One week after an historic election where Democrats retook the U.S. House of Representatives with people who much better reflect the diversity of America, the National Action Network (NAN) gathered for an information and lobbying session in Washington. “The politicians came ready with an agenda for the first 100 days of Congress and prepared to work on passing bills that benefit ‘we the people,’” commented Vanessa Petty, a NAN member and Port Of Harlem reader.

In a fast pace, (reminiscent of slow speed, speed dating,) prominent senators and congresspeople shared information about their priority bills for the 2019 session. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar was up first during NAN’s Legislative & Policy Conference with her list that included repairing the Voting Rights Act and overturning Citizens United to immigration reform and criminal justice reform. On the later, she said, “to have a strong economy, every one has to participate.”

Similar to Klobuchar’s mantra “when you answer with action, you win,” Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren spinned the phrase to “at the end of the today, it is action we need.” As expected, Warren addressed the wealth gap and shared information on her bill that would try to repair the damage to neighborhoods that historically suffered from government-sanctioned redlining.

In a nod to Democratic leadership on diversity issues, Warren also made it clear that she wants an America where all citizens respect others “who do not look like you, who do not pray like you, or who do not love like you.”

Reflecting on our current state of chaos, California Senator Kamala Harris, proclaimed, “We are better than this.”  Virginia Senator Mark Warner spoke firmly as he owned up to his White privilege of having had two chances at failing in business before having a third chance and finding success. After praising Harris’ behind the scene work, Warner urged Americans to stay engaged. If they did, he said, “Up here where I work, it will look a heck of a lot different.”

During lunch, other speakers continued the roll including California Representative Eric Swalwell who explained that his experience as a lawyer in a depressed San Francisco community made him realize that “the promise of America had not reached all of America.” Wisconsin Congressperson Gwen Moore shared her interest to be on the House Ways and Means Committee and her pushing her bill that will require police to have “de-escalation” training - - but only after  alluding to the current president’ tax returns. She affirmed, “We will be able to get those tax returns.”

Congressional Black Caucus: First 100 Days the 116th Congress