(4) CBCfor the people 1975One,NumberOneVolumeApril,

William Clay, Mo. Ronald Dellums, Calif. Augustus Hawkins, Calif Robert N. C. Nix,Pa. A Yvonne B Burke Calif , 111. , Mich. Barbara Jordan, Texas , NY. I , DC. Ralph Metcalfe, 111. , Ohio I Shirley Chisholm 'NY' , Mich. (MEMBERS: Harold Ford, Term. , Md. Andrew Young, Ga. J Caucus Announces Legislative INSIDE: Agenda and Economic Priorities CBC Members Forum 2 On February 27, the Caucus pre- no tolerable level of unemploy- Energy, Taxes and sented its first formal Legislative Agen- ment/ the People 3 da, outlining its priorities for the First Tax reform, including repeal of the copy Hearings on Criminal Session of the 94th Congress. A oil depletion allowance, enactment of the fullAgenda is included with this Justice and Blacks 3 of a minimum tax, and restructuring issue of the newsletter. Top priorities of capital gains provisions. Legislative Update 4 include: legislation on full employment and tax reduction in response to the Extension of the Voting Rights Act Newest CBC Member 4 economic crisis; legislation to increase of 1965 for 10 years and passage of a universal voter participation Briefing on 1976 voter participation by removing existing barriers; reordering law. Budget 5 of national priorities and reduction of the military A searching re-examination of the Women, Children and the budget. general revenue sharing program Black Family 6

Caucus Successful In Blocking F.E.C. Appointment by Ford

In a letter to President Ford on Janu- ary 28, 1975, the Congressional Black Caucus strongly protested the rumored nomination of former Mississippi Governor John Bell Williams to sit as a member of the Federal Elections Com- mission. The Caucus letter pointed to Williams' outspoken opposition to the Participating in a special press briefing on the Legislative Agenda were, from left to right. Voting Rights Act of 1965, his ap- Representatives William Clay, Louis Stokes, Charles Rangel, Ronald Dellums, Yvonne Burke, Harold proval of Mississippi laws found to be Ford, Augustus Hawkins (not shown), and Walter Fauntroy. racially discriminatory by the U.S. At- torney General under that Act, and his In addition, the Agenda takes a posi- with respect to its impact on blacks praise and close ties to the White tion on forty major legislative initia- and the poor, and consideration of Citizens Council. tives by individual Caucus members both program changes and alterna- complementary The Caucus protest was apparently that are aimed at specific problems tive and programs. by both the black community successful, as the two presidential faced pro- and the nation generally. The Legis- Reform of social insurance nominations did not include Mr. grams, particularly welfare, and lative priorities include: Williams. However, none of the six passage of a comprehensive health Federal Elections Commission Passage of comprehensive full care act. nominees, including two each from the employment legislation which incor- House and Senate, is black. porates the concept that "there is Continued on page 3 PAGE 2

