{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\", state = \"SC\" and year = 2016 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-statement-wrda", "Clyburn Statement on WRDA", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Clyburn statement on the President signing the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation (WIIN) Act, which includes the new Water Resources Development Act:\n\u201cThe WIIN Act includes provisions that will expand the Lake Marion Regional Water Agency.\u00a0 This longstanding initiative I have championed currently provides almost 300 million gallons of clean drinking water annually in three rural counties, Calhoun, Orangeburg, and Dorchester, and has additional capacity used to recruit industry.\u00a0 The bill increases the cap on the Agency\u2019s authorization to allow it access to be expanded to serve additional rural communities.\u00a0 This bill extends the agency\u2019s authority to include Berkeley County, which will allow it to serve the site of the new Volvo Cars manufacturing facility and adjacent supplier facilities.\u00a0 The Volvo development is a $500 million investment which is expected to create 8,000 jobs within the next decade and contribute $4.8 billion annually to the South Carolina economy.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cThe WIIN Act also authorizes the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project, which will deepen the channel depth in the harbor to 52 feet and to 54 feet at the entrance.\u00a0 I have worked diligently with President Obama and the South Carolina Congressional Delegation to expedite the project\u2019s feasibility study so that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chief\u2019s Report could be submitted to Congress in 2015, making the project eligible for inclusion in this legislation.\u00a0 The bill authorizes federal investment of over $231 million for the harbor deepening project.\u00a0 The Port of Charleston already has a $53 billion impact on our state\u2019s economy, affecting 187,000 jobs.\u00a0 This deepening project will increase both, creating jobs and growing the economy of the state.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-statement-on-wrda/", "Clyburn Statement on WRDA", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "Clyburn statement on the President signing the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation (WIIN) Act, which includes the new Water Resources Development Act:\n\n\u201cThe WIIN Act includes provisions that will expand the Lake Marion Regional Water Agency. This longstanding initiative I have championed currently provides almost 300 million gallons of clean drinking water annually in three rural counties, Calhoun, Orangeburg, and Dorchester, and has additional capacity used to recruit industry. The bill increases the cap on the Agency\u2019s authorization to allow it access to be expanded to serve additional rural communities. This bill extends the agency\u2019s authority to include Berkeley County, which will allow it to serve the site of the new Volvo Cars manufacturing facility and adjacent supplier facilities. The Volvo development is a $500 million investment which is expected to create 8,000 jobs within the next decade and contribute $4.8 billion annually to the South Carolina economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe WIIN Act also authorizes the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project, which will deepen the channel depth in the harbor to 52 feet and to 54 feet at the entrance. I have worked diligently with President Obama and the South Carolina Congressional Delegation to expedite the project\u2019s feasibility study so that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chief\u2019s Report could be submitted to Congress in 2015, making the project eligible for inclusion in this legislation. The bill authorizes federal investment of over $231 million for the harbor deepening project. The Port of Charleston already has a $53 billion impact on our state\u2019s economy, affecting 187,000 jobs. This deepening project will increase both, creating jobs and growing the economy of the state.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T21:09:43Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-announces-public-meeting-discuss-national-monument-proposal-historic", "Clyburn Announces Public Meeting to Discuss National Monument Proposal for Historic Reconstruction Era Sites", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C \u2013 Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn today announced that National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis will travel to South Carolina to visit proposed sites that are under consideration to be included as part of a Reconstruction Era national monument and to attend a public meeting hosted by Rep. Clyburn to hear feedback from the public on the proposal.\n\u201cI am thrilled that Director Jarvis will be coming to visit Penn Center, Brick Baptist Church, and other historic sites from the Reconstruction Era in Beaufort and Port Royal.\u00a0 Our country desperately needs to better understand this era of our history, and including these sites in the National Park System is critical to this effort.\u00a0 We must preserve these places and stories for future generations as well as make them accessible to the public.\u00a0 The National Park Service is entrusted with stewardship of our nation\u2019s most sacred historic places, and I hope to include these sites in the system.\u00a0 I also thank Captain Korsnes for his participation and the U.S. Navy\u2019s interest in the preservation of these sites.\u201d\nWHAT: \u00a0Public meeting with federal and local officials and community leaders to discuss Reconstruction Era national monument proposal.\nWHEN: \u00a0Thursday, December 15, 12:00 P.M \u2013 2:00 P.M.\nWHERE:\u00a0 Brick Baptist Church, 85 Martin Luther King Drive, St. Helena Island, SC 29920.\nWHO:\u00a0 Local elected officials and community leaders will provide information regarding the proposal.\u00a0 Federal officials attending to hear comments from the public include:\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Director Jonathan B. Jarvis, National Park Service\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Captain Jeffrey Korsnes, Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Support Facility Beaufort\nBelow link is the public notice of the meeting\n\u00b7 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Public Meeting Notice\nBelow link is a map and description of the five proposed sites:\n\u00b7 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Map & Site Descriptions\nEarlier this year, Congressman Clyburn wrote to President Obama requesting he use his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate Penn Center and other Reconstruction Era sites as a national monument.\u00a0 He also introduced model legislation on May 26, 2016 to establish the Penn School\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Reconstruction Era National Monument.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-announces-public-meeting-to-discuss-national-monument-proposal-for-historic-reconstruction-era-sites/", "Clyburn Announces Public Meeting to Discuss National Monument Proposal for Historic Reconstruction Era Sites", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C \u2013 Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn today announced that National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis will travel to South Carolina to visit proposed sites that are under consideration to be included as part of a Reconstruction Era national monument and to attend a public meeting hosted by Rep. Clyburn to hear feedback from the public on the proposal.\n\n\u201cI am thrilled that Director Jarvis will be coming to visit Penn Center, Brick Baptist Church, and other historic sites from the Reconstruction Era in Beaufort and Port Royal. Our country desperately needs to better understand this era of our history, and including these sites in the National Park System is critical to this effort. We must preserve these places and stories for future generations as well as make them accessible to the public. The National Park Service is entrusted with stewardship of our nation\u2019s most sacred historic places, and I hope to include these sites in the system. I also thank Captain Korsnes for his participation and the U.S. Navy\u2019s interest in the preservation of these sites.\u201d\n\nWHAT: Public meeting with federal and local officials and community leaders to discuss Reconstruction Era national monument proposal.\n\nWHEN: Thursday, December 15, 12:00 P.M \u2013 2:00 P.M.\n\nWHERE: Brick Baptist Church, 85 Martin Luther King Drive, St. Helena Island, SC 29920.\n\nWHO: Local elected officials and community leaders will provide information regarding the proposal.\n\nEarlier this year, Congressman Clyburn wrote to President Obama requesting he use his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate Penn Center and other Reconstruction Era sites as a national monument. He also introduced model legislation on May 26, 2016 to establish the Penn School \u2013 Reconstruction Era National Monument.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T21:09:43Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/notice-of-public-meeting/", "Notice of Public Meeting", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "Notice of Public Meeting\n\nNOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING\n\nProposed Reconstruction Era National Monument\n\nPlease join Congressman James E. Clyburn for a public meeting regarding the proposal to establish a new unit of the National Park System to tell the story of Reconstruction. Federal officials will listen to input from the public on the monument proposal which could include the designation of Penn Center, Brick Baptist Church, the Camp Saxton-Emancipation Oak site, the Robert Smalls House, and the Old Beaufort Firehouse.\n\nMembers of the public are invited to attend and comment\n\nThursday, December 15\n\n12:00 PM \u2013 2:00 PM\n\nBrick Baptist Church\n\n85 Martin Luther King Drive\n\nSt. Helena Island, SC 29920\n\nFederal Agency representatives include:\n\nDirector Jonathan B. Jarvis, National Park Service\n\nCaptain Jeffrey Korsnes, Commanding Officer\n\nU.S. Naval Hospital Beaufort\n\nFor more information or to RSVP please contact Dalton Tresvant at\n\n(803) 799-1100 or dalton.tresvant@mail.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T21:09:43Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-re-elected-assistant-democratic-leader-0", "Clyburn Re-Elected Assistant Democratic Leader", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman James E. Clyburn released the following statement after the House Democratic Caucus elected him by acclamation to another term as Assistant Democratic Leader:\n\u201cI thank all my House Democratic colleagues for the faith and confidence they have expressed in me to serve as Assistant Democratic Leader in the 115th Congress.\u00a0 I am deeply honored to have the unanimous support of our Caucus and humbly accept this Leadership position with clear eyes and understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead.\n\u201cAs I said to my colleagues today, our experiences are what make us who and what we are.\u00a0 Our diversity \u2013 of experiences, backgrounds, ethnicities and constituencies \u2013 remains our greatest strength.\u00a0 As the only Member of elected Leadership from a deep red state and largely rural district, I will work tirelessly to stay connected to all of our Caucuses and regions and to give voice to the concerns of our diverse communities.\u00a0\n\u201cLooking forward, I want my grandchildren to grow up in a world where they do not have to fear the next decision of the Supreme Court of the United States for the impact it could have on their lives and communities.\u00a0 I want them to grow up where people in elected office are people they can look up to and emulate.\u00a0Together, we can do something about that.\u201d\nClyburn was nominated to be the Assistant Democratic Leader by Congressman Cedric Richmond (LA-02) and seconded by Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06), Congressman Pete Aguilar (CA-31) and Congressman Peter Welch (VT-At Large).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-re-elected-assistant-democratic-leader-2/", "Clyburn Re-Elected Assistant Democratic Leader", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "Congressman James E. Clyburn released the following statement after the House Democratic Caucus elected him by acclamation to another term as Assistant Democratic Leader:\n\n\u201cI thank all my House Democratic colleagues for the faith and confidence they have expressed in me to serve as Assistant Democratic Leader in the 115th Congress. I am deeply honored to have the unanimous support of our Caucus and humbly accept this Leadership position with clear eyes and understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead.\n\n\u201cAs I said to my colleagues today, our experiences are what make us who and what we are. Our diversity \u2013 of experiences, backgrounds, ethnicities and constituencies \u2013 remains our greatest strength. As the only Member of elected Leadership from a deep red state and largely rural district, I will work tirelessly to stay connected to all of our Caucuses and regions and to give voice to the concerns of our diverse communities.\n\n\u201cLooking forward, I want my grandchildren to grow up in a world where they do not have to fear the next decision of the Supreme Court of the United States for the impact it could have on their lives and communities. I want them to grow up where people in elected office are people they can look up to and emulate. Together, we can do something about that.\u201d\n\nClyburn was nominated to be the Assistant Democratic Leader by Congressman Cedric Richmond (LA-02) and seconded by Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06), Congressman Pete Aguilar (CA-31) and Congressman Peter Welch (VT-At Large).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T21:07:19Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-statement-recent-trump-administration-appointment-steve-bannon-and-nomination", "Clyburn Statement On Recent Trump Administration Appointment Of Steve Bannon and Nomination of Jeff Sessions", "2016-11-18", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (D-SC) released the following statement today: \u00a0\n\u201cDonald Trump\u2019s recent staffing and nomination announcements are a sad but predictable continuation of his spiteful, divisive campaign,\u201d said Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn.\u00a0 \u201cSteve Bannon has taken pride in giving voice and an online home to radical white-supremacist groups.\u00a0 There should be no place in the White House for his brand of misogynistic, bigoted, anti-Semitic and xenophobic normalcy.\n\u201cSenator Sessions has faced serious allegations throughout his career and was rightly rejected for a federal judgeship because of them.\u00a0 His civil rights record is appalling and should disqualify him from Senate confirmation.\n\u201cTogether the Bannon appointment and nomination of Senator Sessions for Attorney General represent a frightening return to a dark and dangerous past for minority communities in Donald Trump\u2019s America.