[applause] good morning, my brothers and sisters. That not good enough. Good morning and my brothers and sisters. The faith that they past has brought us. We will, we will, we will, march on. Until victory is won. Blog i welcome you on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus foundation, youre at the legislative conference, conference that you could not afford to miss, and be reminded and still i rise. Welcome you again and delighted you have come for the focus of todays discussion is fighting the systemic destruction of our civil rights. It is very timely, it is urgent, and im confident that well have a productive discussion. Early this mark i was at the time onof our missions for homeless men here in washington, dc, along with the Congressional Black Caucus foundation spouses. I said to them, we must live with hope, but when you see individuals, where the system has fail them, where there is no future, then you know that we have to stand in the gap. I did not leave them with that thought. They are deserving of dignity like everyone else. When you deny man or womans civil rights you take away their life, their dignity and their future in the Congressional Black Caucus foundation and the Congressional Black Caucus we are not going to allow that to happen. Im pleased to see we have multigenerational audience in the room this morning. The folks from my generation young understand firsthand wait a minute means to attain rent in our democracy. Were painfully aware of the sacrifices remain to brick our nation closer to maickel real its values freedom, equality and justice for all. We do not deny that those who are in the millennium yes separation those who come after do not understand and will not be imbedded with that source of soulness they will understand, too but it is our challenge to make it real. Right now, there is a dangerous undercurrent in this nation in which some would like to roll back the progress the rights and opportunitieses of other marlingized populations from muslims to immigrants to africanamericans, hispanics, women, people of different viewed, different orientations, different faiths. That will not stand in this nation, and we should not allow it to stand. These ideas are derived from fear, ignorance and the shortsighted nation that prosperity for one group must achieved or maintained by subordinating other groups. Im here to tell you we as a people are not going to back ever, ever again. Furthermore we as a nation can do better than this. If you are listening, attorney general sessions you may hold a post of the person who is supposed to be the man of justice, but we will determine that justice of ourselves and we will determine and ensure and make that you do not undermine the justice we dorf, you wail not snatch out civil rights away from us ever again, no matter what southern democracy you claim you may have come from. We can build an American Society that supports the needs and aspirations of everyone within it, and as africanamericans we have had to make moral leadership during critical points in the nations history. During the civil rights movement, for example, we had a Peaceful Movement that forced the nation to begin to live up to its stated principles. No one will ever say that we are not lawabiding, we do not respect, we have abiding by the laws, but we want the laws to abide by us. If necessary we and can we will do that movement again, as has already been done by so many movements that have stood up and stood in the gap. You will hear from two of our pioneers who put in their work and continue to serve us to this day, young people, we are excited about your energy and your commitment to propel the next phase of government. We know youre coming and you will move government forward. Im asking that every one of you in this room, and those watching on tv and online to engage your peers to get involved, and amply identify your voices, loudly and clearly. Did you hear in the . Amplify your voices loudly and clearly. Dont hear you. Are you going to amplify those voices . [cheering] now, push back again the assaults on our rights and frankly the almost deadly efforts to everything we know to be good and right. We must keep driving this movement forward. All of us together. We cannot take for granted the blood or the but in tears of our elders and our ancestors that endured so we cannot only survive, that we would one day begin to thrive. We cannot take for granted, brothers, that we have lost in the streets to the hands of those who wish to take away the life of our Young Brothers and leave mothers mourning. We know the role cal. Roll call. We cannot let them down. Im optimistic our participation in this town hall will be wellspent, put well give you the tools to embolden you and strengthen you. Know that this will be the catalyst for the collective action in months to come. Legislation that is being driven by the Congressional Black Caucus, and those who think well all throughout the congress, democratic leadership and others that will make a difference. Im very privacy with the distinguished paneli wes have assembled here this morning and i want to take a moment to acknowledge and thank them for being here with us. It is of course youll have two very special guests that will be especially introduce fled a few minutes. Im so excited about that chat but on the penal we have miss bonita goop tacoma we have tanik mallory from the womens march of washington, and toyola brown with the Phillips Institute and clarence cox of the National Organization of black Law Enforcement, former chief of police, clayton, georgia, who will tell it like it is. Thank you, all of you, for making the time to participate in this very timely discussion. I look forward to