ENROLLED ORIGINAL
A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
24-73
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
August 3, 2021
To recognize and honor the Congressional Black Caucus for 50 years of dedicated leadership and
service to African Americans, the nation, and the District of Columbia.
WHEREAS, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) was founded in February 1971, to
form a more unified organization among black legislators;
WHEREAS, the 13 founding members of the CBC are Shirley A. Chisholm (D-N.Y.),
William L. Clay, Sr. (D-Mo.), George W. Collins (D-Ill.), John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), Ronald
V. Dellums (D-Calif.), Charles C. Diggs, Jr. (D-Mich.), Augustus F. Hawkins (D-Calif.), Ralph
H. Metcalfe (D-Ill.), Parren J. Mitchell (D-Md.), Robert N.C. Nix, Sr. (D-Pa.), Charles B. Rangel
(D-N.Y.), Rep. Louis Stokes (D-Ohio), Walter E. Fauntroy (D-D.C.);
WHEREAS, since 1971, the CBC has been committed to using its full Constitutional
power, statutory authority, and the financial resources of the federal government to ensure that
African Americans and other marginalized communities in the United States have the
opportunity to achieve the American Dream;
WHEREAS, the CBC is often called the Conscience of the Congress for being the first
to stand up and speak out about issues that Congress needs to examine or reexamine;
WHEREAS, the CBC currently has a historic 56 members of the U.S. House of
Representatives and the U.S. Senate, representing more than 82 million Americans, including
more than 17 million African Americans;
WHEREAS, Washington D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton has been a
member of the CBC since 1991, and currently serves as the CBCs senior most member;
WHEREAS, in 1976, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) was
established as a non-partisan research institute by members of CBC to promote African
Americans' involvement in the national political process;
WHEREAS, the CBCF holds an annual conference in Washington, D.C., attracting
thought leaders, legislators, and thousands of attendees to the District, to engage on issues
relating to economic development, civil and social justice, and public health and education;
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 ENROLLED ORIGINAL
WHEREAS, in 2008, then U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) was elected President of
the United States, making him the first and only African American, member of the CBC, and
member of a minority congressional caucus to be elected to the nations highest office; and
WHEREAS, in this fiftieth year and beyond, the CBC continues its commitment to
empower African Americans and other marginalized communities, by pursuing a policy agenda
that includes outreach and engagement, fighting inequitable policies relating to ballot access and
healthcare, and promoting economic empowerment.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the Congressional Black Caucus Recognition Resolution of 2021.
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors the Congressional
Black Caucus for 50 years of dedicated service to African Americans, the nation, and the District
of Columbia.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
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