\u00a0 They threaten the civil rights progress we\u2019ve made and are significant roadblocks to healing the racial divisions laid bare by the recent election.\u00a0 I firmly oppose both and urge Donald Trump to rescind the appointment of Steve Bannon as Chief Strategist and the nomination of Senator Sessions for Attorney General.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-statement-on-recent-trump-administration-appointment-of-steve-bannon-and-nomination-of-jeff-sessions/", "Clyburn Statement On Recent Trump Administration Appointment Of Steve Bannon and Nomination of Jeff Sessions", "2016-11-18", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (D-SC) released the following statement today:\n\n\u201cDonald Trump\u2019s recent staffing and nomination announcements are a sad but predictable continuation of his spiteful, divisive campaign,\u201d said Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn. \u201cSteve Bannon has taken pride in giving voice and an online home to radical white-supremacist groups. There should be no place in the White House for his brand of misogynistic, bigoted, anti-Semitic and xenophobic normalcy.\n\n\u201cSenator Sessions has faced serious allegations throughout his career and was rightly rejected for a federal judgeship because of them. His civil rights record is appalling and should disqualify him from Senate confirmation.\n\n\u201cTogether the Bannon appointment and nomination of Senator Sessions for Attorney General represent a frightening return to a dark and dangerous past for minority communities in Donald Trump\u2019s America. They threaten the civil rights progress we\u2019ve made and are significant roadblocks to healing the racial divisions laid bare by the recent election. I firmly oppose both and urge Donald Trump to rescind the appointment of Steve Bannon as Chief Strategist and the nomination of Senator Sessions for Attorney General.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T21:07:19Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-announces-run-house-assistant-democratic-leader-0", "Clyburn Announces Run For House Assistant Democratic Leader", "2016-11-16", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (D-SC) today is sending a letter to Democratic colleagues announcing his intention to run for Assistant Democratic Leader in the 115th Congress.\u00a0 Below is the text of the letter.\nDear Democratic Colleague:\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I write to respectfully ask for your vote and support to continue serving as Assistant Democratic Leader in the 115th Congress of the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Over the past several days, we have engaged in a great deal of introspection.\u00a0 The conversations and discussions I have had with many of you have been instructive and constructive. We must continue those discussions and we need to do so on a much more frequent and inclusive basis.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We must start by advancing a bold vision for a 21st century economy that is worthy of America\u2019s working men and women.\u00a0 And we must develop ways to express that vision in words and phrases that are understandable and complimentary. It is overused but true, our diversity is our greatest strength. We must find ways to more effectively help each other and the means to more efficiently recruit others to join us.\u00a0 We must champion the causes of those whose votes we seek and stand up to the most extreme elements of the Republican agenda.\u00a0 We must stand for opportunity, equality and justice for all in our society.\nA former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chair, Vice Chair, and Majority Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, I am the only Member of our Leadership from a red state and mostly rural district.\u00a0 I work to stay connected to all of our Caucuses and regions and give voice to the concerns of our diverse communities.\nI had the experience in 1970 of having been declared the winner in my campaign for the South Carolina legislature on Tuesday evening, and being told the next morning that in adding up the votes someone had failed to carry a one.\u00a0 Therefore, rather than winning by 500 votes I lost by 500 votes.\u00a0 I did not quit then, and I will not quit now. \u00a0I am committed to redoubling my efforts to move the country and our Caucus forward.\nI want to be a strong voice for our values, constituents and Members, and with your support, I will.\u00a0 Thank you for your consideration.\nSincerely,\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\nJames E. Clyburn", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-announces-run-for-house-assistant-democratic-leader-2/", "Clyburn Announces Run For House Assistant Democratic Leader", "2016-11-16", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (D-SC) today is sending a letter to Democratic colleagues announcing his intention to run for Assistant Democratic Leader in the 115th Congress. Below is the text of the letter.\n\nDear Democratic Colleague:\n\nI write to respectfully ask for your vote and support to continue serving as Assistant Democratic Leader in the 115th Congress of the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nOver the past several days, we have engaged in a great deal of introspection. The conversations and discussions I have had with many of you have been instructive and constructive. We must continue those discussions and we need to do so on a much more frequent and inclusive basis.\n\nWe must start by advancing a bold vision for a 21st century economy that is worthy of America\u2019s working men and women. And we must develop ways to express that vision in words and phrases that are understandable and complimentary. It is overused but true, our diversity is our greatest strength. We must find ways to more effectively help each other and the means to more efficiently recruit others to join us. We must champion the causes of those whose votes we seek and stand up to the most extreme elements of the Republican agenda. We must stand for opportunity, equality and justice for all in our society.\n\nA former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chair, Vice Chair, and Majority Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, I am the only Member of our Leadership from a red state and mostly rural district. I work to stay connected to all of our Caucuses and regions and give voice to the concerns of our diverse communities.\n\nI had the experience in 1970 of having been declared the winner in my campaign for the South Carolina legislature on Tuesday evening, and being told the next morning that in adding up the votes someone had failed to carry a one. Therefore, rather than winning by 500 votes I lost by 500 votes. I did not quit then, and I will not quit now. I am committed to redoubling my efforts to move the country and our Caucus forward.\n\nI want to be a strong voice for our values, constituents and Members, and with your support, I will. Thank you for your consideration.\n\nSincerely,\n\nJames E. Clyburn", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T21:07:19Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/hbcus-are-america%E2%80%99s-national-treasures", "HBCUs are Americas National Treasures", "2016-10-26", "2016", "2016-10", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON - U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (SC) published the following op-ed on the\u00a0Diverse Issues In Higher Education today:\nThe legacy of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) is one of significant courage and\u00a0steadfast determination.\u00a0HBCUs are among America\u2019s national treasures that must be preserved and protected for future generations.\nHBCUs are some of the most important historic educational institutions in our country.\u00a0Many of them have buildings and sites on their campuses that have existed for over a century. Unfortunately, many of the historic buildings and sites on these campuses have deteriorated over the years and are at risk of being lost completely if not preserved and protected.\nIn 1998, at the request of the Congressional Black Caucus, the U.S Government Accountability Office (GAO) surveyed 103 HBCU campuses to identify the historically significant sites on these campuses and project the cost of restoring and preserving these properties.\u00a0The GAO identified 712 historic buildings and sites, and projected a cost of $755 million to restore and preserve them.\u00a0 Each of these sites has national significance to American history, and I believe we have an obligation to be stewards of these cultural treasures.\nCongress first authorized grants to HBCUs for historic preservation in 1996. In 2003, Congress expanded the program and authorized $10 million annually for five years.\u00a0Last month, the House passed legislation to extend that authorization at the same level for an additional seven years.\u00a0These historic preservation grants have had transformative effects on HBCU campuses across the country.\nArnett Hall at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, was designed by an African American architect and constructed by the university students themselves in 1891. Before being restored, Arnett Hall had been boarded up for nearly 40 years. Testifying before the Committee on Natural Resources earlier this year, Claflin University\u2019s President, Dr. Henry Tisdale spoke of the tremendous impact the restorations of Ministers and Tingley Halls have had on his institution.\nLast June, Allen University rededicated the historic Chappelle Auditorium on campus, which was painstakingly restored thanks to funding from this program.\u00a0Originally built in 1925, this building was central to the cultural life of African Americans in South Carolina for generations.\n\tIn 1947, Rev. Joseph A. DeLaine attended an NAACP event at Chappelle Auditorium that inspired him to organize Black families in Clarendon County to petition their school district to provide buses for black students who, at the time, were forced to make a daily walk of 9.4 miles to school.\u00a0This case,\u00a0Briggs v. Elliot, precipitated the frontal attack on segregation in the country and was later combined with four other cases that became\u00a0Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas\u00a0 at the U.S. Supreme Court.\u00a0Overturning the \u201cseparate but equal\u201d fallacy,\u00a0Brown\u00a0ended legal segregation throughout America.\n\tHistoric buildings and sites at 59 HBCUs in 20 states have benefitted from this program.\u00a0However, the threat to the historic legacy of HBCUs persists. Despite the need, since 1996, only $60 million in federal support has been provided through the HBCU Historic Preservation Program.\u00a0 Moreover, since 2009, no dedicated federal support has been provided at all for this purpose. Thus, the federal government\u2019s investment to date represents a small share of the documented need.\n\tThe House-passed legislation will renew our nation\u2019s commitment to the stewardship of this critical aspect of American history. When the Senate returns after the elections, it must pass legislation to provide at least $5 million for HBCU Historic Preservation.\n\tUNCF has long said that \u201ca mind is a terrible thing to waste.\u201d So too, our nation must not let the historic legacy of HBCUs go to waste. We urge Congress to preserve HBCUs, America\u2019s national treasures, by funding the HBCU Historic Preservation Program.\nClick here to see the article on the Diverse Issues In Higher Education website.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/hbcus-are-americaaes-national-treasures/", "HBCUs are America\u2019s National Treasures", "2016-10-26", "2016", "2016-10", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (SC) published the following op-ed on the Diverse Issues In Higher Education today:\n\nThe legacy of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) is one of significant courage and steadfast determination. HBCUs are among America\u2019s national treasures that must be preserved and protected for future generations.\n\nHBCUs are some of the most important historic educational institutions in our country. Many of them have buildings and sites on their campuses that have existed for over a century. Unfortunately, many of the historic buildings and sites on these campuses have deteriorated over the years and are at risk of being lost completely if not preserved and protected.\n\nIn 1998, at the request of the Congressional Black Caucus, the U.S Government Accountability Office (GAO) surveyed 103 HBCU campuses to identify the historically significant sites on these campuses and project the cost of restoring and preserving these properties. The GAO identified 712 historic buildings and sites, and projected a cost of $755 million to restore and preserve them. Each of these sites has national significance to American history, and I believe we have an obligation to be stewards of these cultural treasures.\n\nCongress first authorized grants to HBCUs for historic preservation in 1996. In 2003, Congress expanded the program and authorized $10 million annually for five years. Last month, the House passed legislation to extend that authorization at the same level for an additional seven years. These historic preservation grants have had transformative effects on HBCU campuses across the country.\n\nArnett Hall at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, was designed by an African American architect and constructed by the university students themselves in 1891. Before being restored, Arnett Hall had been boarded up for nearly 40 years. Testifying before the Committee on Natural Resources earlier this year, Claflin University\u2019s President, Dr. Henry Tisdale spoke of the tremendous impact the restorations of Ministers and Tingley Halls have had on his institution.\n\nLast June, Allen University rededicated the historic Chappelle Auditorium on campus, which was painstakingly restored thanks to funding from this program. Originally built in 1925, this building was central to the cultural life of African Americans in South Carolina for generations.\n\nIn 1947, Rev. Joseph A. DeLaine attended an NAACP event at Chappelle Auditorium that inspired him to organize Black families in Clarendon County to petition their school district to provide buses for black students who, at the time, were forced to make a daily walk of 9.4 miles to school. This case, Briggs v. Elliot, precipitated the frontal attack on segregation in the country and was later combined with four other cases that became Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas at the U.S. Supreme Court. Overturning the \u201cseparate but equal\u201d fallacy, Brown ended legal segregation throughout America.\n\nHistoric buildings and sites at 59 HBCUs in 20 states have benefitted from this program. However, the threat to the historic legacy of HBCUs persists. Despite the need, since 1996, only $60 million in federal support has been provided through the HBCU Historic Preservation Program. Moreover, since 2009, no dedicated federal support has been provided at all for this purpose. Thus, the federal government\u2019s investment to date represents a small share of the documented need.