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For the past two years since the beginning of the 93rd Congress, a staff of seven full time persons has been working to provide the legislative, research, and information coordination of Caucus activities. Where the staff of individual Caucus members work on matters in their 17 congressional districts, the Caucus staff works on:

•issues of concern to the entire Caucus.
•issues which need the collective voice or clout of the entire Caucus.
•issues which have broad impact on Black and other underrepresented Americans.
•issues which members may be better able to support under the Caucus umbrella than in their own individual names.

Operating out of the 3rd Floor of the old Congressional Hotel adjacent to the Congressional Office buildings, the major focus of the Caucus staff is developing, monitoring and obtaining support for the Caucus' legislative priorities. At the beginning of this year, a ten point legislative agenda was drafted covering key legislation affecting Black and poor constituents. The majority of Caucus staff time is spent on activities related to the ten point Caucus Agenda.

The Executive Director coordinates the Caucus staff operation, maintains daily communication with the Caucus members on a range of legislative and political concerns, coordinates the Caucus press activities and key meetings, and maintains contact with organizations and individual supporters of the Caucus on legislative issues.

The Legislative Director maintains daily contact with Legislative Assistants in Caucus members' offices on legislative developments, writes testimony and press statements related to the Caucus' legislative positions, develops a legislative alert to Black organizations and media, and coordinates aspects of the Caucus legislative support network.

The Casework Coordinator maintains a referral system for connecting members of Congress with Black constituents who seek assistance through the Caucus, develops a quarterly report of federal agency responses to Black and poor constituents; and assists in the administrative operation of the Caucus.

The Administrative Assistant with the aid of two support staff members maintains communication between Caucus members' offices and with outside individuals and organizations. In addition, a range of specific communications are coordinated by the Caucus staff.

•Regular meetings of the Caucus—at least once a month and on an as-needed basis.
•Publication of a regular Caucus newsletter which includes articles by Caucus members and staff on pressing issues.
•Publication of legislative alerts for national Black organizations and Black media.
•Coordination of forums, hearings, and special meetings of the Caucus.
•Publication of regular financial reports for CBC Members on the Caucus operation.
•Organization of legislative workshops for Black Elected Officials and representatives of civic, civil rights organizations, government officials, and legislative staff during the Caucus Dinner Weekend.
•Coordination of the Caucus' graduate legislative internship program.

With the adoption by Caucus Members of new subcommittee assignments aimed at building a national legislative support network, the Caucus staff will develop a management system communicating with specific constituent groups within the members' subcommittee areas.

[[image - black & white photograph of Walter Mondale, Rosalynn Carter, and Charles Rangel]

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[[image - black and white photograph of two women and a man]] 

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