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- Congresswoman Verónica Escobar (D-TX) calls on Donald Trump to apologize to El Paso.
- SC Dem Jaime Harrison takes major step to run for Senate.
- NM lawmakers aim to preserve Native American languages.
- CBS News names new leadership amid diversity issues.
- Congressman Anthony Brown (D-MD) aims to reverse transgender troop ban.
- Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) fills a senior post in her office. Read to the bottom!
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Film director Spike Lee with British fashion designer Ozwald Boateng on Friday in London. | |  |
CNN en Español’s María Elena Requena last month at WAWA’s 2019 Celebration Gala in Miami Beach, FL. | |
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Hispanic Caucus Calls on Homeland Security Conference to Limit ICE and CBP Funding
Talks between Senate and House members to avoid another government shutdown appeared to stall over the weekend. At issue is not only the amount for Donald Trump’s border wall, but Democrats are also trying to limit the number of detention beds that the ICE would have as a way to limit aggressive detention activities. Part of that push came from members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) last week when they urged their colleagues on the Homeland Security Conference to oppose increases in funding for ICE and CBP. Led by CHC Chair Joaquín Castro (D-TX), 21 members of the CHC sent a letter specifically asking the conferees to limit ICE and CBP’s ability to transfer or reprogram funds from other accounts in order to build a wall or border barriers, increase detention, or ramp up enforcement. “Rather than reward CBP and ICE for the agencies’ fiscal mismanagement and deliberate defiance of congressional intent and the Constitution—not to mention their long list of human rights and civil liberties abuses—we ask our colleagues to hold these agencies accountable through the appropriations process.” they wrote. “Providing DHS with a blank check for more enforcement resources would vindicate President Trump’s so-called “crisis” at our southern border and fortify his out-of-control detention and deportation force. At a time when the country is deeply disturbed by the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant agenda, we cannot miss this opportunity to rein in the agency chiefly responsible for carrying it out.” Read the full letter here.
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Anthony Brown Intros Bill to Reverse Transgender Troop Ban
A recent Quinnipiac poll found that 70% of American voters say that transgender people should be allowed to serve in the military; Congressman Anthony Brown (D-MD) -- a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve -- agrees. Brown and a bipartisan, bicameral group of colleagues on Thursday introduced legislation to protect the rights of transgender individuals who are qualified and meet standards to join and also serve openly in the armed services. The bill follows the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Department of Defense to implement Donald Trump’s discriminatory ban on open transgender service. “The President’s bigoted decision to ban transgender Americans from serving in the military, carries with it echoes of some of the most ignorant, intolerant moments in our history that saw women, black Americans, gays and lesbians barred from fully participating in our Armed Forces,” said Brown. “Transgender servicemembers are serving honorably right now, and their service should neither be undermined nor diminished.” Brown was joined in the bill’s introduction by Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA), Joseph Kennedy (D-MA), John Katko (R-NY), and Susan Davis (D-CA). Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced an identical bill in the Senate. More here.
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Verónica Escobar Calls on Donald Trump to Apologize to El Paso
Congresswoman Verónica Escobar (D-TX) is demanding Donald Trump correct the record on his misleading State of the Union remarks about El Paso and to apologize to its people. In a letter sent last week, Escobar also called on the president to visit the location where Felipe Alonzo Gómez -- the eight-year-old boy who died last December -- was apprehended as well as points of entry. She also encouraged Trump, who’s holding a MAGA rally in El Paso this evening to drum up support for his border wall, to meet with migrant rights and legal advocates and visit the El Paso Processing Center where nine detainees on a hunger strike are being force-fed. “El Paso has never been one of the most ‘dangerous cities’ in the country, and our safety and security has long been a point of pride. These distortions about our vibrant community are harmful to our reputation and degrade our spirit,” Escobar wrote. The data is on her side. Every year from 1985 to 2014, El Paso’s violent crime rate was significantly lower than the average for all localities of similar size. Border authorities added fencing in the El Paso region in the late 2000s. In the immediate years before and after construction, the violent crime rate went up, contrary to Trump’s claim. Activists in El Paso are planning a counter-rally, where potential 2020 candidate Beto O'Rourke is planning to speak, which is expected to match or surpass the attendance of Trump’s rally. Read the full letter here.