joining you on this panel, along with the colleague, congressman d. C. Who is also the lc cochair along with robin. On a related note i want to give special thanks to our sponsor on this event, visual much want to give them thanks, the Service Employees international union. Give them a hand, please. [applause] organized labor movements have taught us over decade, as i said to them berth in power of unity, the necessity of fairness, the val knew compromise and the co will collaboration so were very happy to have your support and have the fciu as our thought partneres. I want to make sure that we bring to the stage the leader of the organization that brought us all together, and as i bring him her to the stage, let me say a special note of thanks from those of white house are impacted by hurricane harvey. We are so grateful that the alc dedicated this alc 47th annual time with all of you to the survivors of hurricane harvey, Hurricane Irma and now hurricane maria. Before i left, i buried one of those valiant servants of the people who left in the midst of the storm and said, ive got to get to work and never made it. We lost so many. But im grateful we are one and united and we wont forget them, and we worked together with the whom who is leading the chain and charge to build the pipeline of leaders that will give voice to our agent, lets warmly welcome the president and ceo of the Congressional Black Caucus foundation, miss which hanis washington. Thank you all. Stand in the gap. Thank you, madam chairwoman, and good morning to each of you. Good morning. Good morning. Welcome. So grateful to your presence here this morning for what i predict will be a passionate and thoughtprovoking series of discussions over the next two hours. The National Town hall is an important part of cbcs annual legislative conference as it brings together national thought leaders, policymakers and changemakers for serious discussion about the state of the Global Black Community, our agenda and the steps we must take to move it forward. The mission of the congressional black cause foundation is to advance the Global Black Community by developing leaders and forming policy and educating the pock, and one of the foundations most important functions is providing transformational leaderships tend for the next now generation of policymakers, thought leaders and innovators. We accomplish through through thank you fellowship, internship, scholarship, and Study Abroad Program which provide access to the halls of congress, private Sector Companies and learning about the policymaking process in other countries. There is no other pathway to this kind of access and at this time in our countrys history, theres hardly been a greater need to seed a new generation of public servants. Since the inception of the Congressional Black Caucus foundation we have placed thousands of suburbed, hundreds of Public Policy fellows and disbursed tens of minds of dollars in scoop funds. Thank you for scholarship funds. Thank you for supporting this conference to including conveniencing nearly 10,000 people each september to discuss those issues most critical to the Global Black Community. It is now my pleasure to introduce you to the 20162018 cohort of public kole by sill throws. Priscilla barber, on in the energy and environmental subcommittee. [applause] zoe kador with the American Petroleum institute. [applause] aladrene, on the house energy and commerce committee, subcommittee or stungs communication and Technology Democratic staff. Abdul densing, United States agency for international development, usaid, power africa division. [applause] Ronald Madlock with the Senate Subcommittee on regulatoriy affairs and federal management. [applause] a aaron robinson, House Committee on education and the work force. And kimberly toots, House Committee oned indication and the work force as well. I encourage you to connect with them during the conference and learn about the cbcf Leadership Institute and their experiences, and i also ask that you consider supporting these programs by making a contribution to the cbc foundation through one of our giving programs, and i like to tell you a little about bit it. Theres an opportunity to contribute that is a winwin opportunity and its with one of our partners, uber, the ridesharing app. Theyre supporting the annual legislative conference by offering a discount to users who use the cbcfalc2017 discount code. Cbcfalc2017 discount code. Each time you take uber using the code, they will make a donation to cbcf. So please be sure and put it in your phone now and have it ready when you leave the convention center, and that code will be active through sunday. I will also like to express a heart felt appreciation to seiu for their supportship of this National Town hall event which not only helps us bring all of us together but also supports the foundations program, and importantly, thank each of you. Thank you for investing your time and resources to be here this week, and for your participation in the discussions. It not only signals you understand your civic responsibilities, but you also have a sense of what is stake and importantly committed to driving our collective mission. Enjoy the rest of you day. Thank you. [applause] it is now my pleasure to bring up the chair of the congressional black caution. He is a champion for the black agenda in congress and for the policies and actions that can enable our communities to grow and thrive. He hails from new orleans, louisiana, a city that understands all too heal how crises can devastate communities but also brings out the humanity, selflessness and courage in people. This favorite son of new orleans is a wellseasoned parred pardon the pun to leave in the face of the challenge