National Black Caucus of State Legislators The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (also known as the NBCSL) is an American political organization composed of African Americans elected to state legislatures in the United States of America and its territories. Background NBCSL was founded in 1977 after a group of about eighteen African American state legislators, attending the annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures and perceiving that the NCSL was still racially exclusive at that time, decided to call for a national conference in Nashville, Tennessee. About ninety African American state legislators attended. The first president was Michigan state representative Matthew McNeely. The organization has grown to more than six hundred members by 2008. Legislators of this organization come from 44 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. Since its inception, NBCSL has met annually in a pre-determined host state for its Annual Legislative Conference. Throughout the year, NBCSL sponsors policy symposia to keep members abreast of growing policy trends and educated on policy issues that affect NBCSL’s constituents. When legislators attend the Annual Legislative Conference, policy committees meet and discuss policy resolutions, drawing upon information presented in the symposia, that are voted up or down by the membership. These resolutions become the policy position of the organization. Legislators, corporate partners, and labor representatives take these policy resolutions and use them to influence public policy in state legislatures and on Capitol Hill. Mission The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) is a membership association representing more than 600 African American state legislators from 42 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. NBCSL members represent more than 50 million Americans of various racial backgrounds. NBCSL monitors federal and state activity and provides this information to its members through policy symposiums and conferences. Each year, NBCSL members pass policy resolutions that directly impact federal and state policy. The organization focuses on issues that directly impact US domestic policy and is committed to policies that positively affect all Americans. The primary mission of the NBCSL is to develop, conduct, and promote educational, research, and training programs designed to enhance the effectiveness of its members, as they consider legislation and issues of public policy which impact, either directly or indirectly, upon the general welfare of African American constituents within their respective jurisdictions. Objectives The NBCSL has adopted the following fundamental objectives: To serve as a national network and clearinghouse for the discussion, dissemination and exchange of ideas and information among African American state legislators and their staffs; To provide research, training and educational services to African American state legislators and their staffs. To improve the effectiveness and quality of African American state legislators; and To serve as a strong, united and effective advocate for African American state legislators and their constituencies at the federal level. NBCSL Policy Committees Committee on Agriculture Committee on Business, Finance, & Insurance Committee on Emergency Preparedness / Homeland Security Committee on Education Committee on Energy, Transportation, & Environment Committee on Gaming, Sports, & Entertainment Committee on Health & Human Services Committee on Housing Committee on International Affairs Committee on Labor, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee on Law, Justice, & Ethics Committee on Telecommunications, Science, & Technology Committee on Youth NBCSL Task Force Task Force of Gun Violence Executive Officers Representative Calvin Smyre (GA), President Representative Barbara Ballard (KS), Vice President Representative Ulysses Jones (TN), 1st Vice President Representative Thaddues Kirkland (PA), 2nd Vice President Senator Kay Patterson (SC), Secretary Representative Juanita Head Walton (MO), Recording Secretary Representative Charlie Brown (IN), Financial Secretary Senator Rodger M. Smitherman (AL), Treasurer Senator Hillman Terome Frazier (MS), Parliamentarian Representative Annette Polly Williams (WI), Chaplain State Legislative Black Caucuses Alabama Legislative House & Senate Black Caucus Chairperson: Representative Laura Hall Arizona Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Representative Leah Landrum Taylor Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Representative Kevin Goss California Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Holly Mitchell Delaware Black Caucus Chairperson: Margaret Rose Henry Florida Conference of Black Legislators Chairperson: Alan B. Williams Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Representative Stan Watson Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Representative Kenneth Dunkin Indiana Black Legislative Caucus Chairperson: Vernon G. Smith Iowa Black Caucus Chairperson: Representative Wayne Ford Kansas African American Legislative Caucus Chairperson: Representative Barbara W. Ballard Kentucky Black Legislative Caucus Chairperson: Senator Gerald A. Neal Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland Chairperson: Delegate Aisha Braveboy Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Representative John Bowman Legislative Black Caucus (Virgin Islands) Chairperson: Senator Usie Richards Legislative Black and Hispanic Caucus (Wisconsin) Chairperson: Senator Lena Taylor Legislative Black and Puerto Rican Caucus Chairperson: Representative Minnie Gonzalez Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Representative Juan A. LaFonta Massachusetts Black Legislative Caucus Chairperson: Representative Willie-Mae Allen Michigan Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Representative Michael C. Murphy Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Representative Reecy Dickson Nevada Legislative Black Caucus New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Senator Ronald L. Rice New York Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Representative Beverly Earle Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Representative Barbara A. Sykes Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Senator Constance N. Johnson Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Representative Thaddeus Kirkland Rhode Island Minority Legislator/Leadership Caucus Chairperson: Representative Joseph S. Almeida South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Representative David Mack Tennessee Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Representative Johnny Shaw Texas Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Representative Senfronia Thompson Virginia Legislative Black Caucus Chairperson: Delegate Dwight Jones
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 15:36:57 +0000
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