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HI Governor David Ige last week with a Hawaiʻi Job Corp culinary teacher at the American Job Center Hawaiʻi open house. | |  |
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) on Tuesday ahead of Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. | |
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Lawmakers Aim to Preserve Native American Languages
Native language revitalization work may get a boost thanks to a new bill introduced in the Senate. The Esther Martínez Native American Languages Programs Reauthorization Act aims to strengthen Tribally-developed Native American language revitalization programs and to improve the grant program that funds a variety of language learning activities such as Native language immersion and language teacher training. The bill is named after Esther Martínez, an Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo traditional storyteller and Tewa language advocate who passed away in 2006. There were once more than 300 indigenous languages spoken in the U.S. and approximately 175 remain today. The effect of European settlement was a deleterious one to Native American language and culture -- and that’s putting it very mildly. Without restoration efforts, there will be at most 20 still spoken in 2050. This legislation to preserve these languages was introduced by the New Mexico delegation of Democratic lawmakers: Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, and Representatives Ben Ray Luján, Deb Haaland, and Xochitl Torres Small. “The preservation of language is essential to the sovereignty and continuation of the rich history and cultural traditions of Native and tribal communities. Yet, too many Native languages will face extinction in the coming decades without sustained intervention,” said Luján. Haaland, one of the first Native American women elected to Congress and member of the Pueblo of Laguna, weighed in touting the need for resources: “The resilience of Indigenous culture lies in keeping our languages and traditions alive, but many times the resources needed to continue those cultural education programs is lacking or completely absent.” Torres Small added, “I’m proud to join the New Mexico delegation to honor Esther Martinez’s legacy and ensure our Native and tribal languages live on and are passed down to future generations.” More here.
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Members to New Climate Crisis Committee Announced
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Thursday announced the Democratic members of the new House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, which will spearhead Democrats’ work to develop solutions to prevent and reverse the climate crisis. Among those named to the Committee is Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), who has introduced multiple bills in Congress to address climate change, including legislation that would create a national renewable energy standard; Congressman Mike Levin (D-CA), who worked as an attorney focused on energy and environmental issues and served on the board of the Center for Sustainable Energy before joining Congress in 2018; Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO), who before coming to Congress in 2018 led Colorado’s consumer protection agency and co-founded New Era Colorado, a nonprofit organization committed to climate and clean energy issues; and Congressman Donald McEachin (D-VA), who co-founded and co-chairs the United for Climate and Environmental Justice Task Force; co-chairs the House Democratic Environmental Message Team; co-chairs the Congressional Black Caucus’ Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force; and serves as Vice-Chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. Other Democratic members include Suzanne Bonamici (OR), Julia Brownley (CA), Sean Casten (IL), and Jared Huffman (CA). A notable omission? Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), the House author of the Green New Deal, who said she already had too many commitments to have joined the new Committee when asked if she had been snubbed. More here.
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Bob Menéndez Intros Bill to Address Country’s Doctor Shortage
One of the most dire health-care crisis in the country today is this: there aren’t enough doctors to go around. The U.S. will face a shortage of anywhere between 42,600 and 121,300 physicians by 2030, according to a study released by the Association of American Medical Colleges. Senator Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) is aiming to address that with new legislation that he says would increase Medicare-supported doctor training slots by 15,000. “With an older physician workforce, and an aging population overall, the demand for qualified doctors in New Jersey is quickly outpacing supply,” said Menéndez. “We simply have far too few medical school students and physician residents in the training pipeline in order to catch up.” In 1997, the Balanced Budget Act created an arbitrary cap on the number of Medicare-funded graduate medical education (GME) positions. Menéndez’s bill, the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act, would increase the number of GME positions nationwide by 3,000 a year for five years. The measure also requires the Comptroller General to conduct a study on strategies for increasing health professional workforce diversity. “If we’re going to meet the future needs of our residents and ensure access to quality health care, we must close the gap by lifting the arbitrary cap–quickly,” Menéndez said. He is joined by Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in the bill’s introduction. More here.