\n\nThe House-passed legislation will renew our nation\u2019s commitment to the stewardship of this critical aspect of American history. When the Senate returns after the elections, it must pass legislation to provide at least $5 million for HBCU Historic Preservation.\n\nUNCF has long said that \u201ca mind is a terrible thing to waste.\u201d So too, our nation must not let the historic legacy of HBCUs go to waste. We urge Congress to preserve HBCUs, America\u2019s national treasures, by funding the HBCU Historic Preservation Program.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T21:04:55Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-statement-passage-gullahgeechee-bill", "Clyburn Statement on Passage of Gullah/Geechee Bill", "2016-09-30", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn today released the following statement on the Senate passage yesterday of H.R. 3004, a bill to extend the authorization of the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission.\nThe Commission was originally created by Congressman Clyburn\u2019s legislation, passed in 2006, which created the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.\u00a0 It is tasked with managing the Corridor in partnership with the National Park Service and dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Gullah and Geechee history and culture.\u00a0 The Commission\u2019s authorization was set to expire in October.\n\u201cGullah/Geechee is a blend of African and European culture and traditions developed by former slaves living in isolation in the Sea Islands of the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida.\u00a0 I was proud to get legislation passed creating a Commission to preserve and protect the Gullah/Geechee culture, which is increasingly endangered and deserving of protection.\u00a0 I am extremely pleased that the Congress has agreed to a five year extension of the Commission,\u201d Clyburn stated.\n\u201cI began my career as a high school history teacher in South Carolina\u2019s Low-Country, and I believe we have an obligation to preserve the rich history of this country.\u00a0 I have dedicated much of my tenure in Congress to ensuring this nation\u2019s rich historical and cultural resources are protected for future generations.\u00a0 The Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor is a unique effort dedicated to preserving not just a historical resource, but a living, breathing culture.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-statement-on-passage-of-gullah-geechee-bill/", "Clyburn Statement on Passage of Gullah/Geechee Bill", "2016-09-30", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn today released the following statement on the Senate passage yesterday of H.R. 3004, a bill to extend the authorization of the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission.\n\nThe Commission was originally created by Congressman Clyburn\u2019s legislation, passed in 2006, which created the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. It is tasked with managing the Corridor in partnership with the National Park Service and dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Gullah and Geechee history and culture. The Commission\u2019s authorization was set to expire in October.\n\n\u201cGullah/Geechee is a blend of African and European culture and traditions developed by former slaves living in isolation in the Sea Islands of the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. I was proud to get legislation passed creating a Commission to preserve and protect the Gullah/Geechee culture, which is increasingly endangered and deserving of protection. I am extremely pleased that the Congress has agreed to a five year extension of the Commission,\u201d Clyburn stated.\n\n\u201cI began my career as a high school history teacher in South Carolina\u2019s Low-Country, and I believe we have an obligation to preserve the rich history of this country. I have dedicated much of my tenure in Congress to ensuring this nation\u2019s rich historical and cultural resources are protected for future generations. The Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor is a unique effort dedicated to preserving not just a historical resource, but a living, breathing culture.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T21:01:54Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-floor-statement-hr-295-reauthorize-histrocially-black-colleges-and", "Clyburn Floor Statement on H.R. 295, to Reauthorize the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Historic Preservation Program", "2016-09-12", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (SC) delivered the following statement during debate on H.R. 295, which passed the House unanimously by voice vote (as prepared for delivery):\n\u201cMr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 295, my bill to reauthorize the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Historic Preservation program. \u00a0This bill has been cosponsored by my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and is broadly supported by all of our colleagues.\u00a0 It received a unanimous vote in the House Natural Resources Committee earlier this year, and I thank all of my colleagues for their support.\n\u201cAs a former high school history teacher, I have worked during my tenure in Congress to preserve and protect our nation\u2019s historic treasures.\u00a0 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, commonly called HBCUs, are some of the most important historic educational institutions in our country.\u00a0 Many of them have buildings and sites on their campuses that have existed for over a century. Unfortunately, many of the historic buildings and sites on these campuses have deteriorated over the years and are at risk of being lost completely if not preserved and protected.\u00a0\n\u201cIn 1998, at the request of the Congressional Black Caucus, the U.S Government Accountability Office (GAO) surveyed 103 HBCU campuses to identify the historically significant sites on these campuses and project the cost of restoring and preserving these properties.\u00a0 The GAO identified 712 historic buildings and sites, and projected a cost of $755 million to restore and preserve them.\u00a0 Each of these sites has national significance to American history, and I believe we have an obligation to be stewards of these cultural treasures.\n\u201cCongress first authorized grants to HBCUs for historic preservation in 1996.\u00a0 In 2003, working with our former colleague Jim Hansen of Utah and our current colleague, and my friend, Jimmy Duncan of Tennessee, Congress expanded the program that was originally championed by our former colleague Bob Clement, also of Tennessee.\u00a0 $10 million was authorized annually for five years.\u00a0\n\u201cThe bill before us today extends that authorization at the same level for an additional seven years.\u00a0 I have seen the transformative effect of these historic preservation grants on HBCU campuses in my district and across the country.\u00a0 Arnett Hall at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, was designed by an African American architect and constructed by the university students themselves in 1891.\u00a0\n\u201cBefore being restored to the Secretary of Interior\u2019s standards, Arnett Hall had been boarded up for nearly 40 years.\u00a0 Testifying before the Committee on Natural Resources earlier this year, Claflin University\u2019s President, Dr. Henry Tisdale spoke of the tremendous impact the restorations of Ministers and Tingley Halls have had on his institution.\u00a0\n\u201cLast June, I spoke at the rededication of historic Chappelle Auditorium, on the campus of Allen University which was painstakingly restored thanks to funding from this program.\u00a0 Originally built in 1925, this building was central to the cultural life of African Americans in South Carolina for generations.\u00a0\n\u201cIn 1947, Rev. Joseph A. DeLaine attended an NAACP event at Chappelle Auditorium that inspired him to organize black families in Clarendon County to petition their school district to provide buses for black students who, at the time, were forced to make a daily walk of 9.4 miles to school.\u00a0 This case, Briggs v. Elliot, precipitated the frontal attack on segregation in the country and was later combined with four other cases that became Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas at the U.S. Supreme Court.\u00a0 Overturning the \u201cseparate but equal\u201d fallacy, Brown ended legal segregation.\n\u201cHistoric buildings and sites at 59 HBCUs in 20 states have benefitted from this program.\u00a0 Their stories are similar to those in my district that I have just shared.\u00a0\n\u201cThere are many more buildings and sites on these campuses that are in dire need of restoration and preservation.\u00a0 H.R. 295 will renew our commitment to the stewardship of this critical aspect of American history.\u00a0\n\u201cAlthough it will not provide all of the funding the GAO estimated is needed to preserve every threatened site, H.R. 295 will continue the progress Congress has made in preserving these unique treasures.\u00a0\n\u201cI thank Chairman Bishop, Subcommittee Chairman McClintock, and Ranking Members Grijalva and Tsongas for their support of this important legislation.\u00a0 I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.\u00a0 Thank you.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-floor-statement-on-h-r-295-to-reauthorize-the-historically-black-colleges-and-universities-historic-preservation-program/", "Clyburn Floor Statement on H.R. 295, to Reauthorize the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Historic Preservation Program", "2016-09-12", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (SC) delivered the following statement during debate on H.R. 295, which passed the House unanimously by voice vote (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 295, my bill to reauthorize the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Historic Preservation program. This bill has been cosponsored by my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and is broadly supported by all of our colleagues. It received a unanimous vote in the House Natural Resources Committee earlier this year, and I thank all of my colleagues for their support.\n\n\u201cAs a former high school history teacher, I have worked during my tenure in Congress to preserve and protect our nation\u2019s historic treasures. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, commonly called HBCUs, are some of the most important historic educational institutions in our country. Many of them have buildings and sites on their campuses that have existed for over a century. Unfortunately, many of the historic buildings and sites on these campuses have deteriorated over the years and are at risk of being lost completely if not preserved and protected.\n\n\u201cIn 1998, at the request of the Congressional Black Caucus, the U.S Government Accountability Office (GAO) surveyed 103 HBCU campuses to identify the historically significant sites on these campuses and project the cost of restoring and preserving these properties. The GAO identified 712 historic buildings and sites, and projected a cost of $755 million to restore and preserve them. Each of these sites has national significance to American history, and I believe we have an obligation to be stewards of these cultural treasures.\n\n\u201cCongress first authorized grants to HBCUs for historic preservation in 1996. In 2003, working with our former colleague Jim Hansen of Utah and our current colleague, and my friend, Jimmy Duncan of Tennessee, Congress expanded the program that was originally championed by our former colleague Bob Clement, also of Tennessee. $10 million was authorized annually for five years.\n\n\u201cThe bill before us today extends that authorization at the same level for an additional seven years. I have seen the transformative effect of these historic preservation grants on HBCU campuses in my district and across the country. Arnett Hall at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, was designed by an African American architect and constructed by the university students themselves in 1891.\n\n\u201cBefore being restored to the Secretary of Interior\u2019s standards, Arnett Hall had been boarded up for nearly 40 years. Testifying before the Committee on Natural Resources earlier this year, Claflin University\u2019s President, Dr. Henry Tisdale spoke of the tremendous impact the restorations of Ministers and Tingley Halls have had on his institution.\n\n\u201cLast June, I spoke at the rededication of historic Chappelle Auditorium, on the campus of Allen University which was painstakingly restored thanks to funding from this program. Originally built in 1925, this building was central to the cultural life of African Americans in South Carolina for generations.\n\n\u201cIn 1947, Rev. Joseph A. DeLaine attended an NAACP event at Chappelle Auditorium that inspired him to organize black families in Clarendon County to petition their school district to provide buses for black students who, at the time, were forced to make a daily walk of 9.4 miles to school. This case, Briggs v. Elliot, precipitated the frontal attack on segregation in the country and was later combined with four other cases that became Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas at the U.S. Supreme Court. Overturning the \u201cseparate but equal\u201d fallacy, Brown ended legal segregation.\n\n\u201cHistoric buildings and sites at 59 HBCUs in 20 states have benefitted from this program. Their stories are similar to those in my district that I have just shared.\n\n\u201cThere are many more buildings and sites on these campuses that are in dire need of restoration and preservation. H.R. 295 will renew our commitment to the stewardship of this critical aspect of American history.\n\n\u201cAlthough it will not provide all of the funding the GAO estimated is needed to preserve every threatened site, H.R. 295 will continue the progress Congress has made in preserving these unique treasures.\n\n\u201cI thank Chairman Bishop, Subcommittee Chairman McClintock, and Ranking Members Grijalva and Tsongas for their support of this important legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill. Thank you.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T21:01:54Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-statement-availability-funds-new-school-denmark-olar-school-district", "Clyburn Statement on Availability of Funds for New School in Denmark-Olar School District", "2016-09-07", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Columbia, S.C. \u2013 The U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Office of Rural Development has announced approval of a direct loan through its community facilities program of $38 million for a new K-8 school, renovated high school, athletic facilities, and district administrative offices in Denmark, South Carolina to serve the Denmark-Olar School District (Bamberg School District 2).\nIn response to the above announcement Congressman Jim Clyburn released the following statement:\n\u201cAt the request of officials and representatives of Denmark-Olar School District, I was pleased to work with USDA in support of their application.\u00a0 Schools are the anchors of our communities and provide the foundation our children need to secure a productive future.