Washington, DC – Today, legislation introduced by Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) and Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) passed the House. The Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act was introduced in the Senate by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and unanimously passed the chamber in June. It now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law. The bill establishes a 19-member commission that will examine the social disparities that disproportionately affect black males in America.
“Almost eight years ago, my son, Jordan, was shot and killed while sitting in the back seat of the car at a gas station with his friends. A man didn’t like the ‘loud music’ they were playing,” said McBath. “On this day, while we look back at the life and legacy of John Lewis and remark at how far we’ve come, I must also look toward a future without my son and I see how far we still must go. This Commission will search for ways to address the hurdles and inequities that many Black men and boys continue to face, and help us all work together to create a better world for our children, for our grandchildren, and for families across America.”
The bipartisan commission will be housed within the United States Commission on Civil Rights’ office and will include Members of Congress, federal agency experts, and appointed subject issue area experts. It will be tasked with producing an annual report addressing the current conditions affecting black men and boys and make recommendations that will be submitted to the president, Congress, members of the president’s Cabinet, and the chairs of the appropriate committees of jurisdiction.
Commission members will review homicide rates, arrest and incarceration rates, poverty, violence, fatherhood, mentorship, drug abuse, death rates, disparate income and wealth levels, school performance in various grade levels and health issues. The commission also will investigate potential civil rights violations affecting black men and boys.
McBath spoke on the House floor in favor of the bill:
Today, while we look back at the legacy of John Lewis and remark at how far we’ve come, I must also look toward a future without my son, and I see how far we still must go.
This Commission will help all of us come together as we try to create a better future for all Americans. pic.twitter.com/dALP798vcA
— Rep. Lucy McBath (@RepLucyMcBath) July 27, 2020
S. 2163/H.R. 1636 has been endorsed by the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus, New Democrat Coalition, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity, Catholic Charities USA, Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males, My Brother's Keeper Alliance, NAACP, National Action Network, National Football League, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Reform Alliance, The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights, The Council of the Great City Schools, Teach For America, actor Omari Hardick, and Reverend Jesse Jackson.