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Singer Joy Villa, whose only album sold less than 30K copies, on Sunday wearing a 'Build The Wall' dress at the Grammy's. | |  |
Journalist Luz Peña last month on her last day at Univisión studios. | |
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South Carolina Democrat Explores Senate Challenge
Jaime Harrison, the former Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party and first African American to hold the position, formally announced an exploratory committee Friday to potentially challenge Republican Senator Lindsey Graham for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Should he unseat Graham, South Carolina would have two African American Senators -- albeit from different parties. Harrison would join Republican Tim Scott, the GOP’s sole African American in the upper chamber. Harrison’s chances depend largely on how much money he can raise in a state where no Democrat has won a statewide race since 2006. He said he believes a successful candidate may need $10 million to win next year's race. Graham, who chairs the influential Senate Judiciary Committee, has more than $3 million in cash on hand. “South Carolina is a hard nut to crack for a Democrat, and nobody knows that better than me,” Harrison said. “But my passion has been how we make this state and all of the South competitive again for both parties.” Harrison is the author of the recent book Climbing the Hill, along with Republican staffer Amos Snead. In 2017, the South Carolina native ran unsuccessfully for national Chair of the DNC. He eventually ended his campaign and endorsed current Chair Tom Pérez, accepting a position as Associate Chairman and Counselor of the DNC. The 43-year-old Yale graduate, who earned his law degree from Georgetown, became involved in politics working for Congressman Jim Clyburn (D-SC) as his Floor Director of Operations while Clyburn was the Majority Whip. He also previously worked as a Lobbyist for the Podesta Group. Watch his campaign launch video here.
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New Lawmakers of Color Make DCCC’s Vulnerable Members Roster
Chair of the House Democratic campaign arm, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL), announced the 44 members of the DCCC’s 2019-2020 Frontline Program -- members they consider to be the most vulnerable. In a statement, the DCCC said it is determined to build a majority that lasts, and that this effort hinges on holding onto these members holding onto tough seats and winning re-election in 2020. Among the 44 members named to the program, 13 are first-term members of color: TJ Cox (CA); Gil Cisneros (CA); Mike Levin (CA); Jahana Hayes (CT); Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL); Lucy McBath (GA); Lauren Underwood (IL); Sharice Davids (KS); Andy Kim (NJ); Xochitl Torres Small (NM); Steven Horsford (NV); Antonio Delgado (NY); and Colin Allred (TX). All of these members sans Hayes were recently announced as targets by the House Republican campaign arm, the NRCC. Representatives Ami Bera (D-CA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), and Brad Schneider (D-IL) are co-chairing the Frontline Program. See the full list here.
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National Nuclear Security Administration Administrator Lisa Gordon-Hagerty and NM Governor Michelle Luján Grisham discussing ways to create more jobs. | |  |
Political commentator Kurt Bardella and MSNBC Contributor Dr. Jason Johnson on Saturday on set of AM Joy in DC. | |
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Kamala Harris Names National Deputy Political Director
Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) has named Jalisa Washington-Price as her South Carolina State Director and National Deputy Political Director. Regular Beat readers know that Washington-Price recently left the her role as Chief of Staff at the DCCC -- a role she held for about two months. While at the DCCC, she also served as the Director of their diversity office, where she was in charge of efforts to recruit minority staffers and helped run the DCCC's minority voter engagement program. While at the DCCC, Washington-Price served as an advisor for members of Congress and senior staff in the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Prior to joining the DCCC, she held a variety of roles on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, including as South Carolina Political Director as well as Regional Political Director and Ohio Women's Vote Director. The 2010 University of South Carolina graduate began her career as the Public and Government Affairs Director at Austin & Rogers in South Carolina. “Having a chance to come back to my beloved state of South Carolina, I wanted to align myself with a candidate that I think could win but also has a message that I think could resonate in South Carolina and throughout the country,” Washington-Price said. South Carolina is a crucial state for White House contenders -- it’s one of several key early-state presidential primaries. Its sizable African American population is also a highly sought after voting bloc. Hence, the State Director post is a critical one. More here.
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John Delaney Hires National Press Secretary
2020 Democratic presidential candidate and former MD Congressman John Delaney has hired Michael Starr Hopkins as his National Press Secretary. Hopkins was most recently a Senior Strategist at CateComm, where he consulted on Andrew Gillum’s gubernatorial campaign and was also the Communications Director for Florida Attorney General candidate, Sean Shaw. The Democratic strategist explored a primary challenge to Senator Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) in 2018 but withdrew shortly after filing. Prior to joining CateComm, Hopkins worked for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, Legal Aid Society of NYC, the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, and more. Hopkins graduated from Eckerd College in 2009 and earned his law degree from Florida Coastal School of Law and LLM at Yeshiva University. Delaney was the first to declare a 2020 White House bid; he declared his candidacy in July 2017. More here.
