Congress was in recess for most of January with the House returning back to session after Martin Luther King Day and the Senate returning the following week. Looking ahead, February should be an active month for legislation, as the House seeks a long-term solution to the Payroll Tax Cut and unemployment extension.
» THANK YOU!!!
The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) appreciates your attendance and participation at our 35th Annual Legislative Conference in Chicago, Illinois. You all truly helped make it a success, and we are grateful for your support. The 2012 NBCSL Resolutions have been posted to the website. You can download the entire packet or individual resolutions. Click here
The U.S. Department of Labor released the November 2011 Employment Situation showing a total number of 13.3 million Americans unemployed, representing 8.6% of the population. While there have been decreases to the national unemployment rate over the past months, the fact remains that many Americans are still struggling to secure jobs.
President Obama to Unveil the Administration's Jobs Package in September
Aides close to the President are reporting that after Labor Day, the President will unveil his plan to put Americans back to work and say the package is likely to target the long-term unemployed, some 6.2 million Americans who have been out of work for six months or more.
"Voter Suppression Efforts Well Underway This Redistricting Cycle"
While many legislatures are focused on high-priority Congressional and state-level redistricting, efforts are now underway across the country to adopt restrictive laws that will make voter access more difficult for African Americans and other minority voters.
"Discriminatory Purpose Threatens Integrity of Redistricting Process"
In May, the State of Louisiana became one of the first to submit and complete its redistricting plans for federal review pursuant to the Section 5 preclearance provision of the Voting Rights Act.
This redistricting cycle, African-American state legislators are well-poised to tackle the issue of prison-based gerrymandering, or the practice of counting prisoners where they are incarcerated instead of in their home communities.