\u201d\nClyburn continued, \u201cThe state of disrepair in many of South Carolina\u2019s rural schools has been well documented.\u00a0 When completed, this facility will be a state of the art investment in Bamberg County\u2019s children.\u201d\nThe loan USDA is offering would be paid back over 40 years at 2.75 percent interest.\nFor more information, contact:\nMichele J. Cardwell, USDA Rural Development, Community Programs Director, Acting State Director.\nPhone: 803-253-3645\nDr. Thelma F. Sojourner, Denmark-Olar School District. Phone: 803-793-2032", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-statement-on-availability-of-funds-for-new-school-in-denmark-olar-school-district/", "Clyburn Statement on Availability of Funds for New School in Denmark-Olar School District", "2016-09-07", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "Columbia, S.C. \u2013 The U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Office of Rural Development has announced approval of a direct loan through its community facilities program of $38 million for a new K-8 school, renovated high school, athletic facilities, and district administrative offices in Denmark, South Carolina to serve the Denmark-Olar School District (Bamberg School District 2).\n\nIn response to the above announcement Congressman Jim Clyburn released the following statement:\n\n\u201cAt the request of officials and representatives of Denmark-Olar School District, I was pleased to work with USDA in support of their application. Schools are the anchors of our communities and provide the foundation our children need to secure a productive future.\u201d\n\nClyburn continued, \u201cThe state of disrepair in many of South Carolina\u2019s rural schools has been well documented. When completed, this facility will be a state of the art investment in Bamberg County\u2019s children.\u201d\n\nThe loan USDA is offering would be paid back over 40 years at 2.75 percent interest.\n\nFor more information, contact:\n\nMichele J. Cardwell, USDA Rural Development, Community Programs Director, Acting State Director.\n\nPhone: 803-253-3645\n\nDr. Thelma F. Sojourner, Denmark-Olar School District. Phone: 803-793-2032", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T21:01:54Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-op-ed-democrats-vs-republicans-economy-it-not-close-call", "Clyburn OP-ED: Democrats vs. Republicans on the Economy: It Is Not A Close Call", "2016-09-02", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (SC) published the following op-ed on the Huffington Post today:\nDemocrats v. Republicans on the Economy: \u00a0It is Not a Close Call\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If our history were not so instructive about the catastrophic consequences that often flow from sophisticated campaigns of misinformation, I would probably be amused by the half truths and untruths that are being tossed around during this election season.\u00a0 Democrats in general and President Barack Obama in particular are being blamed for everything that has gone wrong with our country\u2019s economy over the last generation. \u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 President Obama, our nation\u2019s first African American President, is being viciously blamed by a few uninformed and misguided souls for all the maladies being experienced by black Americans. It is very clear, however, that over the last 35 years the American economy has fared much better under Democratic presidents than it has under Republican presidents.\u00a0 And all Americans - particularly black Americans - have seen their fortunes dramatically improved under President Obama\u2019s Administration.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 According to a February 2016 report by the Joint Economic Committee on analysis of economic performance since World War II under Democratic versus Republican presidents, \u201cdata show[s] that the economy has performed much better during Democratic administrations.\u00a0 Economic growth, job creation and industrial production have all been stronger.\u201d\u00a0 Also, a recent study by Princeton University professors Alan Blinder and Mark Watson concluded: \u201cThe superiority of economic performance under Democrats rather than Republicans is nearly ubiquitous; it holds almost regardless of how you define success.\u201d\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It is often stated that all of us are entitled to our opinions, but there can be only one set of facts.\u00a0 And when we look at the facts on job creation, employment levels and deficit reduction under the most recent five presidents, it is not a close call.\nJob Creation:\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Since 1981, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more jobs have been created during Democratic presidencies (33 million) than Republican presidencies (20 million), despite the fact that Democrats governed for four fewer years during that time. Let\u2019s take a look at a few facts:\nDuring President Ronald Reagan\u2018s eight years, 1981 \u2013 1989, 16.1 million jobs were created.\nDuring President George H. W. Bush\u2019s four years, 1989 \u2013 1993, 2.6 million jobs were created.\nDuring President Bill Clinton\u2019s eight years, 1993 \u2013 2001, 22.9 million jobs were created.\nDuring President George W. Bush\u2019s eight years, 2001 \u2013 2009, 1.3 million jobs were created.\nDuring President Barack Obama\u2019s seven years, 2009 \u2013 today, 10.4 million jobs were created.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nEmployment Levels:\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When President Reagan assumed office, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment for all Americans was 7.5 percent, for black Americans it was 14.6 percent.\u00a0 When he left office 8 years later, it was 5.4 percent for all Americans and 11.8 percent for black Americans. \u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 President George H. W. Bush succeeded Reagan. When he left office 4 years later, total unemployment was 7.3 percent, but for black Americans it was 14.1 percent. \u00a0President Bill Clinton inherited President Bush\u2019s 14.1 percent black unemployment rate when he took office in 1993.\u00a0 When he left office 8 years later, the unemployment rate for blacks was 8.2 percent and 4.2 percent for all Americans.\u00a0 \u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 President George W. Bush succeeded Clinton, and seven years later our economy was in a free fall.\u00a0 The automobile industry tanked.\u00a0 The country entered a \u201cGreat Recession,\u201d and black families lost 50 percent of their wealth.\u00a0 When George W. Bush left office in 2009, our economy was losing 800,000 jobs a month and the unemployment rate for all Americans was 6.1 percent.\u00a0 For blacks, however, it was 12.7 percent.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That is what confronted President Barack Obama when he assumed office in 2009.\u00a0 Today the nation\u2019s unemployment rate is down to 4.9 percent, and the black unemployment rate has dropped to 8.4 percent.\nDeficit Levels:\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Republicans rail a great deal about the perils of budget deficits.\u00a0 Yet the record demonstrates a lack of creditability on the subject.\u00a0 The last President to balance the federal budget was a Democrat, Bill Clinton.\u00a0 According to the Office of Management and Budget, President Barack Obama has reduced the deficit he inherited by 68 percent.\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The facts are clear. The budget deficit ballooned under Reagan by 110 percent, and under his successor, George H.W. Bush, by 87 percent.\u00a0 George W. Bush inherited a balanced budget from President Clinton and blew the deficit through the roof with massive tax cuts for corporate special interests and the wealthiest few and uncontrolled spending on misguided foreign adventurism.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Our nation\u2019s second President John Adams once observed, \u201cFacts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.\u201d\u00a0 Adams was right.\u00a0 And when you look at the facts about whether Democrats or Republicans are better on the economy, it is not a close call.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-op-ed-democrats-vs-republicans-on-the-economy-it-is-not-a-close-call/", "Clyburn OP-ED: Democrats vs. Republicans on the Economy: It Is Not A Close Call", "2016-09-02", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (SC) published the following op-ed on the Huffington Post today:\n\nDemocrats v. Republicans on the Economy: It is Not a Close Call\n\nIf our history were not so instructive about the catastrophic consequences that often flow from sophisticated campaigns of misinformation, I would probably be amused by the half truths and untruths that are being tossed around during this election season. Democrats in general and President Barack Obama in particular are being blamed for everything that has gone wrong with our country\u2019s economy over the last generation.\n\nPresident Obama, our nation\u2019s first African American President, is being viciously blamed by a few uninformed and misguided souls for all the maladies being experienced by black Americans. It is very clear, however, that over the last 35 years the American economy has fared much better under Democratic presidents than it has under Republican presidents. And all Americans \u2013 particularly black Americans \u2013 have seen their fortunes dramatically improved under President Obama\u2019s Administration.\n\nAccording to a February 2016 report by the Joint Economic Committee on analysis of economic performance since World War II under Democratic versus Republican presidents, \u201cdata show[s] that the economy has performed much better during Democratic administrations. Economic growth, job creation and industrial production have all been stronger.\u201d Also, a recent study by Princeton University professors Alan Blinder and Mark Watson concluded: \u201cThe superiority of economic performance under Democrats rather than Republicans is nearly ubiquitous; it holds almost regardless of how you define success.\u201d\n\nIt is often stated that all of us are entitled to our opinions, but there can be only one set of facts. And when we look at the facts on job creation, employment levels and deficit reduction under the most recent five presidents, it is not a close call.\n\nJob Creation:\n\nSince 1981, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more jobs have been created during Democratic presidencies (33 million) than Republican presidencies (20 million), despite the fact that Democrats governed for four fewer years during that time. Let\u2019s take a look at a few facts:\n\nDuring President Ronald Reagan\u2018s eight years, 1981 \u2013 1989, 16.1 million jobs were created.\n\nDuring President George H. W. Bush\u2019s four years, 1989 \u2013 1993, 2.6 million jobs were created.\n\nDuring President Bill Clinton\u2019s eight years, 1993 \u2013 2001, 22.9 million jobs were created.\n\nDuring President George W. Bush\u2019s eight years, 2001 \u2013 2009, 1.3 million jobs were created.\n\nDuring President Barack Obama\u2019s seven years, 2009 \u2013 today, 10.4 million jobs were created.\n\nEmployment Levels:\n\nWhen President Reagan assumed office, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment for all Americans was 7.5 percent, for black Americans it was 14.6 percent. When he left office 8 years later, it was 5.4 percent for all Americans and 11.8 percent for black Americans.\n\nPresident George H. W. Bush succeeded Reagan. When he left office 4 years later, total unemployment was 7.3 percent, but for black Americans it was 14.1 percent. President Bill Clinton inherited President Bush\u2019s 14.1 percent black unemployment rate when he took office in 1993. When he left office 8 years later, the unemployment rate for blacks was 8.2 percent and 4.2 percent for all Americans.\n\nPresident George W. Bush succeeded Clinton, and seven years later our economy was in a free fall. The automobile industry tanked. The country entered a \u201cGreat Recession,\u201d and black families lost 50 percent of their wealth. When George W. Bush left office in 2009, our economy was losing 800,000 jobs a month and the unemployment rate for all Americans was 6.1 percent. For blacks, however, it was 12.7 percent.\n\nThat is what confronted President Barack Obama when he assumed office in 2009. Today the nation\u2019s unemployment rate is down to 4.9 percent, and the black unemployment rate has dropped to 8.4 percent.\n\nDeficit Levels:\n\nRepublicans rail a great deal about the perils of budget deficits. Yet the record demonstrates a lack of creditability on the subject. The last President to balance the federal budget was a Democrat, Bill Clinton. According to the Office of Management and Budget, President Barack Obama has reduced the deficit he inherited by 68 percent.\n\nThe facts are clear. The budget deficit ballooned under Reagan by 110 percent, and under his successor, George H.W. Bush, by 87 percent. George W. Bush inherited a balanced budget from President Clinton and blew the deficit through the roof with massive tax cuts for corporate special interests and the wealthiest few and uncontrolled spending on misguided foreign adventurism.\n\nOur nation\u2019s second President John Adams once observed, \u201cFacts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.\u201d Adams was right. And when you look at the facts about whether Democrats or Republicans are better on the economy, it is not a close call.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T21:01:54Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-statement-sc-dot-commission-approval-local-projects", "Clyburn Statement on SC DOT Commission Approval of Local Projects", "2016-08-18", "2016", "2016-08", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Columbia, SC)\u00a0- Congressman Jim Clyburn released the following statement on the South Carolina Department of Transportation Commission\u2019s vote on repurposing federal funds for local highway projects:\n\u201cI support the S.C. Department of Transportation Commission\u2019s action today to re-purpose certain federal highway funds to make critical investments in communities in the 6th Congressional District. \u00a0Today\u2019s action will create jobs, improve infrastructure, enhance public safety and contribute to essential community development and revitalization.\u00a0\nMany of the communities that will benefit from this action have suffered decades of neglect. I was proud to work with local elected officials and community leaders to repurpose \u00a0these funds for projects they have championed for decades and are prepared to meet the 20% match requirement. \u00a0Consequently, these projects - which meet the legal requirement of being within a 50-mile radius of the original site - \u00a0will not cost South Carolina taxpayers any additional funds or take away any state resources from other highway projects.