2. THE LEGISLATOR • 2
2002-2004
NBCSL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Rep. Mary H. Coleman (MS)
President
Rep. Calvin Smyre (GA)
Vice President
Sen. Kay Patterson (SC)
Secretary
Sen. Rodger M. Smitherman (AL)
Treasurer
Sen. Hillman Frazier (MS)
Parliamentarian
Rep. Charlie Brown (IN)
1st
Vice President
Rep. Ulysses Jones (TN)
2nd
Vice President
Rep. LaNett Stanley-Turner (GA)
Recording Secretary
Sen. C.J. Prentiss (OH)
Financial Secretary
Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland (PA)
Chaplain
Regional Chairs:
Rep. Kenneth Green (CT), Chair, Region I
Assem. Annette Robinson (NY), Chair, Region II
Del. Nathaniel Oaks (MD), Chair, Region III
Rep. Joe Armstrong (TN), Chair, Region IV
Rep. Larry Womble (NC), Chair, Region V
Rep. Sharon Beasley-Teague (GA), Chair, RegionVI
Rep. Willie Perkins (MS), Chair, Region VII
Rep. Arthur Turner (IL), Chair, Region VIII
Rep. Catherine Barrett (OH), Chair, Region IX
Rep. Edwin R. Murray (LA), Chair, Region X
Rep. Barbara Ballard (KS), Chair, Region XI
Sen. Bettye Davis (AK), Chair, Region XII
ex officio Members:
Benjamin S. Ruffin
Chair, Corporate Round Table
Willie Baker
Chair, Labor Round Table
LaKimba DeSadier Walker
Interim Executive Director, NBCSL
Publisher: Rep. Mary H. Coleman (MS)
Managing Editor: Chantel Bivins
Associate Editor: Atiba Madyun
Operations Manager: Trilvey Works
Newsletter Design: Black Tied Designs, LLC
444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 622
Washington, DC 20001
202-624-5457 • 202-508-3826 fax
Website: www.nbcsl.com
by Rep. Mary H. Coleman
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
A
lthough it has been a few months since NBCSL’s last publication, we have been involved in
new and exciting endeavors. We believe that they are going to better help NBCSL members
address policy issues affecting our constituents.
This past summer NBCSL held policy symposiums to address Health, HIV/AIDS and STDs,
Housing, and Energy. We held our 7th Annual Gala and Awards Ceremony where we saluted the
achievements of Barbara Smith, CEO and Creative Officer of B. Smith’s Enterprises, and Congressman
Elijah Cummings, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus for their significant contributions to
African Americans in the business arena and in the political community respectively.
NBCSL embarked on strengthening and facilitating new partnerships. One with the Congressional
Black Caucus (CBC) who hosted our first joint meeting in September during their Annual Legislative
Conference in Washington, DC. A number of issues were discussed during the meeting as well as ways
we can work more closely on the state and federal level.
The second partnership is with our sister organization the National Hispanic Caucus of State
Legislators (NHCSL). For the first time in history, NBCSL invited NHCSL to participate in its 5th
Annual Housing Symposium in June. NHCSL members and NBCSL also held a health disparities
conference in Scottsdale, Arizona in November and at our annual conference will be holding a press
conference to address education issues in our communities. It is important that we work together to
address these issues, because our communities are faced with many of the same issues. These partner-
ships with CBC and NHCSL can only help us as we look for ways to better meet the needs of our
constituencies.
In August, Energy Committee Chair and our only NBCSL member in the state of Alaska, Sen.
Bettye Davis, hosted NBCSL members for our Energy Conference. The conference was filled with
wonderful speakers, panelists, and sessions where NBCSL members discussed the National Energy
Policy and its affects on African Americans.
To our corporate and labor members I want to thank you for your continued support of NBCSL.
To the NBCSL Executive Committee, I also want to thank you for your leadership as we make our way
into our second year. I believe that the organization is moving forward and that we are on the right
course. It is through your contributions that NBCSL is able to go forth with its initiatives. And to the
NBCSL membership, we thank you.
To the city of Houston, Texas, your hard work and diligence has paid off and we are excited about
venturing to your great city for our 27th Annual Legislative Conference. And last but certainly not
least, to the NBCSL national office, we thank you for your hard work this year.
3. 3 • NEWS 2003 • DECEMBER
Corporate Round Table Labor Round Table
NATIONAL BLACK CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS
continued on page 15
A Landfill —
In My Neighborhood?
T
he need to properly dispose
of garbage has been an issue
for thousands of years1
and
landfilling, disposing of garbage into
the ground, has been the most
popular waste disposal method
throughout time. The ancient
Greeks began landfilling when they
required citizens to take their trash
outside the perimeter of the city
gates and dispose of it. Dumps –
large, unprotected holes in the
ground where trash was disposed of
– began this way. Today, we do not
use “dumps” of this type; instead we
use sanitary landfills, which are
properly designed to handle the safe
and secure disposal of waste
products.2
In North America, Waste
Management Inc. is the leading
developer of sanitary landfills and
the top provider of comprehensive
waste management services. As
Americans continue to generate an
incredible amount of waste,
(approximately five pounds of trash
per day per person, or more than 1
ton of trash per person each year3
)
landfills, such as those designed by
industry leaders like Waste
Management, Inc., will remain a
critical part of any community’s
infrastructure wanting to promote
ongoing public health and safety.
Of course, everybody wants
their garbage picked up and taken
away, but very few people want the
garbage disposed of near their
THE LANDFILL AS A
GOOD NEIGHBOR:
Positive Impacts of a Sanitary Landfill on Communities
by Mr. Calvin Booker, Vice President of Public Affairs,
Southern Group - Waste Management, Inc.
“backyard” or place of residence.
This is known in the waste industry
as “The N.I.M.B.Y. Syndrome”,
which stands for Not In My
Backyard. However, recent studies
and evidence indicate that
communities are finally beginning
to realize that landfills can make
good neighbors and provide many
economic benefits to the communi-
ties they operate within. In
addition to providing necessary and
environmentally safe waste disposal
for residents and businesses, sanitary
landfills can provide communities
with a vast amount of supplemental
economic benefits such as host fees
to off-set local government budget
shortfalls, tax revenues from
business operations, local employ-
ment opportunities and community
enhancement and beautification
through facility landscaping. In
addition, some landfill sites utilize
new technologies to benefit their
local operating areas. For example,
in Wellford, South Carolina, Waste
Management’s Palmetto Landfill
uses landfill gases, which are formed
by the natural decomposition of
waste, to provide 25 percent of the
energy needs for a local automobile
manufacturing plant. This use of
“green energy” reduces air emissions
and saves on energy costs for the
manufacturing plant.
Reliable and Environmentally Safe
Waste Disposal
Modern sanitary landfills are an
important solution to safely and
T
hese are difficult times for
people like us. Those who
embrace the roles of union
activism or public service have done
so because we wanted to fight for
the principles upon which a just and
decent society must rest. That is a
daunting task when we have
national leadership that seems intent
on destroying the hard-won social
gains of the 20th
century.
The laying of a plaque on the
Lincoln Memorial to commemorate
the 40th
anniversary of Dr. Martin
Luther King’s “I Have a Dream”
speech was an inspiring event. But
while we honor his memory with
symbols, what are we doing to keep
America true to his ideals? Sadly,
different values – greed, division
and injustice – seem to hold sway in
the America of 2003. Now is the
time to reignite the spirit of idealism
that burned so brightly not very
long ago.
We have a government that
promotes a right-wing ideology with
a distorted vision of freedom.
