Pelosi Opening Remarks at Democratic Steering & Policy Committee Hearing: 'A Conversation on Race and Justice in America'
Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Members of the Democratic Steering & Policy Committee held a hearing entitled: “A Conversation on Race and Justice in America.” Below are the Leader’s opening remarks:
“Thank you so much, Chairman Rob Andrews, Co-Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, both of you for bringing us together this morning. We are here because the Congressional Black Caucus, which is called the “conscience of the Congress,” has challenged the conscience of the Congress. And Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, who is the Chair of the [Caucus], has been a great leader in helping to expand civil rights in our community and protecting voting rights for all, to expand the reach of opportunity for every American regardless of race, to realize the ideal of equality, which is our heritage and our hope. She and others of the Congressional Black Caucus have that as their mantra, their north star. And thank you Congresswoman Fudge for your leadership.
“I am pleased to – I am going to yield to Mr. Clyburn, the Assistant [Democratic] Leader, and I thank him for his leadership which goes back decades in the civil rights movement.
“But today, to enhance and enrich this conversation, we are privileged to welcome three experts on the status of race relations in America: Maya Wiley, Founder and President, Center for Social Inclusion; Morris Dees, Founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center; [and] Eugene Robinson, Pulitzer Prize winner from The Washington Post. They will be introduced more fully, but I want to thank them because coming here equipped with the knowledge and expertise that they have, Members of Congress can be better informed as we continue the conversation of race and justice in America.
“Now, before I yield to Mr. Clyburn, I want to say how honored I am that all of our colleagues are here. Our Vice Chair of the House Democratic – I mean the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, Mr. Becerra and our Ranking Member, once and future Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Mr. Conyers. With that I want to thank Mr. Clyburn for his extraordinary leadership on this issue over decades and pass the microphone to him. Thank you so much.”
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