\u201d\nList of projects receiving these re-purposed federal funds:\nManning Ave./N. Main Corridor Revitalization (Sumter) - $11,491,338 \u2013 Requested by City of Sumter\nRussell Street/Magnolia Street Revitalization (Orangeburg) - $6,500,000 \u2013 Requested by Orangeburg County\nS. Main Street (Columbia) \u2013 $3,027,789 \u2013 Requested by the University of South Carolina\nZan Street (Orangeburg) - $500,000 \u2013 Partnership between SCDOT, City of Orangeburg, Orangeburg County, and the Lower Savannah Council of Governments\nToday\u2019s action by the Commission is in accordance with Public Law 114-13, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2016.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-statement-on-sc-dot-commission-approval-of-local-projects/", "Clyburn Statement on SC DOT Commission Approval of Local Projects", "2016-08-18", "2016", "2016-08", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "(Columbia, SC) \u2013 Congressman Jim Clyburn released the following statement on the South Carolina Department of Transportation Commission\u2019s vote on repurposing federal funds for local highway projects:\n\n\u201cI support the S.C. Department of Transportation Commission\u2019s action today to re-purpose certain federal highway funds to make critical investments in communities in the 6th Congressional District. Today\u2019s action will create jobs, improve infrastructure, enhance public safety and contribute to essential community development and revitalization.\n\nMany of the communities that will benefit from this action have suffered decades of neglect. I was proud to work with local elected officials and community leaders to repurpose these funds for projects they have championed for decades and are prepared to meet the 20% match requirement. Consequently, these projects \u2013 which meet the legal requirement of being within a 50-mile radius of the original site \u2013 will not cost South Carolina taxpayers any additional funds or take away any state resources from other highway projects.\u201d\n\nList of projects receiving these re-purposed federal funds:\n\nManning Ave./N. Main Corridor Revitalization (Sumter) \u2013 $11,491,338 \u2013 Requested by City of Sumter\n\nRussell Street/Magnolia Street Revitalization (Orangeburg) \u2013 $6,500,000 \u2013 Requested by Orangeburg County\n\nS. Main Street (Columbia) \u2013 $3,027,789 \u2013 Requested by the University of South Carolina\n\nZan Street (Orangeburg) \u2013 $500,000 \u2013 Partnership between SCDOT, City of Orangeburg, Orangeburg County, and the Lower Savannah Council of Governments\n\nToday\u2019s action by the Commission is in accordance with Public Law 114-13, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2016.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T21:00:38Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/media-advisory-clyburn-join-democrats-hold-lighting-way-national-speak-out-path", "MEDIA ADVISORY: Clyburn to Join Democrats to Hold \"Lighting the Way' National Speak Out", "2016-07-11", "2016", "2016-07", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MEDIA ADVISORY  \n\t**Happening Thursday**\nContact:\u00a0  \n\tCandace Randle Person (CBC) (202) 593-1331  \n\tBrenda Jones (Lewis) (202) 225-3801  \n\tPatrick Devlin (Clyburn) (202) 226-3210\nDemocrats to Hold \u2018Lighting the Way\u2019 National Speak Out:\n\tThe Path Forward on Gun Violence\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 On Thursday, July 14th at 7:30 p.m. EDT, Democrats will hold a national speak out on gun violence in America.\nThis event is open press.\nWHO:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \nRepresentative John Lewis (D-GA)\n\u00a0\nAssistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (D-SC)\n\u00a0\nCongressional Black Caucus (CBC)\n\u00a0\nMembers of the House Democratic Caucus\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nWHAT:\nEnsuring Comprehensive Background Checks\n\u00a0\nH.R. 1217, Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nEnacting No Fly, No Buy\n\u00a0\nH.R. 1076, Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nClosing the Charleston Loophole\n\u00a0\nH.R. 3051, Background Check Completion Act\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nBarring Firearm Sales to Hate Crime Offenders\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\nH.R. 4603, Hate Crimes Prevention Act\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nWHEN:\nThursday, July 14, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. EDT\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nWHERE:\nWest Lawn of U.S. Capitol Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/media-advisory-clyburn-to-join-democrats-to-hold-lighting-the-way-national-speak-out/", "MEDIA ADVISORY: Clyburn to Join Democrats to Hold \u201cLighting the Way\u2019 National Speak Out", "2016-07-11", "2016", "2016-07", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "MEDIA ADVISORY\n\n**Happening Thursday**\n\nContact:\n\nCandace Randle Person (CBC) (202) 593-1331\n\nBrenda Jones (Lewis) (202) 225-3801\n\nPatrick Devlin (Clyburn) (202) 226-3210\n\nDemocrats to Hold \u2018Lighting the Way\u2019 National Speak Out:\n\nThe Path Forward on Gun Violence\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 On Thursday, July 14th at 7:30 p.m. EDT, Democrats will hold a national speak out on gun violence in America.\n\nThis event is open press.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T20:57:58Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/good-trouble", "Good Trouble", "2016-06-28", "2016", "2016-06", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "One day after the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history killed 49 people and nearly a year after nine prayerful souls were gunned down at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC I sought recognition from the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives attempting to raise a Parliamentary Inquiry. I wanted to inquire as to when we might be able to expect a vote on several pieces of legislation that would make our communities safer, our families more secure \u200e and our gun ownership laws more sensible.\u00a0My Inquiry was not responded to, and I was ruled out of order.\nThe so-called \u201cNo Fly, No Buy\u201d bill, H.R. 1076, would deny gun purchases to individuals on the terrorist watch list who are prohibited from flying.\nH.R. 1217, sponsored by Representatives Mike Thompson and Peter King, would\u200e require universal background checks for gun purchases.\nRepresentative David Cicilline\u2019s bill, H.R. 4603, would prevent those found guilty of hate crimes from purchasing a firearm.\nMy bill, H.R. 3051, would close the so-called \u201cCharleston loophole,\u201d which allows for the sale of a gun to be consummated after three days, even if the background check has not been completed. That loophole allowed the confessed killer of the \u201cEmanuel 9\" to purchase a firearm which, if the background check had been completed, he would not have been allowed to buy.\nTuesday of last week I made a second attempt to inquire about the four bills discussed above, and the result was the same. I was silenced by the rules of the House.\nBut this time, John Lewis, my friend of over 55 years, and colleague in the US House of Representatives for the last 23 years, responded by leading an unprecedented \u201cSit-in\u201d on the House floor. He was assisted in this effort by John Larson of Connecticut, Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, Robin Kelly of Illinois and David Cicilline of Rhode Island. More than 200 House Members and Senators supported this unprecedented event, and we occupied the House Floor for more than 25 hours.\nAlthough House Republicans adjourned the session and cut off the House\u2019s cameras and microphones, Democrats refused to be silenced. Led by Scott Peters and Eric Swalwell of California, and Beto O\u2019Rourke of Texas, social media were utilized to spread the word to the American people. The response has been fantastic. We have engaged people all over the country who have added their voices to our call for common sense gun violence prevention.\nThe final hours of our occupation were managed by Steve Israel of New York who called on me to present John Lewis for closing comments as we brought our unprecedented action to a climax. In presenting John, I reminisced about the first time he and I met, which was also my first meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr. I remarked about the irony of our 1960 meeting and this 2016 sit-in both being about the right to vote.\nJohn and I have internalized much from our experiences with Dr. King\u200e. One of them re-enforced a constant refrain my father often used to impress upon my siblings and me the importance of activism, \u201cSilence gives consent.\u201d Dr. King re-enforced that notion in his letter from the Birmingham City Jail when he wrote, \u201cwe are going to be made to repent in this generation, not just for the vitriolic words and deeds of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.\u201d\nWe Democrats have broken our silence on these nonsensical gun ownership laws that are clear and present danger to the safety and security of our fellow Americans. Doing so has brought me a threat of physical rebuke by a pseudo-newsperson that has me trembling in my boots and prompted an editorial writer of a mainstream newspaper to call our peaceful, non violent protest disgraceful.\nI have read that we may be in a little trouble with the Speaker for having broken some House Rules. But as John Lewis often intones, \u201csometimes we need to get in the way, get in a little trouble, good trouble.\u201d I agree with John, and I have never felt better about being in a little trouble.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/good-trouble/", "Good Trouble", "2016-06-28", "2016", "2016-06", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "Good Trouble\n\nOne day after the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history killed 49 people and nearly a year after nine prayerful souls were gunned down at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC I sought recognition from the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives attempting to raise a Parliamentary Inquiry. I wanted to inquire as to when we might be able to expect a vote on several pieces of legislation that would make our communities safer, our families more secure \u200e and our gun ownership laws more sensible. My Inquiry was not responded to, and I was ruled out of order.\n\nThe so-called \u201cNo Fly, No Buy\u201d bill, H.R. 1076, would deny gun purchases to individuals on the terrorist watch list who are prohibited from flying.\n\nH.R. 1217, sponsored by Representatives Mike Thompson and Peter King, would\u200e require universal background checks for gun purchases.\n\nRepresentative David Cicilline\u2019s bill, H.R. 4603, would prevent those found guilty of hate crimes from purchasing a firearm.\n\nMy bill, H.R. 3051, would close the so-called \u201cCharleston loophole,\u201d which allows for the sale of a gun to be consummated after three days, even if the background check has not been completed. That loophole allowed the confessed killer of the \u201cEmanuel 9\" to purchase a firearm which, if the background check had been completed, he would not have been allowed to buy.\n\nTuesday of last week I made a second attempt to inquire about the four bills discussed above, and the result was the same. I was silenced by the rules of the House.\n\nBut this time, John Lewis, my friend of over 55 years, and colleague in the US House of Representatives for the last 23 years, responded by leading an unprecedented \u201cSit-in\u201d on the House floor. He was assisted in this effort by John Larson of Connecticut, Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, Robin Kelly of Illinois and David Cicilline of Rhode Island. More than 200 House Members and Senators supported this unprecedented event, and we occupied the House Floor for more than 25 hours.\n\nAlthough House Republicans adjourned the session and cut off the House\u2019s cameras and microphones, Democrats refused to be silenced. Led by Scott Peters and Eric Swalwell of California, and Beto O\u2019Rourke of Texas, social media were utilized to spread the word to the American people. The response has been fantastic. We have engaged people all over the country who have added their voices to our call for common sense gun violence prevention.\n\nThe final hours of our occupation were managed by Steve Israel of New York who called on me to present John Lewis for closing comments as we brought our unprecedented action to a climax. In presenting John, I reminisced about the first time he and I met, which was also my first meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr. I remarked about the irony of our 1960 meeting and this 2016 sit-in both being about the right to vote.\n\nJohn and I have internalized much from our experiences with Dr. King\u200e. One of them re-enforced a constant refrain my father often used to impress upon my siblings and me the importance of activism, \u201cSilence gives consent.\u201d Dr. King re-enforced that notion in his letter from the Birmingham City Jail when he wrote, \u201cwe are going to be made to repent in this generation, not just for the vitriolic words and deeds of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.\u201d\n\nWe Democrats have broken our silence on these nonsensical gun ownership laws that are clear and present danger to the safety and security of our fellow Americans. Doing so has brought me a threat of physical rebuke by a pseudo-newsperson that has me trembling in my boots and prompted an editorial writer of a mainstream newspaper to call our peaceful, non violent protest disgraceful.\n\nI have read that we may be in a little trouble with the Speaker for having broken some House Rules. But as John Lewis often intones, \u201csometimes we need to get in the way, get in a little trouble, good trouble.\u201d I agree with John, and I have never felt better about being in a little trouble.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T20:54:04Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-statement-charleston-massacre-anniversary", "Clyburn Statement on the Charleston Massacre Anniversary", "2016-06-17", "2016", "2016-06", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn today released the following statement on the first anniversary of the Charleston Massacre:\n\u201cToday marks the first anniversary of the Emanuel AME Church massacre in Charleston, South Carolina.\u00a0\u00a0This heinous crime\u00a0was\u00a0deeply impactful, and the response of the families and community has been even more impactful.\n\u201cAs an AME congregant, a former resident of Charleston and Representative of the Low-Country in the U.S. House, I feel a deep and abiding connection to Charleston and the Low-Country. \u00a0The victims of that horrific crime were our friends and neighbors and my constituents. \u00a0Their deaths pained me in profound and personal ways and the wounds to our community will take time to heal.