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Al Green Vows to Pursue Impeachment
Congressman Al Green (D-TX) is arguing that Donald Trump should be impeached for inflaming racial tensions in America. This would be the third time Green is calling for a vote on impeachment, but his first time doing so with Dems in control of the House. He previously forced House floor votes in 2017 and 2018 under a GOP-held House. “I just wanted to make it clear that there's a necessity to do this because that behavior has infected the body politic to the extent that you have the behavior in the state of Virginia,” Green told The Hill, referencing the blackface scandal that has rocked Democratic Governor Ralph Northam and the state’s Attorney General, Mark Herring. Green says the two have been emboldened “to a great extent because the Trump presidency has sent a message that you can be immune to the consequence of bigotry and power to constitutionally remove you from office.” In a speech on the House floor, he went on to say, “An argument that Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring should resign will subject us to accusations of political hypocrisy if we refuse to take on a bigoted president." So far, he has not provided any details on when he would force the vote. More here.
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Commentator Ana Navarro and actress Glenn Close on the set of The View in NYC last week. | |  |
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and Sirius XM’s Dean Obeidallah on Capitol Hill last week. | |
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Noticias Telemundo Names DC Bureau Chief
Noticias Telemundo has promoted Lori Montenegro as its DC Bureau Chief. Montenegro has spent more than a dozen years as Noticias Telemundo’s DC Correspondent. She collaborates with a number of other NBCUniversal news organizations, including NBC News and MSNBC. Before joining Noticias Telemundo, Montenegro spent three years as a DC Correspondent for 25 Univisión affiliates. From 1991 through 1993, she was a Foreign Political Affairs Correspondent for the United States Information Agency, also in the nation’s capital. “I am happy and, above all, grateful for the opportunity and vote of confidence I’ve been given,” Montenegro said. “At this historic moment in U.S. politics, taking on this post is a great responsibility. Noticias Telemundo’s priority remains the same: to elevate our community through information. Our commitment to ‘tell it like it is’ includes continuing to give voice to the concerns, opinions and, especially, achievements of millions of Latinos.” The network also named Cristina Londoño as Senior Correspondent in DC. Londono was most recently a Senior Correspondent for Noticias Telemundo’s DC Bureau. Prior to that, she served as the network’s National Correspondent in California and Miami. Before joining Telemundo, the 1991 Boston University graduate was an Editorial Director and Producer for CBS Telenoticias, and a Producer and Writer at Noticias Univisión. More here.
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CBS News Names Strategic Management Team
CBS News has announced two new top executives as part of their new strategic management team. Kimberly Godwin has been promoted to EVP of News, where she’ll be charged with editorial oversight of newsgathering around the world including the national desks, foreign desks, and bureaus. She most recently served as VP of News, and she previously was the Executive Director for Development and Diversity and Senior Broadcast Producer of the CBS Evening News. Prior to joining CBS News, Godwin spent more than 20 years as an executive and newsroom leader at major media markets across the country, including NYC, LA, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Cleveland. The 1984 Florida A&M University graduate began her career in television and radio stations in West Palm Beach and Tallahassee, FL. She’s also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. Ingrid Ciprián-Matthews will become EVP of Strategic Professional Development, focusing on recruitment and development of off-air talent to assure the organization attracts and retains the best workforce. The longtime CBS veteran most recently served as EVP of News. Prior to that, Ciprián-Matthews served in several senior positions at CBS News including as SVP of News Administration, VP of News, Senior Broadcast Producer for CBS Evening News, and Deputy Bureau Chief for the CBS News London bureau, among other roles. The 1981 Barnard College graduate is fluent in English and Spanish. CBS recently came under fire for the ongoing controversy over the network’s lack of Black reporters slated to cover the 2020 presidential race. The network’s leadership, including Godwin, met with Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) -- whom they assured that they will unveil a more diverse and inclusive slate of African American journalists and journalists from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. More about them here.
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2020 presidential candidate Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) on Friday campaigning in Iowa. | |  |
Actor and director Malcolm-Jamal Warner with Matter of Fact’s Soledad O’Brien at the National Education Association Foundation Gala in DC over the weekend. | |
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Longtime House GOP Aide Heads to Energy Department
Raj Bharwani has joined the Department of Energy as a Chief of Staff. The longtime Republican staffer will help lead the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, which is the division responsible for preventing and responding to energy-sector attacks and disasters. Bharwani spent nearly 20 years with the House, where he most recently served as Deputy Staff Director of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee's Research and Technology Subcommittee. Previously, the University of Vermont graduate was the Staff Director and a professional staffer on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee’s Oversight Subcommittee; a staffer on the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming; Deputy Chief of Staff and Press Secretary to Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI); and a Legislative Assistant to former WI Congressman Tom Petri. More about him here.
