not file the disclosure report are untrue. He said the White House seized several boxes from her upon her firing and, apparently, that’s where the documents are that she needs to file the report. More here.
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White House Hopefuls Probe Sinclair Deal
The Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. recently acquired 21 Regional Sports Networks and Fox College Sports from the Walt Disney Company in a deal valued at $10.6 billion. Now, White House hopefuls Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) are pressing the DOJ Antitrust Division head Makan Delrahim and FCC Chair Ajit Pai to review the Sinclair's acquisition because they are concerned the deal may result in increased prices for consumers, reduce competition in the industry, and enhance the media giant's ability to force its partisan political messaging on millions of Americans. On this final point, the lawmakers wrote that Sinclair “has an explicit interest in, and commitment to, relaying partisan political messages to its viewers — making its recent anti competitive expansion attempts into millions of additional households all the more concerning.” Sinclair owns and provides services to 191 television stations that broadcast 605 channels in 89 markets. Its local stations reach 39% of American TV households -- the max allowed by the FCC. The acquisition is not finalized and has yet to be approved by the FCC and DOJ. The Senators asked the agencies to closely scrutinize the deal prior to approval. Read the full letter here.
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Attorneys General Oppose Labor Department’s New Rule Proposal
Nineteen attorneys general sent a letter to Labor Secretary Alex Acosta on Tuesday to express their opposition to a proposed rule that would narrow the interpretation of joint employer status, in which an employer and joint employer share responsibility for an employee's pay. The proposal would complicate how states enforce labor laws and leaving millions of workers vulnerable to labor violations. If allowed to stand, the rule would hinder state AG’s ability to enforce wage and hour laws while allowing businesses to outsource labor and liability. “Based on our collective experience, we believe that the Proposed Rule does not adequately reflect today’s workplace relationships, in which growing numbers of businesses are changing organizational and staffing models by outsourcing functions to third-party management companies, independent contractors, staffing agencies, or labor providers,” the AGs wrote. The AGs argue that the proposal is inconsistent with the purpose of the Fair Labor Standards Act -- to protect workers -- and ignores more than 30 years of private sector development during which the economy and the workplace have changed. “By holding both lead businesses and subsidiary businesses responsible for wage and hour violations, the States will be better able to compel contractors, franchisees, and suppliers to meet labor standards,” the AGs wrote. “The Proposed Rule would substantially impair the enforcement of wage and hour laws by enabling employers who benefit from wage theft to escape liability. Thus, the Proposed Rule should be withdrawn.” Signatories of the letter include AGs Letitia James (NY), Xavier Becerra (CA), William Tong (CT), Karl Racine (DC), Kwame Raoul (IL), Keith Ellison (MN), Gurbir Grewal (NJ), Héctor Balderas (NM), and others. Read the full letter here.
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Women's March organizer Linda Sarsour in the UK this week.
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Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang announcing a contest to win $1000 month on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Monday in NYC.
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Majority Latinx Anti-Trump Despite GOP Claims
The GOP on Tuesday launched its effort to win over Latinx voters on Tuesday by sending VP Mike Pence, who as far as we know is not Latinx, to Florida to launch “Latinos for Trump.” During an event in Miami -- where the first Democratic presidential debates are taking place -- Pence said Trump was “a great champion of Latino and Hispanic Americans.” However, the caging and inhumane treatment of migrant children and their families at the southern border and Trump’s immigration policies and rhetoric overall have drawn significant criticism from many Latinxs. Referencing a Marist/NPR/PBS Poll, the president falsely claimed that his approval rating among Hispanics is 50%. However, he overlooked the core finding of the poll, which showed that 57% of registered voters said they would definitely vote against Trump in 2020, compared to just 30% who said they would back the president. And a UnidosUS poll released Tuesday showed a yet-to-be-determined Democrat nominee was favored 62% to 21% over Trump, while only half of self-identified Republicans said they would definitely vote for Trump. “Historically, a substantial number of Latino voters have been potential swing voters not bound by party affiliation. But it is also clear that there is a shift away from the GOP, as the Republican party has come to be seen as embracing or leading the charge on anti-immigrant and anti-Latino rhetoric and actions,” said Clarissa Martínez de Castro, UnidosUS deputy VP for policy and advocacy. Similarly, two of three Latinxs in an Univisión poll released late last week said they would vote for the Democratic candidate, even if they don’t know who that will be. While just over 18% of voters said they were undecided, 62.8% said they would vote for anyone but Trump. More on the latest poll numbers here.
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SCOTUS to Review Puerto Rico Oversight Board
The Supreme Court will consider a challenge to the Oversight Board established by Congress in response to Puerto Rico's financial crisis. Hedge funds that invested in Puerto Rican bonds won a lower court ruling in February that Oversight Board members were appointed in violation of the Constitution because they were not confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The president selects the Board's seven voting members. They, and an additional non-voting member chosen by Puerto Rico's governor, approve budgets and fiscal plans drawn up by the island's government. They’re charged with restructuring Puerto Rico’s debt and, if necessary, bankruptcy, among other responsibilities -- granting its members significant control over Puerto Rico’s fiscal future. The Board argued that its members are officers of the United States, rather than territorial officers, so they don’t need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The appeals court concluded that at least some of the Board's actions could be sustained because it was acting with apparent, if not actual, authority. Five different petitions were filed with the Supreme Court challenging different aspects of the appeals court's ruling, including a petition by the DOJ earlier this month. The Justices agreed to hear the issue in early October when its new term begins. The First Circuit gave the Board a July 15th deadline for its members to be confirmed. Donald Trump has sent the nominations to the Senate, but it’s unclear when there might be a vote and how that would affect the pending SCOTUS case. More here.
