Raphael Warnock Discusses Possible Government Shutdown; Black woman runs for Oregon seat; HBCUs see investment and growth

Welcome to Politics + Policy News: a round-up of the most consequential political and policy-focused stories you may have missed, with a special focus on the policies impacting communities of color.

13 civil rights groups just formed a coalition to defend workplaces against the ‘anti-woke’ movement: ‘We cannot sit back’

"The “anti-woke” movement in the U.S. has made waves this year, most notably by winning a pair of polarizing Supreme Court cases challenging the legality of affirmative action programs at colleges. That ruling has in turn prompted some Republican lawmakers to call into question diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at American companies and inspired legal threats against companies that leverage inclusive policies to drive their corporate strategy." Read More at FORTUNE

FORBES - Raphael Warnock Discusses Being Both Senator; Reverend, Possible Government Shutdown | Speaking to ForbesBLK Senior Editor Jabari Young for "Forbes Newsroom" at Ohio River South’s Brunch for CBC's 52nd Annual Legislative Conference, Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) spoke about leading both a congregation and representing Georgia as a Senator, the economic goals he wants to achieve for all U.S. citizens, his top legislative accomplishments, and more.

ESSENCE - Why This Black Woman Running for Congress in Oregon Could Be a Gamechanger | "Oregon state Rep. Janelle Bynum is an experienced engineer, small business owner, wife, mom of four, and the only Black woman in the Oregon House of Representatives.?

As a state lawmaker, Bynum has shown significant policy expertise and represented House District 39 (formerly HD 51) for four terms over the past six years.

Bynum recently announced her run for the Democratic nomination in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District next year. Republican Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer currently holds the seat. If elected, Bynum would be the first Black person to represent Oregon in Congress."

Read more at ESSENCE

The Washington Post - Senate confirms Joint Chiefs chair in respite from Tuberville blockade | The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Democrats briefly relenting in their ongoing feud with Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) to push through President Biden’s nominee for the military’s top job.

Brown, who becomes only the second African American, after Gen. Colin Powell, to ascend to the chairman’s post, was confirmed after Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) chose to peel away the nomination for an individual vote. Senior officer promotions are typically approved by the Senate through unanimous consent to avoid lengthy floor debates and the politicization of votes around military commanders."

Read more at The Washington Post

FORTUNE - Supporting democracy is not a partisan issue–it’s what all Americans expect of business ahead of the 2024 election | "As we approach the 2024 elections, this trust makes business a critical conduit for delivering trustworthy information to employees and consumers. Business leaders can raise awareness about election risks with their employees and emphasize the importance of voting and civic engagement.

Employees have a strong desire to support democratic integrity. In response, it’s becoming the new norm to offer paid time off for employees to vote. Many companies are going beyond that crucial step to allow employees time to work polling places. And companies may be rewarded for this level of engagement, with nearly half (48%) of consumers saying they are more likely to buy a good or service from a business that allows employees to take time off from work to engage in the political process."?

via FORTUNE - read the full story here

The HBCU Transformation Project Received a $124 Million Investment | The HBCU Transformation Project received a $124 million investment from Blue Meridian Partners, increasing its total investment to $184 million. The new investment will expand the Transformation Project’s work to drive systemic improvements among historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) nationwide.

The HBCU Transformation Project is a collaboration between UNCF (United Negro College Fund), Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), and Partnership for Education Advancement (Ed Advancement). Forty HBCUs are currently working intensively with the Project and additional campuses are expected to join this year. The HBCU Transformation Project launched in 2022. A complete list of participating HBCUs is available here.

via Blue Meridian - read the full story here

Los Angeles Times - HBCUs brace for flood of applications after Supreme Court affirmative action decision | "College presidents and admission experts are expecting a significant increase in applications at historically Black colleges and universities following this summer’s Supreme Court decision outlawing race-based affirmative action policies.

At a time of heightened social divisions with race relations at the forefront, school administrators say the conservative majority court’s ruling opens a door for HBCUs to fill a gap for students and their families seeking an educational experience in which Black identity and culture are celebrated."

via Los Angeles Times - read the full story here

The Hill - The 25 staffers who make Capitol Hill Run | "They stay behind the scenes, leading House and Senate offices, keeping committee work running smoothly, researching policies and managing lawmakers’ schedules.

They draft legislation, help constituents with their problems and deal with the media.? And they make sure that members of Congress are prepared when they go to the floor to cast the votes that affect millions of people across the country.?

Together, they make Capitol Hill run."

via The Hill - read the full story here

U.S. Department of Treasury - U.S. Department of Treasury Releases Report on Importance of Labor Unions | The U.S. Department of Treasury released a new report by the Department’s Office of Economic Policy on the role labor unions play in middle-class America and their benefits on the economy. The report found that labor unions help reduce common problems middle-class workers face. It also found that “in 2021, Black men had a particularly high union representation rate at 13 percent, as compared to the population average of 10 percent.”

via the U.S. Department of Treasury - Read the full report, or read the key findings fact sheet.

U.S. Department of Education - Secretaries of Education, Agriculture Call on Governors to Equitably Fund Land-Grant HBCUs | U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack sent letters to 16 governors emphasizing the over $12 billion disparity in funding between land-grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their non-HBCU land-grant peers in their states.

via Department of Education - read the story here

The Joint Center for Politics and Economic Studies - 2023 Future of Black Communities Summit on October 19, 2023

The Joint Center will host the 2023 Future of Black Communities Summit on Oct. 19 at Eaton DC, 1201 K St. NW, Washington, DC. The summit is a day-long convening featuring conversations with some of our country’s most noted non-profit, government, philanthropic, business, and academic thought leaders. They will dive into the current challenges facing Black communities and propose actionable solutions for the future. More information and to register