The Congressional Black Caucus recently announced that they will have 62 members at the 119th session of Congress, making history as part of a plan to fight the incoming Donald Trump administration agenda.
In total, 67 Black people will participate in the session; about five Republican members who are not part of the Congressional Black Caucus, also known more simply as the CBC, will also participate.
When participating in the session, the CBC will reportedly emphasize its mission to represent Black communities and other BIPOC groups through initiatives involving jobs, proper health care, educational equality, voter enfranchisement, and criminal justice reform. The group will specifically target policies that affect Black people once the Trump administration implements them.
“We’ve always been the conscience of the Congress, and that’s no matter who’s in charge,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., per NBC News. “We always try to work with folks where we can. But we call them out also. And now we have more of these leaders to call truth to power, to make sure that the voices of the voiceless are heard.”
With a historic 62 members, the Congressional Black Caucus enters Congress ready to amplify marginalized voices. The CBC remains Congress' conscience, louder than ever. https://t.co/5zi7uh281N
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) November 29, 2024
The CBC, which was first founded more than 50 years ago in 1971 to achieve equality and empowerment, will reportedly focus on topics such as the Affordable Care Act when at the next Congress session.
The Affordable Care Act is currently at risk of being eliminated. The Trump administration now has the power to decide whether the ACA subsidies should be renewed and has the option to end them.
The Biden-Harris previously made adjustments to the plan, giving approved users lower costs, including lower out-of-pocket costs for both Medicare and Medicaid. The plan is set to expire at the end of the incoming 2025 year.
It is currently unknown whether the ACA will be impacted, but Trump has previously pledged to make significant cuts to government costs.
According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, almost 50 million Americans, or 1 in 7 residents, have received healthcare from the ACA since January 2014. Under the Biden-Harris administration, 20.8 million Americans enrolled since open enrollment began in January. The increase in applicants resulted from the administration providing healthcare to families over 400% of the federal poverty level.
“The marketplaces have benefitted nearly 1 in 7 Americans by expanding access to affordable coverage for Americans who could not get health insurance or had previously struggled with the cost,” said U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen per a statement. “Marketplace enrollment has surged under the Biden-Harris Administration, which has especially helped American families with their monthly bills and entrepreneurs who are looking for coverage as they start new businesses.”