It has been sadly, but truthfully ment are grossly inadequate- nominal gains in the sixties were the stated that when the American econo- Unemployment figures for our major result of temporary, "knee-jerk" con- my catches a cold, its poor and urban cities —areas where there is a cessions by a government fearful of minority communities get pneumonia. high concentration of black citizens— the spread of summer rebellions. The current recession and high inflation are generally distorted and diluted by Black teenagers have yet to be sig- that is ravaging the nation, has been use of figures based on the Standard nificantly aided in their employment most severely felt in the Black com- Metropolitan Area (SMSA). In many in- status. Over the last fifteen years, munity. stances, no effort is made to determine unemployment among black youth has While government officials and or cite joblessness data for black adult never been below 25 percent. In Janu- 1975, others have expressed alarm at a na- and teenage workers. In recent hear- ary, the joblessness rate for ings by Manpower, Compen- youth (16 19) tional unemployment rate of over 8 held the black to stood at 41.1 sation, dropped percent (some 7.5 million "officiallyre- and Health and Safety Subcom- percent and to 36.7 percent in ported" jobless people), they have mittee of the Education and Labor February, 1975- This slight decline was Committee, Department chiefly to failed to place similar weight on the of Labor offi- attributable the fact that hardpressed fact that Black unemployment has not cials were to come up many of our youth grew discouraged been below 8 percent since 1969. In witha satisfactory answer on this data and simply stopped looking for work— were, therefore, February 1975, the joblessness rate for "short-fall". and no longer counted Blacks stood at nearly 14 percent. Title 111 of the Concentrated Employ- in the unemployment statistics. ment Training (CETA) explicitly expects In addition, as we have pointed out and Act The Ford Administration us for some time, there are basic weak- requires the Department of Labor to to accept the notion that stronger nesses in the unemployment measures improve its system and procedures for federal initiatives against unemploy- used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting unemployment in state, local ment and poverty would ''fuel the fires (BLS). A large number of people—dis- and poverty areas. Rep. Augustus of inflation". However, common sense couraged workers, no longer seeking Hawkins and other members of the tells us that the only buffer poor and Compensation, jobs; part-time workers, unable to find Manpower, Health and moderate income families have against full-time jobs; and women, frustrated Safety Subcommittee are actively inflation is a job. Department in their attempts to enter monitoring and urging the One of the highest priorities of the the labor with market— are not adequately counted in of Labor's full compliance CETA Congressional Black Caucus is the the unemployment statistics. In many Title 111. passage of comprehensive legislation poor communities, one-third to one- Miscalculations and undercounts that guarantees the right to useful, half of the adult workforce is out of a notwithstanding, Black workers remain meaningful employment for all Ameri- job and without hope. the front line victims of the nation's cans who are willingand able to work current economic down-turn. Many of The major thrust willcenter on legis- Millions of dollars have been allo- the hard fought and hard won battles in lation introduced by Representative cated to the Bureau of Labor Satisfies, the 1960's for adequate employment Augustus Hawkins— H.R. 50, The Equal and yet the measures and procedures and income opportunities have fallen Opportunity and Full Employment Act they use for determining unemploy- by the wayside. It appears that our nf 1975 FOR THE PEOPLE PAGE 3 the first of a series of hearings on the unequal treatment of Blacks in the criminal justice system. The first hear- In an effort to reduce energy con- PRESIDENT'S TAXREBATE ing, held in the District of Columbia, sumption and stimulate programs for VIEWED AS INADEQUATE focused on the Attica Prison revolt, the energy independence, the President STIMULUS: North Carolina criminal case of the proposed increased energy taxes (in The Caucus has criticized President "Wilmington Ten", and