Instead of protecting the greater
good against the excesses of the few,
we now have a government bought
and paid for by the wealthiest and
most powerful of our nation. We
are told that any kind of regulation
of vital services such as transporta-
tion, telecommunications and
utilities is bad. We are told that tax
cuts for the top percentile will make
things better for the rest of us. We
watch as jobs are shipped overseas to
exploited workers in other nations
while hope and opportunity for
working families wither on the vine
here at home. And we have
politicians and media figures
arguing that all this is good for us.
Where’s the passion for change?
As we pour billions of dollars into
Iraq, where’s the demand that we
rebuild the schools, roads and
communities in our own country?
Where’s the burning desire for
justice and dignity that shone
through in the words of Martin
Luther King, Jr., Robert F. Kennedy,
Hubert Humphrey and others?
Our country will not change for
the better until the people decide to
take it back. The labor movement is
but one of the progressive forces in
America with which the process of
change must start.
The way we change things is to
focus on what can be done and live
up to our principles. We are
working toward the day when we
can restore the sense of social justice
and human dignity that America is
lacking today.
In a society that’s become as
greedy as ours, and a culture that’s
become as crude as ours, those
words may be dismissed as
unrealistic. I say that idealism is
worth fighting for. The heroes of
the labor and civil rights movements
are revered today because they took
responsibility for their future and
the future of all electrical workers.
They focused on the task at hand by
organizing and taking direct action.
And we are the beneficiaries of their
vision. If we are going to make a
mighty contribution to a better
future for our country, we have got
to stand tall and lead the way.
TIME TO TAKE
BACK OUR COUNTRY
By Edwin D. Hill
International President, International Brotherhood of ElectricalWorkers
4. THE LEGISLATOR • 4
Roll Call — IN MEMORIAM
Mississippi Loses A Fighter for the
Improvement of Race Relations
Rep. Clayton Henderson was born June 30, 1954 in Mound Bayou.
He graduated from Rosa Fort High School and attended Jackson State
University and the John A. Gupton School of Funeral Science. He was
employed as a funeral director and an insurance agent in Tunica County.
Henderson was elected to the House of Representatives in 1980 and
was a current member of the House committees on Appropriations,
Agriculture, Public Buildings and Grounds and Enrolled Bills. He was a
former member of the Transportation and Public Utilities committees and
an active member of the Methodist Church, the Masons and the NAACP.
Rep. Henderson was a strong supporter of the casino industry that has
transformed the economy of Tunica County and Northwest Mississippi.
He worked tirelessly to ensure that gaming revenues were properly
distributed to local governments.
During his long service in the Legislature, he worked on numerous
special and study committees, including those involving agriculture, drug
abuse, economic development, health-care and the environment.
Rep. Henderson was widely known for his work in improving race
relations not only in his area, but the entire state of Mississippi. In 1986
he was quoted in the Memphis Commercial-Appeal as saying: “It is going
to take a unified effort between blacks and whites in Tunica for us to start
making a substantial amount of progress here.” A major focus of his
efforts was improving poor housing conditions in Tunica County and to
solve the problems of teenage pregnancy.
He authored numerous bills over the years that positively affected the
City of Tunica and Tunica County, including measures to increase the
tourism tax; allowing local government contributions to organizations
such as the Institute of Community Services, the Tunica County
Chamber of Commerce, the Aaron E. Henry Community Health Clinic
and the Tunica County Arena and Exposition Center; and bills to create
local utility districts.
In 1990 Rep. Henderson was a major critic of a proposal to reduce
the size of the Legislature. “The less representation you have, the fewer
the voices to be heard,” he said.
Speaker of the House Tim Ford Thursday said, “Clayton was a man of
his word. I came with him to the House of Representatives in 1980 and
he was a hard worker throughout his career. Tunica County and the
House of Representatives will sorely miss him.”
Maryland Delegate Loses Battle with Cancer
Long-time state delegate Howard “Pete” Rawlings has died after a
battle with cancer. Rawlings passed at the University of Maryland
hospital on November 14, 2003 at the age of 66. Del. Rawlings was one
of Maryland’s most influential black political leaders. He had been
chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee since 1992,
and used that position to help set spending priorities, especially in the
area of education.
Del. Rawlings was the driving force behind reorganization of
Baltimore’s public schools and used his power over the purse to ensure that
reforms were made and school officials were held more accountable.
Rawlings also forced educational reforms in the Prince George’s County
schools, clashing with Prince George’s lawmakers who complained that he
was interfering in local matters.
Rawlings represented the 40th
District in Baltimore City since 1979.
During his legislative career, he served on various committees such as:
Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, Legislative Policy Commit-
tee, Speaker’s Advisory Committee on Legislative Redistricting and chaired
the health & the environment subcommittee. He also served on various
task forces and councils, receiving in 2003 the John R. Hargreaves
Legislative Fellow Award and the President’s Medal, John Hopkins
University.
Del. Howard Rawlings is survived by his wife and three children. Clara
Henderson Burnett, his sister, will take his seat in the legislature.
NBCSL Loses Founding Members
Representative Norman Justice (KS)
NBCSL is grateful to Representative Justice for his vision of success
and hard work in the Kansas Legislature. In 1977, Representative Justice
was one of ninety state legislators who came together and founded
NBCSL. Through his vision and leadership, NBCSL became a national
organization that embodied labor as one of its public policy committees.
His legacy is also strong in the state of Kansas where he was a proud
Kansan and legislator for more than eighteen years. His long-term
commitment to civil rights and his steadfast support of the labor move-
ment made him a very close friend and personal confidant to A. Phillip
Randolph.
Representative Arie P. Taylor
Representative Taylor was a strong supporter and advocate for the
disenfranchised and worked very hard to open the door of opportunity to
those who were less fortunate, in particular minorities and women.
Among her many achievements is one that NBCSL is very proud of.
Not only is she the first African American woman to be elected to the
Colorado General Assembly where she served twelve years; she also helped
amend the Colorado State Assembly’s civil rights laws to include sex and
gender in its language. She is a pioneer and embodies the spirit of
excellence that legislators look for in their leaders. NBCSL is also
grateful to Rep. Taylor for her vision and insight. In 1977, she was one of
ninety African American state legislators who founded NBCSL and also
helped found the National Organization of Black Elected Legislators/
Women, better known as NOBEL Women.
Upon leaving the legislature, Rep. Taylor did not stop working with
NBCSL. Although NBCSL’s by-laws state that membership cannot
continue if no longer in elected office, she found a way while at COORS
to continue working with NBCSL through our Corporate Round Table.
5. 5 • NEWS 2003 • DECEMBER
ROLL CALL
Senator Ernest
Newton Appointed
to New Leadership
Position
Senate President Pro
Tempore Kevin B. Sullivan
(D – West Hartford)
appointed newly elected
State Senator Ernest E. Newton (D – Bridgeport)
as Deputy President Pro Tempore in early 2003.
“The people of Bridgeport and Stratford took
this opportunity to choose someone who will
truly represent their interests. Ernie Newton will
be an important new voice in the State Senate,”
said Sullivan.
Newton has served in the House of Represen-
tatives for 14 years in various capacities. He is a
member of the Legislature’s Finance, Revenue and
Bonding Committee, Insurance and Real Estate
Committee and the Legislative Management
Committee. He is also Chair of the Legislature’s
Public Safety Committee, and is a member of the
general bonding sub-committee.
“I am really honored to have the opportunity
to utilize my skills and talents, which I have used
for over 14 years in the House, when I come to
the Senate. Being able to start out of the box, in a
leadership position will serve the city of Bridge-
port and the town Stratford with clout in the
Senate Circle,” stated Newton.
Sen. Margaret Rose Henry
Honored by Delaware Commission
for Women
The Delaware Commission for Women
honored Sen. Henry on March 19 at the 22nd
annual Hall of Fame of Delaware Women Awards
Banquet in Dover. For 30 years Sen. Margaret
Rose Henry has been involved in the Delaware
human service community, working to meet the
needs of the poor, the elderly, families and
children. In 1994, she became the first African
American woman to serve in the Delaware State
Senate.
