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November 19, 2018 by NOW National

NOW Endorses Rep. Barbara Lee for House Democratic Caucus Chair

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON – The National Organization for Women (NOW) is proud to endorse Rep. Barbara Lee to be the next Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, the fifth-ranking position in leadership. If elected, Rep. Lee would be the first black woman to serve in House leadership—an historic step that is long overdue.

Congresswoman Lee is a unifier—she has spent her entire career bringing members together to advance effective policies. Working with Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, she created the Poverty and Income Inequality Task Force to tackle economic insecurity, and she helped write and pass the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) as well as every major HIV and AIDS legislation in recent years, building support among progressives, moderates, and conservatives.

We also know that she has the strength of character to stand up to Trump. Barbara Lee was the only member of Congress who stood up to the president when she voted against the use of force after the September 11 attacks. She was the only one who saw that attacking Iraq was an imprudent use of our military. We would have to look no further for a leader to stand against the ill-conceived militarization at our borders.

Black women are the backbone of the Democratic Party and its most reliable supporters. The 2018 elections proved that people of color are continually and increasingly confronted with voter suppression efforts that denied voters fully free and fair elections. It’s not enough for Democrats to criticize voter suppression efforts and the political leaders behind them. Democrats must elect leaders that look like America, feel what voters feel, and understand the politics of exclusion from personal experience.

With a new roster of women lawmakers about to take up their positions, electing a second woman to serve with Nancy Pelosi will strengthen the Democratic caucus and send a powerful message to the country that women—particularly women of color—belong in leadership.

The next Congress will take up an unprecedented level of oversight and scrutiny towards Donald Trump’s dangerous agenda. This is why we need the best, most experienced and most talented lawmakers – and why Barbara Lee must join Nancy Pelosi in leading the most diverse Congress in history.

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NOW Press, press@now.org, 202-628-8669

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florida_now Florida NOW @florida_now ·
20 Feb

Of the 147 women in the US Congress, only 26 identify as Black. We can fix this. Join Congresswoman @LaurenUnderwood & GA State Rep. @reginalewisward on Tues. 2/21 at 7PM ET, learn about their historic journeys & how we can elect more black women. RSVP ->http://bit.ly/RunNOWFeb21

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florida_now Florida NOW @florida_now ·
17 Feb

#BlackHistoryMonth: In 2022, 134 black women ran for Congress. Join winners US Rep @LaurenUnderwood & Ga Rep @reginalewisward on 2/21 at 7PM ET to learn about black woman candidate reality and what it takes to win. RSVP➡️http://bit.ly/RunNOWFeb21

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florida_now Florida NOW @florida_now ·
16 Feb

#Allies Love the sign! "Old White Guys" allies are treasures! Anti-DEI ones, nope!

@NationalNOW @Tallahassee_NOW @NowPinellas @miamilatina @OrlNOW @brevardnow @now_jax @PascoNOW @FlaGrassroots @Fla_Pol

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florida_now Florida NOW @florida_now ·
16 Feb

Did you know women working full-time in the US still only make 83% of what men are paid? Urge Congress to support equal pay by becoming an @AAUW Two-Minute Activist today: https://www.aauw.org/act/two-minute-activist/paycheck-fairness/

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15 Feb

A fiery email from @Florida_NOW served as the polar opposite of a Valentine’s Day greeting for DeSantis, bristling with condemnations of “racist & undemocratic … culture wars” that “pervert fundamental rights and principles of U.S and Florida governance.” http://floridapolitics.com/archives/588222-now-desantis-autocracy/

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