the Republic of excess of $30 billion) on imported oil, Ford's $16 billion tax rebate proposal New Africa's conflict with Jackson domestic crude oiland natural gas. The (sl2 billion to individuals and $4 billion Mississippi police. Many of the accused Administration also proposed a series to corporations). The President's pro- involved and convicted in these cases of tax adjustments (increasing the posed rebate plan calls for a return of charge that they have been denied due standard deduction for individuals and 12 percent of the 1974 tax payments process and are victims of racial in- families; lowering tax rates for in- of individuals and families, with the justice. dividuals, families and corporations; maximum return of $1,000 going to making modest payments topoor non- families earning above $40,000 a year. taxpayers). The tax adjustments, totall- A familyof four with an annual income ing over $30 billion were designed to of $7,500 would receive a rebate of offset or "neutralize", the detrimental only $58. In terms of impact, families impact of the Administration's energy with incomes of $25,000 and over— taxes. about 5 percent of all taxpayers — The Caucus has challenged the Ad- would receive about one-third of the ministration's assertion that tax adjust- rebates. Expenditures by lower income ments would offset the impact of the consumers, as a stimulus for the econ- energy omy, taxes. Even the conservative are generally neglected in the Representative Conyers noted, after estimates of the Energy Admin- President's proposal. Federal four hours of testimony from lawyers istration concede President Ford's The Caucus that members worked and clients, that the goal of the hear- plan would boost annual fuel and closely with other the Members of Con- ings was a thorough exposition of cir- utility costs of poor and moderate in- gress indeveloping an alternative to the $200 $300 — cumstances and alleged abuses in each come families by to Administration's tax rebate package- case; the development of ad- of corrective while the offsetting factor tax one that is more responsive to the legislation and legal action; and the justments only offer savings that range needs of low and moderate income of $182 $292. families. focusing of national attention between and abuses within the courts and prisons- Other members of the panel include: Hearings on New York City Criminal Court Judge AGENDA- William Booth; Mississippi civil rights Continued• from front page Criminal Justice leader Dr. Aaron Henry; Dr. Charles The forty or so specific legislative and Blacks Cobb, President of the National Com- proposals by Caucus members in- mittee of Black Churchmen; and Dr. cluding such categories as 1) child On February 27, a special ad hoc Ronald Walters, professor in Howard care, 2) civil and political rights and panel including Representative John University's Political Science Dept. liberties, 3) criminal justice, 4) con- Conyers (Chairman of the House A second hearing is schedule in sumer protection, 5) foreign affairs, Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime), Jackson Mississippi. Future hearing 6) governmental structure and Representative Ronald Dellums, and dates willbe listed in upcoming issues responsibility, 7) women's rights, 8) Representative Walter Fauntroy, began of For The People. housing, 9) health care. Inaddition to working for passage of its Legislative Agenda, the Caucus PLANS FOR ANNUAL plans to expand its oversight of federal activities, continuously evaluating the LEGISLATIVE WORKSHOP BEGIN impact of federal programs on its con- The Congressional Black Caucus has begun planning activity for the annual stituents, reviewing civilrights enforce- legislative workshop involving Black elected officials and other key participants. ment, affirmative action and substan- The workshop, which has been traditionally held the same weekend as the Caucus tive equity. program effectiveness and Annual Dinner, is tentatively scheduled for Friday, September 26, 1975. The The Caucus also plans a more vigorous workshop will focus on political and legislative challenges facing the Black scrutiny federal ap- of nominees for your upcoming of FOR pointive posts, examining their community, 1975-1976. Mark calendars and watch issues suitability, experience and positions on THE PEOPLE for details. issues affecting the Black community. PAGE 4 FOR THE PEOPLE