As senator, she has been committed to
ensuring that the State Police recruit, train, retain
and promote minorities on an equal footing with
all others. She has also sponsored hate crime
legislation, and created the Office of Women’s
Health to address the special needs of women.
Henry has also been honored by the Delaware
YWCA as a “Woman of the Next Century” and
received the Delaware Chapter of the ACLU’s
“Gerald E. Kandler Memorial Award” for her
exemplary life as a public servant and as an
advocate for the rights of citizens throughout the
community.
National
Foundation for
Women Legislators
Elects New
Parliamentarian
During the 65th
Annual
Conference of the National
Foundation for Women
Legislators (NFWL) in Las Vegas, NV, Georgia
State Representative Sharon Beasley Teague was
appointed Parliamentarian. New Board Members
were sworn in by Outgoing President of the
Order, Rep. Gail Buckner (GA), at the closing
breakfast of the conference on Monday, Septem-
ber 1st.
“A fervent advocate for the working poor,
Representative Beasley Teague will be a valuable
asset as a board member of the Order of Women
Legislators,” said Robin Read, President and
CEO of NFWL.
Rep. Sharon Beasley Teague was elected to
office in 1992. She serves on the Health &
Ecology Committee, as Secretary of the Motor
Vehicles Committee, and Secretary of the
regulated Beverages Committee. She has received
various awards, including one from the NFWL in
1998.
The National Order of Women Legislators is
a membership organization of state elected
women legislators. Their mission is to provide
strategic resources to women leaders for leader-
ship development and effective governance
through conferences, effective seminars, issue
education materials, professional and personal
relationships, and networking at both the state
and federal levels.
Rushern L. Baker III Appointed
Executive Director of CTI
The board of directors of the Community
Teachers Institute (CTI), a nonprofit organization
that recruits and trains culturally connected
teachers to work in public schools nationwide,
appointed former Maryland state delegate
Rushern L. Baker III as Executive Director.
“The board is thrilled about the selection of
Rushern as our new executive director,” said
board chair Peter Greeman. “He brings a
dedication and magnetism to CTI which inspires
all those who meet him. CTI has been fortunate
to have had tremendous leaders throughout our
history, Rushern has the talent and passion
needed to carry on this great legacy.”
Prior to joining CTI, Baker served two terms
in the Maryland House of Delegates as a member
of the education and appropriations committees.
During his last four years, Baker served as
chairman of the Prince George’s House delega-
tion, the second largest in Maryland.
A graduate of Howard University and the
Howard University School of Law, professionally
Baker has served as counsel and special assistant
to the executive director for 10 years at a D.C.-
based nonprofit and is a former senior partner of
Baker & Perry. Baker remains a member of the
Maryland, District of Columbia, and Pennsylva-
nia bars.
Mississippi
Chooses Blackmon
as Democratic
Nominee for
Lt. Governor
Sen. Barbara Blackmon
(MS) made a bid to become
the first black person
elected to statewide office in Mississippi since
Reconstruction. She is one step closer by being
chosen the Democratic Nominee by the
Democratic Party. Blackmon was encouraged by
poll numbers and believes the state is ready to
elect a black Lieutenant Governor.
“I think Mississippi will rise to the occasion when
Mississippi sees it’s about competence, it’s about
leadership, it’s about qualifications, it’s
about commitment,” said Blackmon.
ROLL CALL continued on page 13
6. THE LEGISLATOR • 6
Health
O
n April 24-26, The National Black
Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL)
and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) partnered
to explore issues and strategies to eliminate health
disparities. The Pennsylvania Black Legislative
Caucus (PBLC) hosted the meeting titled
“Exploring Options to Bridge the Gap” in Philadel-
phia, PA. Sixty-six people attended the meeting
including forty-four NBCSL members.
The program included a wonderful array of
speakers. Among them were Sen. Vincent Hughes
(PA), whose keynote address on the use of
Tobacco Settlement dollars to address African
Americans health care needs and the issue of
managed care in Medicaid programs set the tone
for the meeting. His address focused on health
disparity rates for stroke, homicide (5 times higher
for African Americans than whites), and HIV/
AIDS and STD infection (2 and a half-times as
high for blacks as for whites).
Hughes referenced The Institute of Medicine’s
2002 report, Unequal Treatment, that states
discrimination within the health care complex is
an important but addressable problem. He said,
“Support for the Office of Civil Rights (OCR)
and support in every state medical school should
be leveraged to address the few and decreasing
numbers of African Americans enrolled.”
Dr. Courtney Crim, MD, GSK and the
University of North Carolina also addressed the
audience. In his talk, he said that asthma is the
leading chronic illness in children and the fourth
leading cause of disability. Asthma mortality
increased 118 percent in 1998. Cities with the
highest asthma rates are Chicago, Philadelphia,
and New York, while West Virginia, Mississippi
and Louisiana rank among the lowest states.
Prevalence and severity are higher among African
Americans and Hispanics. Annual death rates
from 1985-1991 were 3 times higher for blacks
than for whites.
Leading a discussion, Professor Peter M.
Joseph, Ph.D., University of PA, said asthma
tripled in NY, PA and the northeastern U.S. in the
90s because of the use of methyl tertiary butyl
ether (MTBE). MTBE was introduced and
approved by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) in response to the requirements to
eliminate lead from gasoline and to raise the
amount of oxygen by the EPA. His study showed
an enormous increase in asthma, consistent with
the introduction of 15% MTBE during the trial
run in the winters of 1992-1995. Since then,
where laws were passed to require MTBE, the
asthma rate increased e.g. 63% among blacks in
Philadelphia. No symptoms are found in regions
without MTBE.
Other speakers at the meeting included Dr.
Natalie Carroll, President, NMA, who shifted the
discussion to managed care programs in Medicaid
and Medicare. She reported that because of
redundancy in Medicaid, 40% administrative
overhead is taken from the program each year and
encouraged NBCSL legislators to be active in state
formulary development. Mr. Robert A. Ingram,
GSK Vice-Chairman, gave an overview of GSK’s
contributions in medicines. He reported that
GSK has contributed more than $160 million in
free medicines, $90 million going to states and
communities, and $800 million for Medicaid
rebates. He said the largest percentage of health
care costs is hospital and institutional costs, not
drug costs which account for only 9-10%. He
said outcries about increasing medication costs are
related to new drug treatment strategies.
Other topics included HIV/AIDS and STDs.
Dr. Benny Primm reported that chlamydia cases
are extremely high in SC, GA, MS, and AL. This
is important because high STD rates are associated
with this type infection.
Black Legislators
Partner with GSK
on Disparaties
“An Asthma
Bombshell Is Alleged”
By Daniel R. Thomas,
Senior Health Policy Consultant
NBCSL and Eli
Lilly Conference
FindsTroubles For
Mental Health
Programs
By Daniel R. Thomas
Senior Health Policy Associate
T
he National Black Caucus of State
Legislators (NBCSL) and Eli Lilly’s 10th
mental health program “Protection of the
Mentally Ill In Times of Crisis” was held October 2-
4, 2003, in Indianapolis, IN. The program was a
product of the Committee on Health, chaired by
Sen. Roscoe Dixon.
Rep. Mary H. Coleman, NBCSL President
gave opening remarks at the banquet. Dr. Alan
Breier, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Vice
President Medical Affairs, Eli Lilly, discussed the
quality of mental health care and set the tone for
the program.
Ms. Anne Noble, Vice President Corporate
Affairs, discussed the various leadership roles of
Eli Lilly and the Eli Lilly Indianapolis mental
health rehabilitation project that includes: patient
job training, education, and reintegration into the
community. The company also has employment
outreach to the African American Community
through recruitment at Historically Black Colleges
and Universities (HBCUs).