\n\u201cOn the night of June 17, 2015, my friend and Co-Worker Reverend Clementa Pinckney left his service in the state senate to travel to Charleston to fulfill his calling of \u00a0tending to his flock at Mother Emanuel AME Church\u2019s regular Wednesday night Bible study. \u00a0Rev. Pinckney was a tremendous leader in our community. \u00a0Several weeks prior to that night, I had been with Rev. Pinckney at a service in North Charleston after the police shooting of an unarmed black man, Walter Scott. \u00a0Rev. Pinckney\u2019s ministry at that event made a tremendous difference in defusing a very tense time and helped restore calm and allow the local authorities to exert justice\u00a0 on a most unjust situation. \u00a0Into that Bible study entered an uninvited outsider. \u00a0Though he was a stranger, he was embraced by the worshippers who welcomed him into their weekly exploration of their faith. \u00a0Yet that hate-filled young man shunned their neighborly embrace and conducted an act of violence so heinous the horror has been immeasurable. \u00a0\n\u201cI have been extremely proud of the resilience and compassion shown by the people of Charleston and South Carolina following the horrific attack at Mother Emanuel on June 17 last year. \u00a0The survivors of the attack and the families of the victims have been an inspiration to their communities, our state and the whole nation. \u00a0While the Charleston community has rallied together, as we approach the first anniversary of the Emanuel AME church massacre, we must stay vigilant and continue providing the proper support for the survivors and victims.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-statement-on-the-charleston-massacre-anniversary/", "Clyburn Statement on the Charleston Massacre Anniversary", "2016-06-17", "2016", "2016-06", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn today released the following statement on the first anniversary of the Charleston Massacre:\n\n\u201cToday marks the first anniversary of the Emanuel AME Church massacre in Charleston, South Carolina. This heinous crime was deeply impactful, and the response of the families and community has been even more impactful.\n\n\u201cAs an AME congregant, a former resident of Charleston and Representative of the Low-Country in the U.S. House, I feel a deep and abiding connection to Charleston and the Low-Country. The victims of that horrific crime were our friends and neighbors and my constituents. Their deaths pained me in profound and personal ways and the wounds to our community will take time to heal.\n\n\u201cOn the night of June 17, 2015, my friend and Co-Worker Reverend Clementa Pinckney left his service in the state senate to travel to Charleston to fulfill his calling of tending to his flock at Mother Emanuel AME Church\u2019s regular Wednesday night Bible study. Rev. Pinckney was a tremendous leader in our community. Several weeks prior to that night, I had been with Rev. Pinckney at a service in North Charleston after the police shooting of an unarmed black man, Walter Scott. Rev. Pinckney\u2019s ministry at that event made a tremendous difference in defusing a very tense time and helped restore calm and allow the local authorities to exert justice on a most unjust situation. Into that Bible study entered an uninvited outsider. Though he was a stranger, he was embraced by the worshippers who welcomed him into their weekly exploration of their faith. Yet that hate-filled young man shunned their neighborly embrace and conducted an act of violence so heinous the horror has been immeasurable.\n\n\u201cI have been extremely proud of the resilience and compassion shown by the people of Charleston and South Carolina following the horrific attack at Mother Emanuel on June 17 last year. The survivors of the attack and the families of the victims have been an inspiration to their communities, our state and the whole nation. While the Charleston community has rallied together, as we approach the first anniversary of the Emanuel AME church massacre, we must stay vigilant and continue providing the proper support for the survivors and victims.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T20:54:04Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-announces-department-justice-grant-support-victims-emanuel-ame-church-attack", "Clyburn Announces Department of Justice Grant to Support Victims of Emanuel AME Church Attack", "2016-06-02", "2016", "2016-06", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Columbia, S.C. \u2013 U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn released the following statement on the Department of Justice\u2019s announcement of a $3,611,088 grant through the Office for Victims of Crime Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program to the Medical University of South Carolina\u2019s National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center to support victims of the June 17, 2015 attack at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.\n\u201cI have been extremely proud of the resilience and compassion shown by the people of Charleston and South Carolina following the horrific attack at Mother Emanuel on June 17 last year.\u00a0 The survivors of the attack and the families of the victims have been an inspiration to their communities, our state and the whole nation.\u00a0 While the Charleston community has rallied together, we must stay vigilant and continue providing the proper support for the survivors and victims.\u201d\n\u201cI am pleased that the Department of Justice has awarded this grant to help MUSC and their partners, the City of Charleston and other local governments, deal with the continuing needs in the community as we approach the first anniversary of this horrible chapter in our lives.\u201d\n\u201cI want to thank Attorney General Loretta Lynch, for expediting this award, and all of my colleagues in the South Carolina congressional delegation for supporting MUSC\u2019s request.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-introduces-legislation-create-national-monument-dedicated-reconstruction-era", "Clyburn Introduces Legislation to create National Monument dedicated to Reconstruction ERA at Penn Center", "2016-06-02", "2016", "2016-06", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ColumbiA, S.C. \u2013 U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn released the following statement after introducing the \u201cPenn School \u2013 Reconstruction Era National Monument Act.\u201d\nThe bill would designate the historic Penn Center campus (formerly known as Penn School) on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, as a National Monument.\u00a0 The National Monument would be dedicated to the history of the Reconstruction Era and managed by the National Park Service.\u00a0 He was joined by Rep. Mark Sanford as an original cosponsor.\n\u201cPenn Center is one of the most significant historical institutions in America.\u00a0 Founded during the Civil War as Penn School, it was one of the first schools built in the South to educate newly freed slaves.\u00a0 Throughout the Reconstruction Era, Penn School helped African Americans of the Sea Islands of South Carolina thrive and take advantage of opportunities denied to them by slavery.\u201d\n\u201cAfter local governments began to operate public schools for African Americans, Penn reorganized as Penn Center, a community organization dedicated to civil rights, preservation of Gullah history and culture, and providing critical services and resources to the community on St. Helena.\u00a0 Penn Center continues its mission today, operating on the same historic campus continuously since the Civil War.\u201d\n\u201cThis bill would establish a National Monument dedicated to the history and interpretation of the Reconstruction Era, a period of history underrepresented in the National Park System.\u00a0 For generations, the story of this era was intentionally manipulated, to downplay the civil rights and economic gains made by African Americans following the Civil War and the pernicious efforts by white Southerners to disfranchise them.\u201d\n\u201cThe site of Penn School is the ideal location for a National Monument dedicated to the Reconstruction Era, as its history is one of the best examples of the stories of the period.\u00a0 Importantly, enacting this legislation will not detract from Penn Center\u2019s ongoing operations.\u00a0 The National Park Service would partner with Penn Center to manage the National Monument, but Penn Center will continue their mission on their historic campus as they have for over 150 years.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-announces-department-of-justice-grant-to-support-victims-of-emanuel-ame-church-attack/", "Clyburn Announces Department of Justice Grant to Support Victims of Emanuel AME Church Attack", "2016-06-02", "2016", "2016-06", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "Columbia, S.C. \u2013 U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn released the following statement on the Department of Justice\u2019s announcement of a $3,611,088 grant through the Office for Victims of Crime Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program to the Medical University of South Carolina\u2019s National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center to support victims of the June 17, 2015 attack at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.\n\n\u201cI have been extremely proud of the resilience and compassion shown by the people of Charleston and South Carolina following the horrific attack at Mother Emanuel on June 17 last year. The survivors of the attack and the families of the victims have been an inspiration to their communities, our state and the whole nation. While the Charleston community has rallied together, we must stay vigilant and continue providing the proper support for the survivors and victims.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am pleased that the Department of Justice has awarded this grant to help MUSC and their partners, the City of Charleston and other local governments, deal with the continuing needs in the community as we approach the first anniversary of this horrible chapter in our lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cI want to thank Attorney General Loretta Lynch, for expediting this award, and all of my colleagues in the South Carolina congressional delegation for supporting MUSC\u2019s request.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T20:54:04Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-introduces-legislation-to-create-national-monument-dedicated-to-reconstruction-era-at-penn-center/", "Clyburn Introduces Legislation to create National Monument dedicated to Reconstruction ERA at Penn Center", "2016-06-02", "2016", "2016-06", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "ColumbiA, S.C. \u2013 U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn released the following statement after introducing the \u201cPenn School \u2013 Reconstruction Era National Monument Act.\u201d\n\nThe bill would designate the historic Penn Center campus (formerly known as Penn School) on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, as a National Monument. The National Monument would be dedicated to the history of the Reconstruction Era and managed by the National Park Service. He was joined by Rep. Mark Sanford as an original cosponsor.\n\n\u201cPenn Center is one of the most significant historical institutions in America. Founded during the Civil War as Penn School, it was one of the first schools built in the South to educate newly freed slaves. Throughout the Reconstruction Era, Penn School helped African Americans of the Sea Islands of South Carolina thrive and take advantage of opportunities denied to them by slavery.\u201d\n\n\u201cAfter local governments began to operate public schools for African Americans, Penn reorganized as Penn Center, a community organization dedicated to civil rights, preservation of Gullah history and culture, and providing critical services and resources to the community on St. Helena. Penn Center continues its mission today, operating on the same historic campus continuously since the Civil War.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill would establish a National Monument dedicated to the history and interpretation of the Reconstruction Era, a period of history underrepresented in the National Park System. For generations, the story of this era was intentionally manipulated, to downplay the civil rights and economic gains made by African Americans following the Civil War and the pernicious efforts by white Southerners to disfranchise them.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe site of Penn School is the ideal location for a National Monument dedicated to the Reconstruction Era, as its history is one of the best examples of the stories of the period. Importantly, enacting this legislation will not detract from Penn Center\u2019s ongoing operations. The National Park Service would partner with Penn Center to manage the National Monument, but Penn Center will continue their mission on their historic campus as they have for over 150 years.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T20:54:04Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-op-ed-republicans%E2%80%99-feckless-policies-and-reckless-politics", "Clyburn Op-Ed: Republicans Feckless Policies and Reckless Politics", "2016-05-18", "2016", "2016-05", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Clyburn op-ed: Republicans\u2019 Feckless\n\tPolicies and Reckless Politics \n  \nWASHINGTON \u2013 Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (SC) published the following op-ed on the Huffington Post today:\n Republicans\u2019 Feckless Policies and Reckless Politics \n05/18/2016 11:57 am ET  \n\tRep. James E. Clyburn  \n\tRepresenting South Carolina\u2019s 6th Congressional District\nDespite several flirtations over the years, Donald Trump did not burst onto the political scene until 2011, when he began viciously questioning the birthplace and academic record of our nation\u2019s first black president. He has blasted his way to presumptive nominee by leveling irresponsible attacks against his opponents, nativist attacks against immigrants, cowardly attacks against American prisoners of war, sexist attacks against women, bigoted attacks against Muslims, and chilling attacks against the free press. Republican voters seem to be responding to this ruinous recklessness.\nTrump has defended his shameful rhetoric by decrying \u201cpolitical correctness,\u201d insisting ludicrously that the very offensiveness of his rants is proof of their validity. The so-called Republican establishment shouldn\u2019t be surprised. Trump\u2019s ascendance is a predictable consequence of the reckless course the Republican Party has been on for a long time.\nThe base of today\u2019s Republican Party was formed in large measure by voters who left the Democratic Party in droves in response to President Harry Truman\u2019s \u201cFair Deal\u201d policies, and the national Democratic Party\u2019s embrace of civil rights. They aligned themselves with Barry Goldwater\u2019s candidacy and opposition to the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and Richard Nixon\u2019s \u201cSouthern Strategy\u201d in 1968.\nMany of these voters flocked to Ronald Reagan in 1980. They became known as Reagan Democrats, in part because of their Reagan\u2019s derision of \u201cwelfare queens\u201d and \u201cstrapping young bucks.\u201d Reagan\u2019s first speech after his nomination in 1980 was delivered in Philadelphia, Mississippi, a place that became internationally known because of the brutal murders of three civil rights workers just 16 years earlier. There, the newly-minted nominee recklessly declared, \u201cI believe in states\u2019 rights.