TAX REBATE: Tax Reduction Act of place with the White House as to a sent to Congressman the 1975 (H.R. 2166),— from Ways and possible compromise position on an Subcommittee Chairman. Means Committee On February 27, energy program. The Congress passed the House of Representatives passed a a bill which would delay for 90 days COMMITTEE HEARINGS: Several tax rebate billunder which an amount the in- major billson the Caucus' Agenda, are President's executive action hearing up to $200 would be returned to in- creasing oil import taxes, but the bill now in the stage before sub- dividuals and families from their 1974 has been vetoed by the President. A committees. This, of course, is a crucial stage in the development of legislation. tax payment (a total of $1 6.6 billionto veto override vote is being held up individuals and $5.1 billion to busi- pending the possible compromise. Following is a partial list of current 1) Voting nesses). The billis progressive in that hearings: Extension of the the congressional (House Judiciary the amount of increase declines for Even Democrats' Rights Act of 1965 with higher incomes (above energy package would include a five Committee, Subcommittee on Civiland those 2) $20,000/ year). Also, the minimum cent a gallonincrease in gasoline taxes, Constitutional Rights); Full Employ- (House standard deduction is increased to which could increase an additional 6 or ment Act Education and Labor 7 cents a gallon aboye that point. Committee, Equal Opportunities $2500/ year for joint returns and For Sub- incomes, committee) 3) (House $1900/ year for single taxpayers, Blacks of lower this would Gun Control which frees a larger group of low-in- cause additional hardship, particularly Judiciary Committee, Crime Subcom- mittee); 4) come persons from any tax; the where automobile use is necessary. Appropriations Committee Congressman minimum standard deduction is pre- Louis Stokes' billprovid- hearings for federal agencies including ing cost to per- Labor, Health, Welfare, sently at $1300/ year for all taxpayers. for an energy rebate Education and sons — As passed by the House, the bill of lower incomes the F.U.E.L and Defense. eliminates the oil depletion allowance, plan, has been referred to the Subcom- Persons interested in making an in- put as called for in the Caucus' Legislative mittee on Energy and Power of the on these or other topics should Agenda, but this provision may be House Interstate and Commerce Com- contact the relevant committee or the removed in the Senate. Members of the mittee. Letters of support should be Congressional Black Caucus. Caucus voted for the bill on final passage. While H.R. 2166 is more Congressman Harold Ford: progressive than the Administration's proposal in returning a larger share to lower-income persons, this concept Newest CBC Member certainly be extended further in can Representative E. Ford (D- legislation. Harold future Term.), 29, is the newest member of FOOD STAMPS: To amend the Food the Congressional Black Caucus. Con- Stamp Act of 1964 (H.R. 1589), from gressman Ford is the first Black Con- Agriculture Committee— An Adminis- gressional Representative from Ten- tration proposal toincrease the cost of nessee since the Reconstruction era. food stamps was blocked by a bill Harold Ford graduated from Tennessee passed overwhelmingly by both State University and also has an Asso- Houses (and not vetoed, though not ciate Degree in Mortuary Science from signed, by the President). The new law John Gupten College in Nashville. simply prohibits the Agriculture No novice in elective politics, Ford Department from raising food stamp was elected in 1970 to the Tennessee prices above their January 1, 1975 State Legislature. During his first term level. However, it is only binding in the 87th General Assembly, Ford through December 21, 1975, during was named Majority Whip for the which time the Congress willhold new House. In his successful congressional hearings on the law. campaign against incumbent Repub- The Congressional action blocking lican Dan Kuykendall,Ford stressed ac- food stamp price increase protects the countability and accessibility by elected roughly 5 million blacks, as well as the officials. Inkeeping withthat theme, he Representative Harold E.Ford roughly 10 million whites and others is an active participant inlocal develop- stamps. Persons in- ments and is conducting 'Town Hall who use food that would poor and terested in making their views known Meetings" withhis constituency. itiatives assist moderate income consumers during on further changes in the food stamp Congressman Ford, a vigorous con- this period of inflation and recession. program should contact the Congres- sumer advocate, has introduced legis- sional Black Caucus. lation that would require all packaged Committee assignments of Con- consumer commodities tobe labeled to gressman Ford include: Banking , Cur- ENERGY: (H.R. 2633, H.R. 2650) show their selling price. He is also con- rency and Housing Committee; Select Ways and Means Committee is pre- cerned about jobs, the role of utilities Committee on Aging; and the sently holding hearings on energy con- and the development of economic in- Veterans' Affairs Committee. servation, and discussions are taking FOR THE PEOPLE PAGE 5 Briefing Held on the FY 1976 Federal Budget On February 3, in response to a Caucus request, key executives from the Office of Management and the Budget provided a special budget brief- ing for Congressional Black Caucus members and their staffs. Such brief- ings are part of an on-going Caucus analysis of the Ford Administration's economic and budget proposals, and the development of Caucus position papers for cabinet officials and the general public. The President's FY 1976 Budget proposed $349.4 billion in outlays, witha deficit of nearly $52 billion.The President expressed dismay at the deficit level and seeks to contain it through $1 7 billion inproposed spend- ing limitations, reductions, and cuts. Many of the proposed cuts affect key* domestic programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Child Nutrition, public assistance, and education. The President's Budget accepts pro- jections of a national unemployment rate inexcess of 8 percent in 1975 and 7.9 percent in 1976. Already, however, several economists have projected cost of living. These conditions place critical of inequitable provisions in the unemployment levels as high as 10 devastating pressures on Black and President's budget and will continue percent before the end of this year, poor communities- active deliberations on the budget and along with a continuing rapid rise in the Caucus members have been sharply appropriations process.