Commissioner Kathy Sawyer, Alabama
Department of Mental Health, was keynote
speaker for the program. The Commissioner said
that there are nationwide shortcomings in
handling mental illness. She noted that federal
funding policy contributes to the problem by not
paying for hospitalization and by under funding
mental health services in public schools. Other
institutional problems for black patients include:
delayed releases, prematurely discharges, and/or
discharging black mentally ill patients without
referrals to outpatient mental health services.
Her state programs for mentally ill patients
7. 7 • NEWS 2003 • DECEMBER
include: a HUD housing initiative to build
homes and apartments; an unrestricted
formulary; a rent cap from $150.00 to
$200.00; Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families funds for substance abuse treatment
in women to reunite them with their children;
and a Juvenile Court system.
A mental health panel followed where
Jerome Handley, Ph.D., Director of Innovative
Programs for Children, the South Carolina
Department of Mental Health in this time of
societal devaluation of the importance of
protecting children. Dr. Handley charged
NBCSL participants to have a meeting with
their state directors of mental health to
emphasize the importance of maintaining
mental health services for youth and children.
Children who are adjudicated lose their
Medicaid benefits.
Ron Manderscheid, Ph.D., Chief, Survey
and Analysis Branch, Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Service Administration, said
that mental health services have come full
circle, from the alms house in the 1970s and
have returned to them in 2003. He charged
NBCSL members to improve the quality of
the system and highlighted the motto,
“Nothing about us, without us.”
Rep. Charlie Brown, Chairman, Indiana
Public Health Committee introduced the
Luncheon Speaker, Dr. Gilbert Parks, M.D.,
former chairman of the Board for National
Medical Association (NMA). Dr. Parks spoke
about Health Care and the African American
Community.
He began his discussion by issuing three
charges to the audience: 1. “Let’s do
something about this condition. It’s time to
stop talking about how bad it is;” 2. Vote
against the proposed Medicaid block grant
legislation that would offer greater flexibility to
states in exchange; and 3. Medicaid waivers
under Title 1115 are O.K. but don’t accept a
cap on Medicaid.
Participants said that this was perhaps the
best program since they began.
BREAKING BARRIERS
Reproductive Health Equity:
A National Imperative
N
ARAL Pro-Choice America
Foundation’s Proactive Policy
Institute has released a
publication that highlights and
addresses unique, widespread threats to
reproductive health faced by women of
color and low- income women.
Breaking Barriers: A Policy Action Kit
Promoting the Reproductive Health of
Women of Color and Low-Income
Women is the result of a collaborative
effort between NARAL Pro-Choice
America and many of the nation’s
leading reproductive health, women of
color and civil rights organizations. The
report builds upon the NARAL Pro-
Choice America’s ongoing efforts to
address reproductive health inequities
through research and policy develop-
ment.
As Kate Michelman, President of
NARAL Pro-Choice America explains,
“[W]omen must have access to and
information about a full range of
contraceptive options before having sex,
as well as education that allows them to
better prevent sexually transmitted
diseases. Women must have affordable
or free-to pre-natal care so that they can
bear healthy children. Providers of
reproductive health care must address
the conditions that disproportionately
affect women of color and must do so
with sensitivity to cultural and linguistic
barriers. Pain relief in delivery cannot
be rationed based on language or ability
to pay.”
IMPORTANT FACTS
Although African American women represent
only 13 percent of the U.S. female population,
they account for almost two-thirds (63 percent)
of new AIDS cases reported among women.
A majority of sexually active African American
teenage girls surveyed had grave misconcep-
tions about STD/HIV prevention - more than
50 percent thought that all STDs were curable
and do not increase the odds of HIV transmis-
sion. Also, that douching after sex can protect
against HIV infection.
Low-income women-a disproportionate
number of whom are women of color - often
do not have access to affordable family
planning services, and receive incomplete or
inaccurate information about available family
planning coverage under Medicaid.
Due to the federal ban on Medicaid funding
for abortion, low-income women in many cases
must forgo necessities like food for their
families to pay for abortions.
African American women are four times as
likely, and American Indian and Alaska Native
women are nearly twice as likely, to die of
pregnancy complications than white women.
Latinas are the most likely to get cervical
cancer. African American women and
Vietnamese women also experiencing
disproportionately high incidence rates.
African American women’s Chlamydia rate is
nine times, and Native American women’s rate
is over six times, that of white women.
Chlamydia is a leading cause of Pelvic
Inflammatory Disease (PID), which in turn
causes infertility and ectopic pregnancy as well
as neonatal conjunctivitis and pneumonia.
continued on page 15
8. THE LEGISLATOR • 8
NBCSL CELEBRAT
“It was one of our best gala’s. It was well attended and very well organized,” said Hopkins.
“The changes we made this year led to an extraordinary evening.”
Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD) and Barbara Smith received 2003 Image Awards
for excellence in the field of politics, business and service in the African American community
benefiting African Americans as a whole.
Elected to the United States House of Representatives in April 1996, Congressman
Cummings is now in his fifth term. He is chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and
serves on multiple House Committees and Subcommittees, including Government Reform
and Criminal Justice. Before serving in Congress, Cummings served in the Maryland House of
Delegates for 16 years.
Barbara Smith of B. Smith Enterprises has been recognized as a role model for young
women. Smith has a nationally syndicated lifestyle television series, the only series hosted by an
African-American; she is the owner of successful restaurants in New York and Washington,
D.C.; and entered the publishing industry with B. Smith’s Entertaining and Cooking for
Friends.
NBCSL’s 7th
Annual Gala
cover story
Honoring Today’s Pioneers...
Top: Rep. Charlie Brown (IN), Nate Miles, Eli Lilly; Rep. Jackie Winters
(OR), Sen. Margaret Carter (OR) and Sen. Kay Patterson (SC) convene at
the gala to show support for the organization and award recipients.
Center: President Coleman enjoys the speech given by Congressman
Cummings during the acceptance of his award.
Center left: Sen. Paul Feliciano (KS), NHCSL President and
Rep. Lois DeBerry (TN) enjoy the festivities.
Center right: Washington, DC Mayor Anthony Williams brings
greetings to the Gala attendees .
Bottom left: Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD) showcases
his new image award.
Bottom right: Rep. Mary H. Coleman (MS) congratulates Barbara
Smith of B. Smith Enterprises on her achievements in the business sector.
NBCSL Convenes Symposium on
HIV/AIDS and STDs
By Atiba Madyun, Director of Communications
T
hrough NBCSL’s Cooperative Agreement with the Center’s for Disease and Prevention
Control (CDC), a symposium was convened on June 21, 2003 in Washington, DC to
discuss the impact HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases have on the African
American community.
The one-day symposium was attended by more than 40 legislators and individuals working
on HIV/AIDS and STDs around the country. Speakers included CDC’s Dr. George Roberts,
who gave an overview of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in America, as well as, other national
organizations working on HIV/AIDS and STDs, particularly in the African American
community. National organizations presenting at the symposium included: Luis Burguillo,
National Minority AIDS Council; Leo Rennie, National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS
Directors; and Mark Colomb, PhD, CRA, Mississippi Urban Research Center at Jackson State
University.
Rep. Laura Hall (AL) gave one of the more enlightening and engaging stories about her
personal experience with HIV/AIDS. Her story about her son’s contraction of the disease
opened the door for participants to discuss their own feelings. Speaker Pro Tempore and
former NBCSL President Rep. Lois DeBerry (TN) touched on her personal experience with
her brother and the disease.