\u201d\nThe right-wing Republican coalition that prevailed in seven of the ten presidential elections between 1968 and 2004 was fragile. The party\u2019s policies did not benefit their working class voters. To keep these voters in the fold, they stoked their fears with reckless speeches insulting to blacks, Hispanics and other minorities.\nIn 1988, Lee Atwater, on behalf of George H.W. Bush, recklessly exploited racial fears with the Willie Horton ad. Newt Gingrich and Frank Luntz recklessly exploited fears over gun safety in 1994, and Karl Rove, on behalf of George W. Bush, recklessly exploited fears of marriage equality in 2004.\n\tFrom the Reagan Administration through the second Bush Administration, incomes and wealth increased dramatically for those at the top of the economic spectrum, but flattened for everyone else. And in September 2008, the economy crashed, jettisoning 800,000 jobs a month.\nThe night before President Obama\u2019s inauguration in January 2009, Republican officials and operatives met over dinner and doubled down on their feckless trickle-down fantasy, and recklessly plotted to block the new president at every turn, regardless of the merit of his proposals or the consequences to our nation\u2019s welfare.\nRepublican obstructionism reached the peak of its recklessness on the issue of the Affordable Care Act, an Act modeled after the state of Massachusetts\u2019 health plan, a plan proposed by their 2012 nominee, Mitt Romney. It included an individual mandate, which originated with the conservative Heritage Foundation and was supported in the 1990s by Republicans, including Newt Gingrich. But if Barack Obama supported something, Republicans had to oppose it, and have done so in recklessly apocalyptic terms.\nWhen Republicans took control of the House of Representatives in 2011, they failed to offer anything but more feckless trickle-down doggerel and reckless demonization of President Obama. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell frankly admitted that Republicans\u2019 main goal was to make President Obama a one-term president. And when that failed, they recklessly shut down the government.\nDonald Trump\u2019s Republican primary campaign was successful for several reasons, most attributable to his feckless proposals and reckless rhetoric. First, Trump more effectively unleashed the rage that Republicans before him ignited and inflamed, although several of his 16 primary opponents tried. For example, Jeb Bush advocated religious discrimination against Syrian refugees, Ben Carson compared the Affordable Care Act to slavery, Marco Rubio accused President Obama of intentionally trying to weaken the United States, and Ted Cruz ostracized transgender Americans.\nTrump\u2019s success also came in part because he aggressively acknowledged the failure of the Republican establishment to improve the lives of their lower-income voters. None of his opponents who were also elected officials could make this case because they bore responsibility for those failures. Although Trump was able to identify and benefit from the problem, he has not offered any substantive solutions. The proposals he has put forth are substantively feckless and dangerously reckless.\nOne would have thought that Congressional Republicans would reject Trump\u2019s recklessness, but unfortunately, they are embracing him. Hopefully voters at large will not allow Trump\u2019s divisive policies and hackneyed rhetoric to find solace in decries of political correctness.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-op-ed-republicansae-feckless-policies-and-reckless-politics/", "Clyburn Op-Ed: Republicans\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Feckless Policies and Reckless Politics", "2016-05-18", "2016", "2016-05", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "Clyburn op-ed: Republicans\u2019 Feckless\n\nPolicies and Reckless Politics\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (SC) published the following op-ed on the Huffington Post today:\n\n05/18/2016 11:57 am ET\n\nRep. James E. Clyburn\n\nRepresenting South Carolina\u2019s 6th Congressional District\n\nDespite several flirtations over the years, Donald Trump did not burst onto the political scene until 2011, when he began viciously questioning the birthplace and academic record of our nation\u2019s first black president. He has blasted his way to presumptive nominee by leveling irresponsible attacks against his opponents, nativist attacks against immigrants, cowardly attacks against American prisoners of war, sexist attacks against women, bigoted attacks against Muslims, and chilling attacks against the free press. Republican voters seem to be responding to this ruinous recklessness.\n\nTrump has defended his shameful rhetoric by decrying \u201cpolitical correctness,\u201d insisting ludicrously that the very offensiveness of his rants is proof of their validity. The so-called Republican establishment shouldn\u2019t be surprised. Trump\u2019s ascendance is a predictable consequence of the reckless course the Republican Party has been on for a long time.\n\nThe base of today\u2019s Republican Party was formed in large measure by voters who left the Democratic Party in droves in response to President Harry Truman\u2019s \u201cFair Deal\u201d policies, and the national Democratic Party\u2019s embrace of civil rights. They aligned themselves with Barry Goldwater\u2019s candidacy and opposition to the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and Richard Nixon\u2019s \u201cSouthern Strategy\u201d in 1968.\n\nMany of these voters flocked to Ronald Reagan in 1980. They became known as Reagan Democrats, in part because of their Reagan\u2019s derision of \u201cwelfare queens\u201d and \u201cstrapping young bucks.\u201d Reagan\u2019s first speech after his nomination in 1980 was delivered in Philadelphia, Mississippi, a place that became internationally known because of the brutal murders of three civil rights workers just 16 years earlier. There, the newly-minted nominee recklessly declared, \u201cI believe in states\u2019 rights.\u201d\n\nThe right-wing Republican coalition that prevailed in seven of the ten presidential elections between 1968 and 2004 was fragile. The party\u2019s policies did not benefit their working class voters. To keep these voters in the fold, they stoked their fears with reckless speeches insulting to blacks, Hispanics and other minorities.\n\nIn 1988, Lee Atwater, on behalf of George H.W. Bush, recklessly exploited racial fears with the Willie Horton ad. Newt Gingrich and Frank Luntz recklessly exploited fears over gun safety in 1994, and Karl Rove, on behalf of George W. Bush, recklessly exploited fears of marriage equality in 2004.\n\nFrom the Reagan Administration through the second Bush Administration, incomes and wealth increased dramatically for those at the top of the economic spectrum, but flattened for everyone else. And in September 2008, the economy crashed, jettisoning 800,000 jobs a month.\n\nThe night before President Obama\u2019s inauguration in January 2009, Republican officials and operatives met over dinner and doubled down on their feckless trickle-down fantasy, and recklessly plotted to block the new president at every turn, regardless of the merit of his proposals or the consequences to our nation\u2019s welfare.\n\nRepublican obstructionism reached the peak of its recklessness on the issue of the Affordable Care Act, an Act modeled after the state of Massachusetts\u2019 health plan, a plan proposed by their 2012 nominee, Mitt Romney. It included an individual mandate, which originated with the conservative Heritage Foundation and was supported in the 1990s by Republicans, including Newt Gingrich. But if Barack Obama supported something, Republicans had to oppose it, and have done so in recklessly apocalyptic terms.\n\nWhen Republicans took control of the House of Representatives in 2011, they failed to offer anything but more feckless trickle-down doggerel and reckless demonization of President Obama. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell frankly admitted that Republicans\u2019 main goal was to make President Obama a one-term president. And when that failed, they recklessly shut down the government.\n\nDonald Trump\u2019s Republican primary campaign was successful for several reasons, most attributable to his feckless proposals and reckless rhetoric. First, Trump more effectively unleashed the rage that Republicans before him ignited and inflamed, although several of his 16 primary opponents tried. For example, Jeb Bush advocated religious discrimination against Syrian refugees, Ben Carson compared the Affordable Care Act to slavery, Marco Rubio accused President Obama of intentionally trying to weaken the United States, and Ted Cruz ostracized transgender Americans.\n\nTrump\u2019s success also came in part because he aggressively acknowledged the failure of the Republican establishment to improve the lives of their lower-income voters. None of his opponents who were also elected officials could make this case because they bore responsibility for those failures. Although Trump was able to identify and benefit from the problem, he has not offered any substantive solutions. The proposals he has put forth are substantively feckless and dangerously reckless.\n\nOne would have thought that Congressional Republicans would reject Trump\u2019s recklessness, but unfortunately, they are embracing him. Hopefully voters at large will not allow Trump\u2019s divisive policies and hackneyed rhetoric to find solace in decries of political correctness.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T20:51:40Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-testimony-rules-committee-support-clyburn-smith-amendment-ndaa", "Clyburn Testimony at Rules Committee in Support of Clyburn-Smith Amendment to NDAA", "2016-05-17", "2016", "2016-05", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn delivered the following statement at today\u2019s meeting of the Rules Committee considering amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (as prepared for delivery):\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThank you, Mr. Chairman and Madam Ranking Member, for the opportunity to testify before you today on the Clyburn-Smith amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThis amendment would prohibit senior ROTC programs at any institution that displays the Confederate battle flag in a location other than a museum exhibit.\u00a0 This objectionable banner, which was never the official flag of the Confederacy, is a symbol of hate, racial oppression, resistance to the rule of law, and white supremacy.\u00a0 Any doubt as to the flag\u2019s meaning was erased by the perpetrator of the horrific shootings at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17 of last year.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRegrettably, the Confederate battle flag still flies in my congressional district at The Citadel, just two miles away from Mother Emanuel.\u00a0 The Citadel is the alma mater of one of the Emanuel victims, and six employees lost family members in the attack.\u00a0 This flag must come down.\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhile The Citadel\u2019s Board of Visitors has taken a symbolic vote expressing support for the flag\u2019s removal, the Board members believe that they are barred from actually removing it until the South Carolina state legislature acts to revise or repeal the so-called Heritage Act.\u00a0 I happen to disagree with this legal judgment, but regardless, the flag still flies.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThe bill as reported by the Armed Services Committee uses the Board\u2019s hollow gesture to allow The Citadel to continue receiving federal funds for its ROTC program indefinitely, with no further action required to actually take the flag down.\u00a0 But the bottom line is clear: the Confederate battle flag will not be removed from The Citadel until pressure is brought to bear on those with the authority to remove it.\u00a0 And Americans\u2019 tax dollars should be directed to institutions free of symbols of hatred.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIn recent days, Citadel alumni have reached out to me to express their support for this effort.\u00a0 One of these alumni, Dr. Larry Ferguson, was a member of The Citadel Class of 1973, which was the first class with more than one African American.\u00a0 Dr. Ferguson desegregated The Citadel\u2019s Regimental Band Company but was subsequently kicked out of the band for refusing to play the song \u2018Dixie\u2019 and refusing to wave the Confederate battle flag at sporting events.\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDr. Ferguson writes, \u201850 years ago it took external pressure to make The Citadel desegregate its Corps of Cadets.\u00a0 This legislation will exert appropriate pressure on state authorities so that the Confederate flag will be removed from Summerall Chapel.\u2019\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI received another letter from a group of 17 alumni from the 1980s and 1990s.\u00a0 They write that the Confederate battle flag \u2018is representative of an ideology of hate, privilege and an abuse of power that still persists in the life of the school and in the state\u2019s halls of power and influence. The fact that in 2016 the Confederate Naval Jack Flag hangs in a public space of worship, on the campus of a public college, and is protected by an unjust law is clear evidence of this reality.\u00a0 While we continue to work energetically to have the flag removed immediately from the chapel premises, we remain in support of your efforts to address this at the federal level of government.\u2019\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI urge my colleagues to heed the voices of these Citadel alumni so that no more cadets will have to struggle in the shadow of this oppressive banner.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIt is important to note that even if the Clyburn-Smith amendment is enacted into law, no current student would be affected.\u00a0 All current students would be allowed to keep their ROTC scholarships, complete their programs, and receive their commissions.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIn spite of the Administration\u2019s expression of concern to the contrary, this measure is constitutional, as is the underlying text of the bill, under the military deference doctrine.\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cExplaining the reasons for this doctrine, under which military regulations are given greater deference than those in a purely civilian context, the Supreme Court has observed, \u2018To accomplish its mission, the military must foster instinctive obedience, unity, commitment, and esprit de corps.\u2019\u00a0 Without a doubt, the Confederate battle flag undermines unity and esprit de corps.\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFor this reason, the military constitutionally restricts displays of the Confederate battle flag by service members on active duty.\u00a0 Similarly, it is unquestionably constitutional for the military to require that any institutions that train its officers not display this hateful banner.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThe policy advanced by the Clyburn-Smith amendment received bipartisan support among members of the Armed Services Committee.