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Congressman Joaquín Castro (D-TX) discussing this week's G-20 summit on a podcast this week.
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Oprah at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Canada last week promoting her new book, The Path Made Clear.
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NFL Hosts Inaugural Diversity Summit at Morehouse College
NFL general managers, former coaches, and current college coaches met for the inaugural Quarterback Coaching Summit at Morehouse College on Monday. The program was put together by the League and the Black College Football Hall of Fame to discuss the lack of diversity among the League’s coaches. Earlier this year, the NFL fired five of their eight minority coaches. Among the four remaining minority head coaches in the League, three are Black with Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh, Anthony Lynn with the Chargers in Los Angeles, and newly hired Brian Flores with the Miami Dolphins. Carolina Panthers Coach Ron Rivera serves as the only Hispanic coach in the NFL. Only 10 of the League’s offensive and defensive coordinators are men of color. Meanwhile, nearly 80% of the league’s players are Black. There’s an exceedingly narrow path to becoming an NFL head coach, which frequently leaves Black candidates on the outside looking in. “Over the last two years, we’ve always been challenged with someone saying that there’s no talent and no pipeline. I’ve heard that,” said Troy Vincent, EVP of football operations for the NFL. “Well, they’re assembled in this room today...let’s debunk that myth of ‘they don’t exist.” Like politics, coaching gigs are about relationships. Hence, NFL execs hire people who they know which are typically people who look like them. The summit at Morehouse aims to change that. The NFL last year modified their Rooney Rule to include changes developed in consultation with several independent groups including the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which advocates for diversity and job equality in the League. "Since the inception of the Rooney Rule, we have seen the rule adopted across business sectors and considered an industry best practice to increase diversity," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. He said the changes were intended to create additional opportunities for diverse candidates to be identified, interviewed, and ultimately hired when a vacancy becomes available. There’s still work for the League to do, however. In January, a report revealed that minority coaches are leading winning teams more often than white coaches, while also landing on the hot seat more often than their white counterparts. More here.
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Human Rights Campaign Names New President
Alphonso David on Tuesday was announced as the seventh president of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), where he will head the nation’s largest LGBTQ lobby. He will join HRC after serving as counsel and deputy secretary for civil rights, the first position of its kind in the state, for NY Governor Andrew Cuomo. Prior to that, David served as special deputy attorney general for civil rights for the Office of the New York State Attorney General. “I believe that together, we can harness the strength that’s inherent in our differences, to stand together in the face of fear and division,” David said in a statement. “And that’s exactly what the Human Rights Campaign was built for.” David served previously as Deputy Commissioner and Special Counselor at the New York State Division of Human Rights, a litigation associate at the law firm Blank Rome LLP, and a staff attorney at the Lambda Legal Defense and Educational Fund. The 48-year-old University of Maryland graduate, who holds a law degree from Temple University School of Law, also served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Cardozo Law School and Fordham University Law School. “If we want to win full equality, that’s going to require us to come together, to dig deep, to be resilient, to embrace our differences, to tenaciously defend the most vulnerable among us, to fight with every ounce of determination we have. I promise you this, I will fight for each and every one of us,” David said. Of note: while David is U.S.-born, he spent part of his youth in Liberia, where his life was turned upside-down when violent political turmoil led to the assassination of his uncle -- who served as Liberia’s president. The then-14-year-old and his family escaped Liberia and settled in Baltimore. More here.
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Prudential Foundation Names President
Shané Harris has been promoted to president of Prudential Foundation. She will lead the $154 million corporate foundation, where she will oversee the financial company's recently announced commitment to provide $35 million in grants and $145 million in loans and investments to improve access to education, training, and jobs for young people ages 15 to 29 worldwide over the next six years. Harris was most recently the VP for corporate giving at Prudential Financial. Prior to joining Prudential in 2004, Harris was the director of the New Jersey Nets and Devils Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the NBA’s New Jersey Nets and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. Before that, she was a Program Director for Communities In Schools of Newark. The Columbia University graduate holds a Master’s from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service. More about her here.
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Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) centered by co-hosts of The Breakfast Club, Charlamagne Tha God and DJ Envy.
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Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA) addressing the NALEO conference in Miami over the weekend.
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CNN Names VP of Global Programming
CNN has promoted Marcus Mabry to VP of Global Programming for CNN Digital Worldwide. Mabry will oversee all digital programming efforts across CNN's platforms and products including CNN.com, edition.CNN.com, CNN Politics, and CNN Business across mobile, social, and desktop. Prior to joining CNN, Mabry worked for Twitter, where he oversaw TwitterMoments for the U.S. and Canada. He also previously worked for almost a decade at The New York Times as an international business editor, digital editor, and national politics editor. Prior to his tenure at The Times, the Stanford University graduate worked for almost two decades at Newsweek as a correspondent in Washington, Paris, and Johannesburg; the chief of correspondents; and as a foreign editor. Mabry is also a co-founder of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) LGBTQ Task Force and is the former national secretary of the NLGJA. Fluent in French and English, he is the president of the Overseas Press Club of America and a celebrated author. His promotion comes as NABJ has pressed CNN for its lack of diversity in its C-Suite. Regular Beat readers will recall that last week CNN promoted Johnita Due to SVP and chief diversity & inclusion officer of its Sports & News Division. More here.
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| FOMO
Wednesday, June 26th, 9A-5P: Chairman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Congressman A. Donald McEachin (D-VA), and the House Natural Resources Committee will host an all-day Congressional Convening on Environmental Justice to mobilize support for environmental justice and spur legislative action. U.S. Capitol Visitors Center, 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.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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