While a number of scheduled speakers discussed HIV/AIDS, Deborah Arindell, the
American Social Health Association and Debra Henderson, the Indiana Syphillis Demonstra-
continued
9. 9 • NEWS 2003 • DECEMBER
tion Site, talked about STDs. When asked why
STDs was included in the project, NBCSL
President Mary H. Coleman said, “STDs have
been added to the project because HIV and other
STDs are being transmitted through similar risk
behaviors, and also because infection with certain
STDs can dramatically increase the likelihood of
contracting or transmitting the HIV infection.”
Although having experts on HIV/AIDS and
STDS on the program was important, legislators
seemed to really enjoy the morning field trip to
the Whitman Walker Clinic. The Executive
Director, Cornelius Baker, gave an excellent
presentation and tour about the clinic and its
resources. During his tour he discussed various
topics, such as: who the clinic serves; why the
facility has a dental clinic, food bank and law
office; and why these are important resources to
include in a HIV/AIDS clinic.
The field trip allowed legislators to receive
first hand knowledge and to find out what goes
on in a HIV/AIDS clinic and in the community.
“As legislators, many of us are aware of the
problem, but unaware of how to work with our
constituents to combat the spread of the disease.
It is NBCSL’s hope that through our cooperative
agreement with the CDC, that we might be able
to work more efficiently in our districts to change
behaviors and educate our constituents on how
to protect themselves and protect our communi-
ties. This disease is affecting more than 42
million people worldwide. It is a disease affects
us all”, said President Coleman.
As the symposium came to a close, a
discussion on next steps among participants led
NBCSL legislators to decide to address three
areas as it relates to HIV/AIDS and STDs: to
focus more attention on rural communities, to
include the faith based community in working
with these communities and to focus more
attention on prevention efforts among young
people.
As a follow-up to the meeting, NBCSL will
hold a panel discussion at the 27th Annual
Legislative Conference in Houston, Texas on
International Day “Addressing HIV/AIDS and
STDs with Youth” on Wednesday, December 3,
2003.
HOUSING
Congresswoman Kilpatrick addresses NBCSL and NHCSL Members at the Fannie Mae Housing Symposium
NHCSL Joins NBCSL for
2003 Housing Symposium
O
ver 80 legislators, from all over the United States, ascended on Washington, DC to
partake in the fifth Fannie Mae Housing Symposium. “We are thankful and happy that
Fannie Mae has continued to host NBCSL and provide such an excellent forum to
continue the discussion on housing issues within our communities,” said NBCSL President Rep.
Mary H. Coleman.
The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL), World Conference of Mayors,
and Opportunities Industrialization Centers (OIC) joined NBCSL during the policy driven
symposium. For the past four years, NBCSL has brought African American state legislators to
Washington, DC to discuss important housing issues that affect the constituents they represent.
Topics discussed during the symposium included: the Emerging Market Consumer, Federal Income
Tax Credit and housing issues in various demographic areas.
The historic addition of the Hispanic Caucus received a great deal of media attention. Kansas
State Senator Paul Feliciano led the NHCSL delegation. When President Mary H. Coleman was
asked about the meeting she said, “I am excited that NHCSL President Paul Feliciano led the
delegation of Hispanic legislators to our symposium. No discussion on issues in our communities
is complete without representatives from both communities present”.
Speakers at the symposium included: Franklin Raines, CEO, Fannie Mae; Rep. Mary H.
Coleman (MS), NBCSL President; Sen. Paul Feliciano (KS), NHCSL President; Congresswoman
Carolyn Kilpatrick (MI), Congressman Harold E. Ford (TN), and Rep. Larry Womble (NC),
NBCSL Housing Committee Chair.
Both Congresswoman Kilpatrick (MI) and Congressman Ford (TN) discussed the importance
of homeownership within minority communities. Moreover, they stressed the value of state
legislators empowering their constituents with the help of organizations like Fannie Mae. NBCSL
passed a resolution supporting the hard work and effort of Fannie Mae.
10. THE LEGISLATOR • 10
THE MORE YOU KNOW...
June unemployment rate for African Americans
is nearly twice as high as the national average—
The latest unemployment figures show African
Americans continue to suffer the highest rate of
joblessness in the country. According to a
government report released by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, 11.8 percent of African
Americans were unemployed in June almost
double the overall unemployment rate of 6.4
percent. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
said “An unemployment rate of 11.8 percent is
terrible news for African American people. Too
many hardworking people are looking for work,
and President Bush and the Republican Congress
continue to look the other way.” Congressional
Black Caucus chair Elijah Cummings (D-MD)
calls the unemployment situation unacceptable,
“African American families are finding it harder
to make ends meet. Our people and our great
country are suffering because of the
Administration’s economic policies.” Pelosi
added: “In the last three months alone, the
number of unemployed Americans has increased
by 913,000. That brings the total unemployed
to 9.4 million.”
Congressional Black
Caucus on Liberia—
On behalf of the
Congressional Black
Caucus, U.S. Rep.
Donald Payne (D-NJ),
Ranking Member on the
House International
Relations Subcommittee
on Africa, recently released a letter to the U.S.
Secretary of State Colin Powell concerning the
humanitarian crisis in Liberia. Here is an excerpt
from that letter: “As I write this letter, the people
of Liberia are struggling for mere survival. Last
week’s fighting resulted in over 500 civilian
deaths in Monrovia’s streets as LURD and
MODEL have gotten closer and closer to the
center of the capitol. Also last week, as you are
aware, the U.S. embassy was attacked and
civilians are piling dead bodies in front of the
U.S. property in demonstration of their
desperate call for our help. I do not need to tell
you of the long history between our country and
Liberia. Even long after the establishment in
1820 of the country often referred to as the only
American “colony” in Africa, the U.S. has enjoyed
a close relationship with Liberia which has
benefited us politically, militarily, economically,
and tactically. In support of the U.S. position in
World War II, the West African country allowed
American troops to be stationed on its soil.
Again, during the Cold War, Liberia was an
important ally when it served as a leading U.S.
base for intelligence activity against Moammar
Gadhafi of Libya and other threats to the U.S. In
1991 when Liberia was in the midst of the civil
war, we were asked to intervene. However, one
reason given for us not to become involved was
because of our activities in the first Persian Gulf
War. Now we cannot afford to fail Liberia again.
Mr. Secretary, I urge you to apply your influence
on the U.S. Administration to convince them to
come to the assistance of Liberia.”
Dorothy Height Congressional Gold Medal Bill
passes the House—In October 2003, The House
of Representatives voted unanimously to approve
legislation awarding a Congressional Gold Medal
to Dr. Dorothy Height. U.S. Rep. Diane Watson
(D-California) sponsored the bill. Watson said
that Dr. Height is “the preeminent social and civil
rights activist of our time and is known as the
grand dame of the America’s civil rights move-
ment.” Dr. Height, who turned 90 this year, is
recognized as a leading social and civil rights
activist of the 20th century. She is the recipient
of numerous awards, including the Citizens
Medal Award, presented by President Reagan, and
the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award,
presented by President Clinton.
Reconsidering the Souls
of Black Folks—
Perennial Strategy
Group’s Lamell
McMorris hosted a book
signing and luncheon for
author Stanley Crouch to
celebrate his literary
work “Reconsidering the
Souls of Black Folks.” Mr. Crouch teamed up
with noted journalist Playthell Benjamin for this
thought-provoking look back at “The Souls of
Black Folk”, the visionary work by the great
African American intellectual W. E. B. DuBois.
Crouch and Benjamin praise the contributions
of DuBois’ work, noting its uncanny relevance to
today’s society and its profound impact on the
field of African-American studies. The event was
held during the recent Congressional Black
Caucus conference. “Crouch has a breadth of
knowledge about politics, art, jazz, blues and
literature,” Mr. McMorris said, “He is not only
provocative but perceptive about these issues.
