COVID-19 Roundups
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed, Juneteenth Becomes Federal Holiday: June 17 Joint Center Roundup
Biden Administration Senate confirms Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson: Judge Brown Jackson will serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit after the Senate confirmed her with a 54-44 vote. She is President Joe Biden’s first nominee for the DC Appeals court, which is often a stepping stone to the U.S. Supreme Court. Several organizations…
Infrastructure, Fair Housing Rules Reinstated, Civil Rights Leaders Meet with Manchin & More: June 9 Joint Center Roundup
Biden Administration Infrastructure negotiations shift: President Biden ends infrastructure negotiations with Senator Shelley Capito (R-WV) and continues the discussion with a bipartisan group of senators who are aiming to release a proposal by the end of the week. President Biden’s decision to move forward came after the “GOP group’s refusal to significantly increase the number of new…
Tulsa Massacre, George Floyd & Historic Confirmations: May 27 Joint Center Roundup
Biden Administration Economic equity 100 years after the massacre on Black Wall Street: President Joe Biden will visit Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 1 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre, and Stacey Abrams will keynote a commemoration. The commemoration comes after three survivors of the Tulsa massacre testified before Congress last week for a House Judiciary subcommittee…
HBCU Funding, Child Tax Credit, Senate Top Staff Diversity & More: May 19 Joint Center Roundup
Biden Administration Biden’s infrastructure plan gains momentum: Bloomberg reports that “Senate Republicans are set to deliver a revised offer of a package that includes roads, public transportation, and airports to the White House as early as Monday.” Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: President Biden applauded Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA), and Congressman John Katko (D-NY) “for their leadership…
Black Women Appellate Judicial Nominations, Vaccine Disparities Among Older Americans & More: May 13 Joint Center Roundup
Biden Administration Declining a job could lead to loss of benefits: Earlier this week, President Biden said “[w]e’re going to make it clear that anyone who is collecting unemployment who is offered a suitable job must take the job or lose their unemployment benefits,” and added that the stipulation would include “a few COVID-19-related exceptions.” However, Black workers…
Black Orgs Analyze Biden’s 100 Days, CBC Vaccine Initiative & More: May 6 Joint Center Roundup
Biden Administration Analysis of Biden’s Black appointments at 100 days: A Joint Center report last week revealed the Biden Administration’s accomplishments on Black appointments (e.g., several historic “firsts,” five Black deputy secretaries, three Black women appellate judge nominees) and areas for growth (more Black representation in economic and tech policy top leadership as well as various types…
Biden’s First 100 Days, American Families Plan & Black Communities: April 28 Joint Center Roundup
Biden Administration Biden addresses Congress just before his 100-day mark: President Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress will likely cover the accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration so far, and the way forward. President Biden will reportedly discuss policing, “his newly unveiled American Families Plan, which focuses on child care and education largely paid for…
Black Leaders on Chauvin Verdict, Vanita Gupta Confirmed & More: April 21 Joint Center Roundup
The Next Steps in Tackling Anti-Blackness Joint Center on Chauvin verdict: Following the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin for murdering George Floyd, Joint Center President Spencer Overton released the following statement: “The graphic murder of George Floyd by law enforcement has been traumatic, and the conviction of Derek Chauvin provides some comfort in showing that accountability for…
Kristen Clarke Testifies, CBC at White House: April 15 Joint Center Roundup
Biden Administration Biden-Harris administration meets with Congressional Black Caucus: Several members of the CBC—including Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty (D-OH), and Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA)—met with President Biden and Vice President Harris to discuss “economic empowerment, voting rights, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act,” COVID-19, and…
Biden Budget Increases Spending for Education and Poverty Reduction: April 9 Joint Center Roundup
Biden Administration First draft of the budget proposal: Today, the White House will release its budget plans for the 2022 fiscal year. The plan proposes $1.52 trillion in spending, including a 16% spending increase on domestic priorities like education and reducing poverty. President Biden has yet to nominate a replacement for the Office of Management and Budget…