wes face as a political collective. Were all thankful for this leadership and his bold voice in coverage please give a warm welcome to congressman sedrick richmond. [applause] let me say thank you for your kind introduction. I believe i can say on behalf of all the members of the congressional blam cuss we appreciate the leadership and the partnership with the congressam black caucus foundation. To my colleague, Sheila Jackson lee, we watch your strength and perseverance alongside your Houston Community during and after devastation of hurricane harvey. You know the folks from my home town of new orleans have been there weve done that and we thank you for your generosity and all of that of the people of houston for welcoming us to their city and taking care of our victims of hurricanes katrina and rita. So we real appreciate expect were here for you. And good morning and welcome to all of you. Im always excited to be with our constituents, all of you, who have come from near and far, to share to listen to network, and to strategize around our national agenda. This annual legislative conference and events like this National Town hall are so important because they offer a very unique opportunity for the Congressional Black Caucus to bring together our heroes and our thought leaders to focus our hearts and minds on our collective agenda. The rise in hate, rhetoric and crimes and attempts to normalize White Supremacy language, but mow importantly related policy, will not be left unchecked by us. We must treat these occurs in the same way we respond to other national crises. We must band together, leverage our allies, and activate all of our resources, including but certainly not limited to getting everyone committed to vote in every election. Our unified participation in policymaking can move us closer to access and equity that we must have in order to progress. We know well when we have equity and opportunity, public health, and safety, justice, education, and economic justice, when we are free to prosper and thrive, our nation will also thrive and reach its full potential. Im looking forward to the many discussions, ideas and inspirations that will come from todays town hall discussion, and from the events to follow all over the weekend. Were listening. Were learning, and we will undoubtedly be energized to keep fighting the good fight on behalf of you, our constituents, and to uphold our responsibility as the conscious of the congress. Our ancestors and dellers if invested a great dale in our nation and our young people should inherit and put reply the fruits of the labor. Im eager to get the conversation started so ill get out of the way. First i want you haar to paragraphly from two colleagues the cochair of the conference, instrumental in putting together the agent for the conference, bringing it their address the myriad of issues that need our focus and attention. At this time please hem me bring up the cochairs of the Congressional Black Caucus 47th annual legislative congress, congresswoman robin kelly in illinois and mark violent extremism ci representing the 33rd district the texas. Thank you, and give them a round of applause. [applause] good morning. Thank you, chairman richmond, for all of your work on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus and thank you for your commitment to empowering communities of color and confronting the powers and on stack tells that stand in the way of equality and justice for so many people of color. Welcome and good morning to all of you taking the 47th 47th congressam black caucus annual legislative conference. Whether youre here in person or watching online, thank you for caring enough to get involved. As my friend and our former president broke barack obama once put it, we are the change we seek. And that is exactly why we are here today. We are the sparks of resistance, reform and resilience this nation relies on. The annual legislative conference is and will always remain the annual Meeting Place for, a folks change. Where we can convenience of behalf of our respective communities and nick a difference through the strength of our ideas and that is what this nation needs, strength, ideas, and change. Elections matter. Ideased matter. And right now we can see, feel and hear how big of a difference an election can make. The alc will feel different than last years alc but this country feels a lot different today than it did last year. We are the change we seek and no matter what obstacle, what policy, what presidency we face, yet still we will rise. There is a fierce urgency right now, we have a new mission that beginnings this week. Lets be bold, lets be purposeful, lets not let an opportunity pass us by or a moment go to waste to make the change that we need right now. In miss mornings National Town hall is the perfect beginning to do just that. Let me thank my cochair for this year, alcs congressman macdeasy from texas. Im thank you for your partnership as the cochair of this congress. Anything you would like to say this morning . Absolutely. Thank you, robin. And its so energizing to be here with you, colleagues, constituents and Community Led leaders to focus on a nationalling. The fact that all of you are here this morning, full of inside, full of energying are right . And ready to engage tells us something about your mindset and commitments. Youre ready to put yourself in tough conversations, and places so that you can be part of the solution. Im lucky to be among you and inspired to do more and push harder on those days when the fight for justice is a steep uphill battle. As cochair of the conference, i encourage you fully engage in the sessions and Networking Opportunities and to think strategically about the fire that we c