Reconsidering the Souls of Black Folk is a fitting
tribute to a literary and sociological triumph.”
For information on getting autographed copies
of this book, send an email to
info@unityfirst.com.
New York: Wall Street Summit focuses on
wealth-building for Latino business—The New
America Alliance (NAA) held the Third Annual
Wall Street Summit at New York’s Le Parker
Meridien Hotel on October 21-24, 2003. The
event focused on increasing the wealth-building
potential for the American Latino community,
expanding American Latino presence on U.S.
corporate boards, promoting greater access to
capital for Latino businesses, investing in
education and mentoring for American Latino
students and entrepreneurs, and the release of a
NAA white paper: “American Latinos in the
Financial Services Industry.” A national 501(c) 6
organization of prominent American Latino
business leaders, New America Alliance is
dedicated to advancing the economic develop-
ment of the American Latino community. The
Alliance is organized on the principle that
11. 11 • NEWS 2003 • DECEMBER
American Latino business leaders have a special
responsibility to lead the process of building the
forms of capital and values most crucial to
Latino progress - economic capital, political
capital, human capital and the practice of
philanthropy.
First Annual Latino AIDS Awareness Day—On
October 15 in over 100 U.S. cities, Latinos
joined together to mark the First Annual Latino
AIDS Awareness Day and called on Health and
Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson to
expand HIV prevention efforts in all segments of
the Latino community. In cities from Anchorage,
Alaska to Miami, Florida and from New York
City to Los Angeles local organizations
sponsored activities to draw local and national
attention to the fact that Latinos represent 20%
of the persons living with AIDS but only 14% of
the U.S. population.
Build Your Tomorrow nationwide campaign—
To help Americans achieve their financial
dreams, Household International, Inc., a
subsidiary of HSBC Holdings, announced the
launch of the Build Your Tomorrow consumer
education program. To emphasize the importance
of this unique financial education campaign,
Household has teamed with Oscar-nominated
actress Angela Bassett to reach out to consumers.
“Building a more secure future for your family
should be an important goal for all Americans,”
Bassett said. “I believe that Build Your Tomorrow
can reach out to people on many levels, helping
them to start building a better tomorrow today.”
Build Your Tomorrow combines the power of
financial education with new educational
opportunities. This nationwide program will
provide consumers with practical knowledge they
can use to make smart financial decisions and
benefit from these decisions almost immediately.
To learn more about finances visit
YourCreditCounts.com®
through Jan. 9, 2004
and for information on workshops write to
communityrelations@household.com.
Urgent need for minority marrow donors—
November was National Marrow Awareness
month, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
encouraged people to help save lives by registering
to be a potential donor. The need for bone
marrow and blood stem cell donors is great, but
the need for minority donors is urgent. A special
need exists for participation by people with
minority ethnic backgrounds. Because these
donors comprise only 26 percent of the national
registry, patients with minority ethnic back-
grounds are less likely than Caucasians to find a
matched donor. Joseph H. Antin M.D., chief of
the Stem Cell Transplantation Service and
medical director of the unrelated donor program
at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute says “The best
potential donor most likely comes from the
patient’s same racial/ethnic group, and many
minority groups are under-represented in the
national registry. More donors of diverse race and
ethnicity increase the opportunity that all people
will have an equal chance of finding a matched
donor.” Joining the national registry is a simple
process and requires only a small blood test, but
becoming a volunteer donor is a serious
commitment. Those who join the registry are
asked to remain committed to donating for any
patient, anywhere in the world, regardless of the
patient’s sex, age, race or ethnicity until their 61st
birthday. This commitment can mean the
difference between life and death for the patient.
To find out more about Dana-Farber’s Stem Cell
Transplantation Program and how to become a
potential donor, please call 866-875-3324, email
nmdpdonor@dfci.harvard.edu, or visit online at
www.dana-farber.org/how/donatebone.
Living in the City Tours: African-American
History and Cultural Tours—Living in the City
Tours featured 23 African-American history and
cultural tours for 2003. The affordable 2-6 day
escorted motor coach mini-vacations are popular
with families, students, seniors and history buffs
alike. Some of the places the tours visited were:
New Orleans, LA.; Nashville, TN; and Saint
Louis, MO, among other cities. They also
touched on various themes like Black Music and
Culture and The African American Gullah
Culture. For more information visit
www.LITCTOURS.com.
U.S. Small Business
Administration
Partners With the
Internal Revenue
Service—In April, the
U.S. Small Business Administration, in partner-
ship with the Internal Revenue Service, launched
an internet-based program that allows small
businesses to register their businesses at the state
level, and apply for and receive their Federal
Employer Identification Number at the same
time. This service will streamline the state and
federal application process by automating the
exchange of applicant data between the states and
federal government. Because this system is built
with a web services interface, any participating
state can quickly and easily offer a seamless state
registration and federal EIN tool. The states of
Georgia and Illinois were the first partners
participating with SBA and IRS on this intergov-
ernmental solution.
12. THE LEGISLATOR • 12
Historic Meeting Between
CBC and NBCSLTakes
Place in Washington, DC
O
n September 25, 2003 legislators from the Congressional
Black Caucus (CBC) and the National Black Caucus of
State Legislators (NBCSL) convened for the first time
during CBC’s Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC.
The two legislative organizations discussed education, health care,
homeland security and criminal justice. The purpose of the meeting
was to discuss public policy issues and ways that the two groups can
work together on issues impacting the African American commu-
nity.
The meeting was co-chaired by NBCSL President, Mississippi
state Representative Mary H. Coleman and CBC Chairman,
Congressman Elijah Cumming. More than 40 CBC and NBCSL
members attended the meeting. After the meeting, Rep. Coleman
said, “This was a historic event! NBCSL and CBC members this
morning talked about public policy issues that are important to our
communities. CBC members are here in Washington, and we as
state legislators are in the community with our constituencies. The
two groups discussing policy issues together will help us address the
issues of the more than 30 million African American voters we
represent.”
Racial and ethnic health care disparities continue to persist in this
country, despite increased efforts to combat the problem. Statistics show
that racial and ethnic minorities have disproportionately higher morbidity
and mortality across a number of health conditions when compared to the
non-Latino white population. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) studies show that death rates for African Americans
versus whites due to cardiovascular disease are 29% higher and 40% higher
for stroke. Death rates for Latino-Americans versus whites due to diabetes
disease are 42% higher and 150% higher for HIV/AIDS.
“As elected officials, it is our responsibility to work together to educate
our peers and other policy-makers about the need, and in fact the business
rationale, for beleaguered state economics, to ensure that minorities have
access to health care services and that they are provided care in a culturally
and ethnically appropriate manner that promotes improved outcomes,”
said Rep. Mary Coleman (MS), President of NBCSL.
The conference provided opportunities for legislators to receive an
overview of health disparities on the national and state level. The
conference also featured presentations from renowned experts in the fields
of HIV/STDs, Asthma, Patient Care and Disease Management, Cardiovas-
cular Disease and Stroke, Diabetes, Mental Health, Cancer and Pain
Management. Breakout sessions focused on access to and financing of
health services.
To accomplish this, NBCSL, NHCSL and the National Institute to
Combat Health Disparities (NICHD) have joined forces to address this
issue. According to Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (TX), President of NHCSL,
“We are all working towards one goal, eliminating disparities in health care
for minorities. We all realize that by working together, we can be more
impactful in our efforts.” The group plans to make this conference an
annual event.
Part of the reason for the disparities, besides the inability to afford
health care, stems from the cultural and linguistic challenges that these
populations face. Many minorities fail to seek treatment for various
ailments until the symptoms are severe and the disease has progressed past
the stage of effective treatment.