Chess Janus Records Presents Check to Caucus Over 400 invited guests attended a major reception on February 1 9, spon- sored by Chess Janus Records, to honor the company's presentation of a $50,000 check to the Congressional Black Caucus. The check was pre- sented as an advance on the antici- pated sales of the recorded First An- nual CBC Benefit Concert. The Concert was held September 25, 1974 at the Capitol Center. The record album in- cludes performances by WAR, CURTIS MAYFIELD, KOOL AND THE GANG, GLADYS KNIGHTAND THE PIPS, AND JIMMY WITHERSPOON. Participating in the formal presentation, above from left to right are: Congressman Charles B. Rangel; Gene Friedman, Manhattan Advertising; Congressman William Clay; Mr. Marvin Schlachter, President of Chess Janus Records; Congressman Harold Ford, Congressman Ronald Dellums; Mr. Nathan McCulla, President of Shakat Records; Mr.Tom Bonetti, GRT Corporation; Congressman Louis Stokes; and Congressman Walter Fauntroy. PAGE 6 FOR THE PEOPLE Women, Children and the Family

Black families have always suffered of our poverty rolls. A Census Bureau economic hardships even in times of study indicates that in 1973, nearly 1 national prosperity. Now, with the na- millionof the "reported" 1.5 million tional economy in the worse straits in lowincome Black families wereheaded the past forty years, that group of by women. Such families are more than citizens is facing disastrous financial five times as likely to have incomes difficulties. below poverty level as families headed Rep. Shirley Chisholm, a member of by men. Inrecent surveys of the low-in- the House Committee on Education come population, over 45 percent of and Labor, has been concerned with the women heads of families reported the plight of these families since her that responsibilities associated with first term in Congress. She has con- children prevented them from working centrated her energies to aid these and seeking jobs. For both poor and families inarcas such as equal employ- moderate income women, the

ment, day care r food stamp legislation availability of child care services con- and sex discrimination. tinues to be a key factor in the extent "The problems our poor families and level of their participation in the face are interrelated in such a way that work force. they need help in education and in in job health, in employment and in housing, Despite awesome barriers, the num- are concentrated less skilled categories. in every arca which involves the quality ber of working mothers continues to of a good life, "Ms. Chisholm says. grow.In 1973, over 31 percent of the Rep. Chisholm is currently develop- There are some 6.6 million families in nation's children under six years of age ing a Child Care billthat would estab- the where women are had working mothers, including 48% of lish federally aided child development the heads or provide the major source the Black children under six. programs and service for children of income. An estimated one-third of under six with definite priorities for these families were reported living The incidence of unemployment poor children— including children of below poverty level in 1973. The cur- among women has been consistently working mothers and single-parent rent economic down-turn and spiralling higher than that of men, and the com- families. Rep. Chisholm has noted that: cost of livingserve toreinforce the fact bined national average. For example, in "Day care must not be considered a that for many women, participation in January 1975, the unemployment rate custodial service. It willobviously be a the labor force is crucial, not incidental, for Black women over twenty years of help to women who want and need the to the economic well being of their age was 11.0%, compared to 7.7% for opportunity to achieve their full families. white women and 5.5% for white men. employment potential For (the Black women and other minority Even those women with jobs have ap- children) the primaryimportance willbe women constitute a major proportion preciably lower salaries than men and as an educational environment." New Congressional Black Caucus Staff

The Congressional Black Caucus, in needed to realize the legislative goals Nathaniel Davis December 1974, appointed Ms. Bar- and priorities of Caucus members. She Appointed, Despite bara J. Williams as Executive heads a seven -member staff team that Director. Ms. Williams served previ- includes: Kenneth Colburn, Legis- Caucus Protests ously of Coordinator; Christian, as Director the Coalition for lative Alicia Despite the vigorous objections of Human Needs And Budget Priorities, Research/Resources Coordinator; the Congressional Black Caucus, the and prior to that, was Administrative David Ruffin, Organizations and Senate, on March 11f approved the ap- to Congressman Agencies Coordinator; Assistant Ronald V. Federal Beryl pointment of Nathaniel Davis to the Bridges, Assistant; Dellums. Administrative post Secretary of State for As Caucus Executive Director, Ms. Darcus L. Smith, of Assistant Public Affairs African Affairs. Caucus members ob- Williams willcoordinate administrative, , Assistant jected to the appointment, citing Davis' organizational supports and research inexperience in African affairs, and questions surrounding his actions as NOTICE former Ambassador to Chile, during The following information is available through the Caucus: the alleged U.S. complicity in the over- The Legislative Agenda of the Congressional Black Caucus throw of Salvador Allende. CBC Preliminary Analysis of the Proposed FY 1976 Budget Federal disap- Caucus Committee and Sub-committee Assignments The Caucus was deeply pointed at the to res- placed on the Caucus mailing list Senate's failure Ifyou wish to be pond plans to please Congressional Caucus, to the protests and press write: Black 306 views forcefully simi- House Annex, Washington, DC. 20515. its even more on lar matters.