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Ayanna Pressley Names Communications Director
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) has named Kalina Francis as her new Communications Director. Francis most recently worked as a Senior Account Supervisor for Financial Communications & Capital Markets at Edelman. Prior to that, she worked as the East Central Regional Retention and Recruitment Supervisor for Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.; Press Secretary for the House Committee on Financial Services; Press Assistant on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce; and held several roles at the Treasury Department. The 2013 University of Pennsylvania graduate is fluent in English and Spanish. More here.
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Chuck Schumer Names Senior Investigator
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has hired Patricio González as a Senior Investigator in his office. He was previously an Investigator and Policy Advisor for the Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. González, who is fluent in both English and Spanish, also previously served as a Legislative Aide to Schumer and as a Staff Assistant to then-House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). The 2009 Marquette University graduate earned his Master’s from the Universidad Pontificia Comillas. More about here.
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| FOMO Today, 6;30P: Google Policy and the DC Black Googlers Network host, “New Women Members of the Congressional Black Caucus: A Conversation about Leadership,” a fireside chat and reception with newly elected women members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Participants include Congresswomen Lucy McBath (D-GA) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL). Google DC, 25 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., 9th Floor, DC. Click here for more information.
Friday, February 15th, 10A: The Brookings Institution hosts a conversation with Stacey Abrams, “Race and political power in the United States.” Abrams will discuss the increasing political power of African Americans after the 2018 elections. She will be joined in conversation by The New Yorker's Jelani Cobb. Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., DC. Click here for more information.
Saturday, February 16th: The Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s 93rd Annual Black History Luncheon. Washington Renaissance Hotel, 999 Ninth Street, N.W., DC. Click here for more information.
Thursday, February 21st – Sunday, February 24th: The Power Rising Summit, a space for Black women to turn their power into action and create an actionable agenda. Hyatt Regency New Orleans, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, February 27th - Saturday, March 1st: Black Women Talk Tech presents the 3rd annual Roadmap to Billions 2019 Conference, the only annual tech conference created exclusively by Black women founders for Black female founders and their supporters. Union West, 535 West 28th Street, New York, NY. Click here for more information.
Thursday, February 28th - Sunday, March 3rd: The Women of Power Summit, a professional leadership conference designed especially for executive women of color. Confirmed speakers include Valerie Jarrett, Stacey Abrams, and Merary Simeon, Diversity Vice President, Pepsico, among others. The Mirage, 3400 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, March 6th, 5:30P: The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) will honor Congresswoman and former NALEO President Sylvia R. García with the 2019 Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service at the organization’s annual NALEO Gala. Marriott Marquis Hotel, 901 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., DC. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, March 6th - Thursday, March 7th: The ninth annual International Women’s Day Forum: The Equality Opportunity, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues at the U.S. Department of State. The event gathers the business community, civil society, and government representatives to advance progress, partnerships, and prosperity through gender equality around the globe. Actress, singer, and philanthropist Keke Palmer will keynote. U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 1615 H Street, N.W., DC. Click here for more information.
Friday, March 8th - Sunday, March 17th: SXSW 2019. Featured speakers include Co-Founder of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Priscilla Chan; Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY); Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI); and Endeavor's Bozoma Saint John, among others. Austin, TX. Click here for more information.
Thursday, March 14th, 8A-3P: The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Health to address emerging health issues, developments, challenges and opportunities in the healthcare sector. Newseum, Summit Knight Conference Center, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., DC. Click here for more information.
Saturday, March 30th: The 50th NAACP Image Awards, celebrating the accomplishment of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature, and film and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. The Dolby Theater, 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA. Click here for more information.
Monday, April 1st - Tuesday, April 2nd: HACU 24th National Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education. Washington Marriott at Metro Center, 775 12th St., N.W. Click here for more information.
Tuesday, May 14th, 7P: APAICS 25th Anniversary Awards Gala Dinner to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The evening honors Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders, both current and pioneers, and recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations that continue to politically empower the AAPI community. 1000 H Street, N.W., DC. Click here for more information.
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