NBCSL and NHCSL made a commitment to work together to address
this serious issue through the development of the National Health
Disparities Consortium. This consortium, in collaboration with NICHD,
will establish goals and benchmarks, compile primary and secondary data,
evaluate and prioritize best-practice solutions, identify funding opportuni-
ties, link health service providers and convene an Annual National Health
Disparities Summit. As explained by Rickie C. Keys, PhD, Founder of the
NICHD, “It is our goal to ensure that the programs and policies we
identify and develop will have an impact and help to reduce disparities in
health outcomes.”
cover story continued
First Annual Health Disparities Conference
13. 13 • NEWS 2003 • DECEMBER
ROLL CALL
Sen. Blackmon is running to improve health
care, prescription drug availability, job opportuni-
ties and economic development, areas she says
have not been adequately addressed in the state.
Blackmon has served in the Senate since
1992, and is Chairman of the State Library
committee and Vice Chairman of the Insurance
Committee. She also serves on the Constitution,
Finance, Highways Transportation, Judiciary
and the Public Health Welfare committees.
Rep. Walton’s
Emancipation Day
Legislation Signed
into Law
Rep. Juanita Head
Walton (D-St. Louis)
sponsored legislation that
was signed by Governor
Bob Holden proclaiming “Emancipation Day” to
be July 10th
. The legislation celebrates the spirit of
the Emancipation Proclamation.
The language of House Bill 640 creates the
state holiday of “Emancipation Day” to provide
Missourians with the opportunity to reflect upon
this nation’s passing for freedom as exemplified in
the Constitution of the United States, the Bill of
Rights, and the Emancipation Proclamation.
“I am so very proud to have played a part in
creating an official state holiday to celebrate the
freedoms and liberties we have gained,” said
Walton. ‘Emancipation Day’ will give Missouri-
ans a time to celebrate the freedom we have
gained and honor the efforts of those who have
helped us reach this point.”
Rep. Walton was asked by the Juneteenth
Heritage and Jazz Festival to sponsor this holiday
legislation. The Juneteenth Heritage and Jazz
Festival organization has be in existence since
1988, and has been active in identifying and
enhancing celebrations statewide.
Through reflection and rejoicing, the holiday
will emphasize education, art and intellectual
achievement, with the hope for the manifestation
of a more substantive economic and just citizenry.
Rep. Larry Womble
Featured in
JET Magazine
for Repealing
Involuntary
Sterilizations Law
Rep. Larry Womble
(NC) was featured in the
May 5th
edition of JET magazine for his
leadership repealing a law that allowed involun-
tary sterilizations in North Carolina. Although
hardly used, from 1929 to 1974, there were more
than 7,600 sterilizations, many of them were
against the wishes of the patients and their
families. Womble pushed to have the law repealed
after he learned of the abuses of the eugenics
program, which was based on flawed claims that
sterilization could eradicate mental illness, genetic
defects and social ills as out-of-wedlock births.
In early 2003, two women, who were
sterilized in the mid-1980s, testified before the
panel. Both women are black and poor. Rep.
Womble commented that the testimony was heart
rendering, and there are other victims who have
not stepped forward but have suffered silently the
shame and heartbreak of being forcibly sterilized.
Three sterilizations were granted in 2001-2002.
In the past five years only one patient at a state
mental hospital has been sterilized.
The bill would still allow involuntary
sterilizations in certain instances, including if a
mentally disabled woman needs a hysterectomy to
remove fibroid tumors or treat ovarian cancer.
Under the legislation, the guardian of a mentally
ill or retarded person could petition a clerk of
court for the operation. They would have to
provide a doctor’s sworn statement that the
operation is medically necessary and not solely for
sterilization.
Rep. Womble’s next priority is to work on
financial reparations, although he believes that
there isn’t anything they could do to make the
victims whole.
The entire series on North Carolina’s eugenic
sterilization program is available at the Journal’s
website at http://againsttheirwill.journalnow.com.
Representative H. Mickey Michaux
Wins ACE Award
The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE), a
family empowerment center in North Carolina,
presented Rep. Michaux the prestigious ACE
Heritage Award for stellar legislative leadership,
promotion of substantive change and community
empowerment. Michaux has led the fight to
enhance and promote Historically Black Colleges
and Universities to the status of Regional
Universities to be utilized and beneficial to all
North Carolinians.
Rep. Michaux has served 24 years in the
North Carolina House of Representatives and is
often called the Dean of the North Carolina
Legislative Black Caucus. He is known through-
out the state as a strong advocate for minority
issues and issues affecting working class people.
The awards ceremony was conducted on June
14 with Judge Ola Lewis serving as the featured
speaker. The three day Juneteenth Celebration
attracted approximately 180 people from
Durham, Raleigh, Snow Hill, Raeford,
Wilmington, Chapel Hill and Harnett County.
Sponsors for the events were BBT, First
Federal Savings Bank, New Century Bank, Oscar
Harris Associates, and Dunn Mayor Dr.
Abraham Oudeh.
We’re looking for submissions from
you, our Corporate, Labor, and
Legislative members to include in our
February Issue. The deadline for all
submissions is January 31st. For
futher information please contact
Chantel Bivins at the National Office
at 202.624.5457. If you prefer e-
mail, send all correspondence to
chantel@nbcsl.com. We look
forward to hearing from you!
hear from you...
We need to
ROLL CALL continued... from page 3
14. THE LEGISLATOR • 14
Internship Shapes Understanding of
the Democratic Process — By Thodleen
Dessources, The City College of New York
As an International Studies and Political
Science major with interests in International Law
and Diplomacy, it was a blessing to intern at the
National Black Caucus of State Legislators
(NBCSL) National Office this past summer. My
contributions included: assisting in the develop-
ment and final stages of NBCSL’s third and final
conference on African Americans and the U.S.
Energy Infrastructure and symposiums on
Housing and HIV/AIDS.
During my internship, I carried out extensive
research in relation to energy potential and the
needs of Africa and the Caribbean. My research
was compiled and used as briefing notes for the
legislators during their week in Alaska. Although
formulating these policy notes was at times a
tedious job, and required a lot of reading and
research, I understood the importance of the
project. The importance of the task would be
proven only a few weeks before the conference
when the “blackout of the century” occurred on
August 14, 2003, leaving millions of people in the
dark in the Northeast region of the United States.
In addition to research, I met with various
legislators, visited embassies, attended meetings,
and visited various governmental agencies in
Washington, D.C. My experience in the Nation’s
Capitol and within the organization in particular,
helped in shaping my understanding of the
workings of the democratic process in the United
States, also furthering my appreciation for the
institutions that so many might take for granted.
It has also allowed me to get an insiders look at
politics and strengthened my resolve to get
involved in the political affairs of my country,
Haiti. One of my newfound goals is to put my
knowledge and experience to work towards
growth of democracy and prosperity for the sake
of future generations. I would recommend it to
anyone, whether or not they are interested in
politics, because it helps to know how decisions
are made and to be informed on those that are
likely to affect you. Such an experience helps one
to realize that we have a voice, and that we can
make a difference!
Experience Opens Eyes to a New
World—By Amy Hong, Bucknell University
My eyes were opened and the folds in my
brain deepened throughout my fortunate
summer internship experience with the National
Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL).
Entering the Hall of States building on my first
day of work, little did I know that the expecta-
tions I held for my summer would be far
surpassed.
I was granted opportunities to develop not
only my knowledge, but also my professional and
social skills. Having grown up very sheltered in
the suburban areas of Silicon Valley in California,
all I knew prior to setting foot in Washington,
DC was what I learned in textbooks and saw on
television. Other countries, policy issues on
education and energy, healthcare policies,
housing, and education issues; they all seemed so
distant from my realm of existence. However, the
research I was assigned to do and the meetings I
had opportunities to attend, all contributed to the
edification of my ways of thinking and my stances
on issues that I had once considered of little
concern to myself.
