Here is an intersting question, I asked some friends of mine recently. How many people know who the the number three Democrat in the House is? Rep. James Clayburn(D-SC). Now what do you know about him? "Um um he was leader of the Congressional Black congress and um um he is from South Carolina." Well as the number three Dem in the house, and the whip for the house don't you think we should all know more?
More below
Congressman Jim Clyburn a native of Sumter, South Carolina was first elected to serve South Carolina's Sixth Congressional District in 1992, and his constituents have honored him each term since by returning him to Washington as their Representative.
Jim Clyburn enjoys the similar support from his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives. He currently serves as party Whip, after serving in the House Democratic leadership as Caucus Chair, the third-ranking Democratic representative, a position he was elected to without opposition after serving three years as Caucus Vice-Chair.
This is the latest in a distinguished list of leadership roles during his Congressional service. Congressman Clyburn was co-President of his Freshman class, served as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus' Annual Legislative Conference in 1997 and 1998, and most notably enjoyed rare unanimous support as he was sworn-in to Chair the Congressional Black Caucus for the 106th Congress. It was in that role that Congressman Clyburn led the largest Congressional delegation ever to visit the financial centers of New York's Wall Street and Chicago's LaSalle Street. He moved environmental justice issues to the forefront of the Caucus' agenda and successfully pushed for the integration of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals (the 4th Circuit has the largest Black Population of any Circuit but until Clinton in 1998 had no Black Judges).
He currently serves on the coveted House Appropriations Committee, where he is a member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies, and the Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development, The Judiciary, District of Columbia. In his first three terms, Congressman Clyburn served on the Veterans Affairs and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committees, where he was the ranking member on the Veterans Affairs' Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee.
Congressman Clyburn has also devoted himself to philanthropic work benefiting students seeking a higher education. Each August, he hosts the Rudolph Canzater Memorial Classic golf tournament in Santee, South Carolina that has raised more than $300,000 for college scholarships. The Congressman and his wife Emily, both graduates of South Carolina State University (SCSU), have established the James E. and Emily E. Clyburn Endowment for the Archives and History at their alma mater and have raised more than $1.2 million dollars for the endowment to date.
Following his graduation from SCSU, Congressman Clyburn served as a teacher, an employment counselor, and director of two youth and community development projects in Charleston, South Carolina. He was appointed to the staff of Governor John C. West in January 1971, and in October 1974 Governor West appointed him South Carolina Human Affairs Commissioner where he served until retiring from state government in 1992 to run for Congress.
Congressman Clyburn currently serves as Steering Committee Chairman for the International Museum of African American History in Charleston, South Carolina and is a member of the governing boards of Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina; Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina; and The Palmetto Conservation Foundation. He is a life member of the N.A.A.C.P., a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and is a Mason and Shriner. A graduate of the South Carolina Executive Institute
Based on his record I think we can expect to see a strong Environmental Advocate, Strong Advocation for Civil Rights, and as a senior member of Appropiation he will be in forfront of any budgetary battle. To be honest I have been a little disappointed in how little coverage has been given to Mr. Clayburn. Especially in light of the fact that he will hold such a senior position. This is also the man who will be responsible for rounding up votes, especially on key or controversal bills.
This may seem to be a "different" way to start a Black Kos dicussion but as I said before I don't want to "Balkanize" Kos. I really would like to see a breaking down of the wall between the Majority Black and Majority White Progressive spheres. I personally have started to email prominent Black elected officials to see if they will post diaries here from time to time. John Conyershas done this, and so has Maxine Waters and I hope they will do so again.