Congresswoman Lee Votes to Pass Comprehensive Racial and Economic Justice Package H.R. 2543
Washington, DC – Yesterday, Congresswoman Barbara Lee voted to pass H.R. 2543, the Financial Services Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Economic Justice Act and issued the below statement.
“I’m proud to support H.R. 2543, a comprehensive racial justice package that builds on this Congress’ work to advance racial and economic justice. America’s wealth gap is the direct result of generations of slavery, segregation, and institutional racism. These disparities in opportunity are plagues that harm our communities and devastate families. As of 2019, the average Black and Latinx family held just 15 to 20% of the net worth of the average white family. Our nation’s wealth gap is even more pronounced for renter households who are disproportionately people of color due to historic discrimination and ongoing systemic barriers to homeownership for racial and ethnic minorities.
“A lack of fair access to credit and other financial services due to lending discrimination, language access barriers, disparities in employment and banking deserts remain a critical barrier to housing, homeownership, entrepreneurship and other wealth building opportunities for people of color. By addressing these disparities, we can help reduce costs, create jobs, and strengthen the resilience of our economy for everyone. I urge my colleagues to vote yes.”
To view the Congresswoman’s floor remarks, click here.
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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. She serves as Co-Chair of the Steering & Policy Committee, former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chair Emeritus of the Progressive Caucus, Co-Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Health Task Force, and Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus. She also serves as Chair of the Majority Leader’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity. As a member of the House Democratic Leadership, she is the highest ranking Black woman in the U.S. Congress.