My main duties at NBCSL consisted of
attending the NBCSL 7th Annual Gala and
Symposiums; conducting research on Haiti and
the Dominican Republic for the International
Technical Assistance Center (ITAC); attending
meetings on Medicare and Medicaid; and
researching renewable energy and North Slope
development for the Energy Conference.
Throughout my internship period, I was also
fortunate enough to attend African American
Unity Caucus meetings, visit Africare and the
Constituency for Africa, and meet many delegates
from West African countries, including the Prime
Minister of Cameroon.
I have developed a great respect for NBCSL
for taking initiatives to mobilize African
Americans concerning issues that the Caucus
views as imperative. I would like to thank
NBCSL for the eye-opening experience that was
provided to me, and I would especially like to
thank the NBCSL office staff for sharing their
time, knowledge, experiences, and patience with
me during my great time of learning. It is one I
will always cherish.
NBCSLInternsSpeak...
Future Shifted by Experience at
NBCSL —By Robert Clarke, The City College of
New York
It is said that experience informs human
intuition, if this is true then my experiences at
NBCSL have not only informed my intuition,
but rather completely disproved it. As many
other young adults I was as caught in the illusion
of the familiar as any one else, and entered
NBCSL’s office expecting the worst from my
summer there. It was my first internship and as
an impressionable college sophomore, I really had
internships pegged as being filled with grunt
work. At first this is exactly what I encountered,
but primarily because the office was not
particularly busy at that given time.
My intention was to do all the grunt work
with the best attitude I could, that’s what I was
told to do and hoped things would change soon.
Was I in for a surprise! Things changed very
quickly and before I knew it, I was involved in
some of the more important NBCSL events of
the year. From helping with the organization of
the Fannie Mae Symposium and assisting to a
lesser extent with the CDC/HIV-AIDS STD
Symposium; to working on the briefing notes for
the legislators at the 3rd Annual Energy
Conference in Alaska. This summer was the most
productive and exciting summer to date.
My summer at NBCSL had a profound
influence on my character and is even affecting
my career path. It has prompted me to pursue a
minor in Political Science in the hope that one
day I have the courage to become involved in
public policy. It has been from my experience at
NBCSL that the world is affected by those few
who take up the challenge to represent our
individual communities. It is my hope that I can
build on this experience and use it as a founda-
tion to greater things in the service of the public
as much as possible.
(from left to right) NBCSL Interns Amy Hong, Robert Clarke and
Thodleen Dessources received Scholarship Awards for Excellence at
the 7th
Annual Gala.
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15. 15 • NEWS 2003 • DECEMBER
economically manage our solid waste disposal.4
For example, all Waste Management Inc. landfills
operate in strict adherence to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) environment protec-
tions and monitoring requirements. Also, the company invests millions to build state-of-the-art,
sanitary landfills which feature environmental control systems such as, durable, high-density polyethyl-
ene (HDPE) landfill liner systems, collection and treatment systems for landfill liquids (leachate), gas
collection systems, groundwater and surface water monitoring wells, air quality testing and financial
assurances for closure and post-closure activities. Waste Management Inc. also uses odor management
systems, odor neutralizing agents and a gas collection system to minimize landfill odors created by
newly deposited and existing waste at the site.
Healthy Property Values and Community Improvements
The argument of the impact of landfills on property values has been going on for some time.
Looking back in time, a 1980’s Penn State study suggested that residential property values are not
necessarily adversely affected by nearby landfills or waste facilities. In fact, well-operated and modern
sanitary landfills have been shown to provide community enhancement, infrastructure improvements
and healthy property values in nearby communities. Since the early 1990’s the media has reported on
numerous upscale residential developments, including million dollar homes, that have been built close
to landfill sites in Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. These home values exhibited no
measurable negative impact, with most property values continuing to rise. A 2002 article in Philadel-
phia Magazine noted how property values had increased close to a landfill site in Falls Township, Bucks
County. And a 2002 Texas study performed for a planned landfill site advised that the landfill would
not result in a reduction in property values. Throughout the state of Texas, research at other landfills
has shown no decline in property values and, in many cases, nearby property values have actually
increased around well-designed and operated facilities.5
”
What Happens When A Landfill Closes
Eventually all landfill sites must close down, and Waste Management Inc. has been a leader in
redeveloping closed landfill sites. Where landfill sites once stood, the company has cooperated with
local communities to develop community enhancements such as little league facilities, athletics fields, a
golf course, a bicycle motorcross track, equestrian trails, walking paths, parking facilities, and a Boy
Scout camp. Additionally, the company takes its responsibilities towards environmental and wildlife
protection very seriously. In fact, sections of land not used for disposal have even been set aside for
wildlife habitats and wetland restoration - - community improvements that otherwise would not have
existed without the presence of the disposal site.
Summary
While Waste Management Inc. works to reduce the amount of waste produced and supports efforts
to reuse and recycle, the need is evident and clear concerning the need for safe and environmentally
secure waste disposal facilities. As former perceptions about landfills are replaced by new research and
knowledge, more and more communities will continue to embrace the economic, environmental and
civic benefits that a nearby sanitary landfill can provide. As Bruce J. Parker, the President of the
National Solid Wastes Management Association aptly states: ‘Today’s state-of-the-art landfills can be,
and usually are, good neighbors.”
REFERENCES:
1
‘The Story of Garbage’. Allegro Productions for Waste Management (WM), (2002).
2
National Black Caucus States Institute (NBCSI) project proposal, p. 4 (May 2003).
3
Fiscal Year 2002 Solid Waste Management Annual Report, or WM Palmetto Landfill Fact Sheet, p.1 (July 2003).
4
The National Solid Waste Management Association comments on Penn State paper ‘The Impact of Open Space and Potential Local
Disamenities on Residential Property Values in Berks County, Pennsylvania’ by Richard Ready and Charles Abdallah, (June 2003).
5
Bruce J. Parker, ‘Solid Waste Landfills and Residential Property Values,’ paper for The National Solid Waste Management Association, pp.
3-4 (July 2003).
CRT STORYcontinued... from page 3
THE LANDFILL AS A GOOD NEIGHBOR:
Lorraine Cole, President and CEO of the
Black Women’s Health Imperative, who wrote the
foreword for the kit, agrees with Kate Michelman
on the need for a comprehensive approach. She
explains, “Reproductive health care disparities for
women of color and low-income women are
largely the result of socially and politically
imposed barriers. Any meaningful remedies to
ensure parity must, therefore, address a broad
agenda that includes racism, poverty and
inequities in quality of and access to health care.
The policies in this kit are an important step
toward a comprehensive reproductive health and
rights agenda for women of color and poor
women....”
Breaking Barriers not only highlights
disparities, but also provides a wide range of
practical policy solutions to promote reproductive
health equity. It contains 18 different policy
initiatives aimed at promoting reproductive
health equity and is tailored for advocates and
policy-makers with varying skills and experience
levels.
The promise of Roe v. Wade remains
unfulfilled for many women of color and low-
income women who still face monumental and
unacceptable hurdles to improving their
reproductive health and attaining genuine
equality. NARAL Pro-Choice America’s Breaking
Barriers policy action kit is a call to action for
advocates and policy-makers committed to equal
access to reproductive health care. For more
information or to obtain a copy of Breaking
Barriers, for yourself, state policymakers, or
advocates in your community, contact NARAL
Pro-Choice America’s Proactive Policy Institute at
proactive@ProChoiceAmerica.org or 202-973-
3011. Breaking Barriers is also available on-line at
http://www.ProChoiceAmerica.org.
1
Naral Pro-choice America Foundation
BREAKING BARRIERS
Reproductive
Health Equity...
continued... from page 7
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