\u00a0 I respectfully urge this committee to make the Clyburn-Smith amendment in order so that all members of the House can have the opportunity to consider this important issue.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-testimony-at-rules-committee-in-support-of-clyburn-smith-amendment-to-ndaa/", "Clyburn Testimony at Rules Committee in Support of Clyburn-Smith Amendment to NDAA", "2016-05-17", "2016", "2016-05", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn delivered the following statement at today\u2019s meeting of the Rules Committee considering amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cThank you, Mr. Chairman and Madam Ranking Member, for the opportunity to testify before you today on the Clyburn-Smith amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.\n\n\u201cThis amendment would prohibit senior ROTC programs at any institution that displays the Confederate battle flag in a location other than a museum exhibit. This objectionable banner, which was never the official flag of the Confederacy, is a symbol of hate, racial oppression, resistance to the rule of law, and white supremacy. Any doubt as to the flag\u2019s meaning was erased by the perpetrator of the horrific shootings at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17 of last year.\n\n\u201cRegrettably, the Confederate battle flag still flies in my congressional district at The Citadel, just two miles away from Mother Emanuel. The Citadel is the alma mater of one of the Emanuel victims, and six employees lost family members in the attack. This flag must come down.\n\n\u201cWhile The Citadel\u2019s Board of Visitors has taken a symbolic vote expressing support for the flag\u2019s removal, the Board members believe that they are barred from actually removing it until the South Carolina state legislature acts to revise or repeal the so-called Heritage Act. I happen to disagree with this legal judgment, but regardless, the flag still flies.\n\n\u201cThe bill as reported by the Armed Services Committee uses the Board\u2019s hollow gesture to allow The Citadel to continue receiving federal funds for its ROTC program indefinitely, with no further action required to actually take the flag down. But the bottom line is clear: the Confederate battle flag will not be removed from The Citadel until pressure is brought to bear on those with the authority to remove it. And Americans\u2019 tax dollars should be directed to institutions free of symbols of hatred.\n\n\u201cIn recent days, Citadel alumni have reached out to me to express their support for this effort. One of these alumni, Dr. Larry Ferguson, was a member of The Citadel Class of 1973, which was the first class with more than one African American. Dr. Ferguson desegregated The Citadel\u2019s Regimental Band Company but was subsequently kicked out of the band for refusing to play the song \u2018Dixie\u2019 and refusing to wave the Confederate battle flag at sporting events.\n\n\u201cDr. Ferguson writes, \u201850 years ago it took external pressure to make The Citadel desegregate its Corps of Cadets. This legislation will exert appropriate pressure on state authorities so that the Confederate flag will be removed from Summerall Chapel.\u2019\n\n\u201cI received another letter from a group of 17 alumni from the 1980s and 1990s. They write that the Confederate battle flag \u2018is representative of an ideology of hate, privilege and an abuse of power that still persists in the life of the school and in the state\u2019s halls of power and influence. The fact that in 2016 the Confederate Naval Jack Flag hangs in a public space of worship, on the campus of a public college, and is protected by an unjust law is clear evidence of this reality. While we continue to work energetically to have the flag removed immediately from the chapel premises, we remain in support of your efforts to address this at the federal level of government.\u2019\n\n\u201cI urge my colleagues to heed the voices of these Citadel alumni so that no more cadets will have to struggle in the shadow of this oppressive banner.\n\n\u201cIt is important to note that even if the Clyburn-Smith amendment is enacted into law, no current student would be affected. All current students would be allowed to keep their ROTC scholarships, complete their programs, and receive their commissions.\n\n\u201cIn spite of the Administration\u2019s expression of concern to the contrary, this measure is constitutional, as is the underlying text of the bill, under the military deference doctrine.\n\n\u201cExplaining the reasons for this doctrine, under which military regulations are given greater deference than those in a purely civilian context, the Supreme Court has observed, \u2018To accomplish its mission, the military must foster instinctive obedience, unity, commitment, and esprit de corps.\u2019 Without a doubt, the Confederate battle flag undermines unity and esprit de corps.\n\n\u201cFor this reason, the military constitutionally restricts displays of the Confederate battle flag by service members on active duty. Similarly, it is unquestionably constitutional for the military to require that any institutions that train its officers not display this hateful banner.\n\n\u201cThe policy advanced by the Clyburn-Smith amendment received bipartisan support among members of the Armed Services Committee. I respectfully urge this committee to make the Clyburn-Smith amendment in order so that all members of the House can have the opportunity to consider this important issue.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T20:51:40Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-statement-republican-vote-keep-confederate-battle-flag-flying-citadel", "Clyburn Statement on Republican Vote to Keep the Confederate Battle Flag Flying at the Citadel", "2016-04-28", "2016", "2016-04", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn released the following statement on the House Armed Services Committee Republicans rejection of Ranking Member Adam Smiths amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act:\nI am greatly disappointed that a majority of Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee have voted to keep the Confederate battle flag flying in a place of worship at The Citadel. Their action nullified a bipartisan effort to remove that flag from Summerall Chapel. There is nothing reverent or unifying about that banner.\nThe Confederate battle flag is a symbol of hate, repression, and resistance to the rule of law. It should only be displayed in a museum. Americans tax dollars should not be directed to institutions where it is flown, regardless of whether the decision to fly it is done under the color of state law.\nAlmost 30 years ago, The Citadel and South Carolinas leadership were confronted with a similar situation. We worked together at that time to do the right thing. In the coming weeks and months, I plan to give House Republicans additional opportunities to do the right thing in this instance.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-statement-on-republican-vote-to-keep-the-confederate-battle-flag-flying-at-the-citadel/", "Clyburn Statement on Republican Vote to Keep the Confederate Battle Flag Flying at the Citadel", "2016-04-28", "2016", "2016-04", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn released the following statement on the House Armed Services Committee Republicans\u2019 rejection of Ranking Member Adam Smith\u2019s amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act:\n\n\u201cI am greatly disappointed that a majority of Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee have voted to keep the Confederate battle flag flying in a place of worship at The Citadel. Their action nullified a bipartisan effort to remove that flag from Summerall Chapel. There is nothing reverent or unifying about that banner.\n\n\u201cThe Confederate battle flag is a symbol of hate, repression, and resistance to the rule of law. It should only be displayed in a museum. Americans\u2019 tax dollars should not be directed to institutions where it is flown, regardless of whether the decision to fly it is done under the color of state law.\n\n\u201cAlmost 30 years ago, The Citadel and South Carolina\u2019s leadership were confronted with a similar situation. We worked together at that time to do the right thing. In the coming weeks and months, I plan to give House Republicans additional opportunities to do the right thing in this instance.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T20:49:20Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-statement-smith-amendment-ndaa-confederate-battle-flag", "Clyburn Statement on Smith Amendment to the NDAA on the Confederate Battle Flag", "2016-04-27", "2016", "2016-04", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn released the following statement on the House Armed Services Committees markup of the National Defense Authorization Act:\nI strongly support Ranking Member Adam Smiths proposed amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to bar federal funds for senior ROTC programs from being used by institutions that display the Confederate battle flag. Unfortunately, this objectionable banner currently flies at The Citadel in my congressional district.\nRanking Member Smiths amendment has been crafted to exempt all current students at The Citadel and any other institution that might be affected. Consequently, all current students would be allowed to keep their ROTC scholarships, complete their programs, and receive their commissions.\nThis flag, which never was the official flag of the Confederacy, is a symbol of hate, racial oppression, and resistance to the rule of law. It did not fly at The Citadel immediately after the Civil War but was raised to its current location in Summerall Chapel in 1939, and it was placed in its current position by the institution. It has been used for over a century as a symbol of southern defiance and white supremacy; it was viewed as such by the perpetrator of the horrific shootings at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston on June 17 of last year. One of the victims of the Emanuel attack was a Citadel graduate, and six of its employees lost family members in that attack.\nFollowing those tragic, racially motivated shootings, I joined Governor Nikki Haley; Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott; Representatives Mark Sanford, Mick Mulvaney, Joe Wilson, and Tom Rice; and a host of other elected officials and citizens in calling for the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the grounds of the South Carolina State House. The Board of Visitors of The Citadel joined us, voting 9-3 on June 23, 2015 to remove the Confederate battle flag from Summerall Chapel.\nBut while the South Carolina General Assembly voted to remove the Confederate battle flag from the State House grounds, the Attorney General has opined that The Citadel is barred from removing the flag from a prominent place on its campus by the so-called Heritage Act, which the General Assembly passed in 2000. While I personally question whether or not a gift from an alumnus is covered by that ill-advised Act, our state legislators acted honorably in removing the Confederate battle flag from the State House grounds and should do so again in this instance. Americans tax dollars should be directed to institutions free of symbols of hatred.\nI urge the members of the House Armed Services Committee and my colleagues in the South Carolina Congressional Delegation to support Ranking Member Smiths amendment. Any vote to block or weaken the amendment is a vote to support the continued display of the Confederate battle flag at The Citadel and across the country.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-statement-on-smith-amendment-to-the-ndaa-on-the-confederate-battle-flag/", "Clyburn Statement on Smith Amendment to the NDAA on the Confederate Battle Flag", "2016-04-27", "2016", "2016-04", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn released the following statement on the House Armed Services Committee\u2019s markup of the National Defense Authorization Act:\n\n\u201cI strongly support Ranking Member Adam Smith\u2019s proposed amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to bar federal funds for senior ROTC programs from being used by institutions that display the Confederate battle flag. Unfortunately, this objectionable banner currently flies at The Citadel in my congressional district.\n\n\u201cRanking Member Smith\u2019s amendment has been crafted to exempt all current students at The Citadel and any other institution that might be affected. Consequently, all current students would be allowed to keep their ROTC scholarships, complete their programs, and receive their commissions.\n\n\u201cThis flag, which never was the official flag of the Confederacy, is a symbol of hate, racial oppression, and resistance to the rule of law. It did not fly at The Citadel immediately after the Civil War but was raised to its current location in Summerall Chapel in 1939, and it was placed in its current position by the institution. It has been used for over a century as a symbol of southern defiance and white supremacy; it was viewed as such by the perpetrator of the horrific shootings at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston on June 17 of last year. One of the victims of the Emanuel attack was a Citadel graduate, and six of its employees lost family members in that attack.\n\n\u201cFollowing those tragic, racially motivated shootings, I joined Governor Nikki Haley; Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott; Representatives Mark Sanford, Mick Mulvaney, Joe Wilson, and Tom Rice; and a host of other elected officials and citizens in calling for the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the grounds of the South Carolina State House. The Board of Visitors of The Citadel joined us, voting 9-3 on June 23, 2015 to remove the Confederate battle flag from Summerall Chapel.\n\n\u201cBut while the South Carolina General Assembly voted to remove the Confederate battle flag from the State House grounds, the Attorney General has opined that The Citadel is barred from removing the flag from a prominent place on its campus by the so-called Heritage Act, which the General Assembly passed in 2000. While I personally question whether or not a gift from an alumnus is covered by that ill-advised Act, our state legislators acted honorably in removing the Confederate battle flag from the State House grounds and should do so again in this instance. Americans\u2019 tax dollars should be directed to institutions free of symbols of hatred.\n\n\u201cI urge the members of the House Armed Services Committee and my colleagues in the South Carolina Congressional Delegation to support Ranking Member Smith\u2019s amendment. Any vote to block or weaken the amendment is a vote to support the continued display of the Confederate battle flag at The Citadel and across the country.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T20:49:20Z"], ["http://clyburn.house.gov/press-release/clyburn-host-congressional-civil-rights-pilgrimage-south-carolina-march-18-20", "Clyburn to Host Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina March 18-20", "2016-02-18", "2016", "2016-02", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 18, 2016  CONTACT: Patrick Devlin, 202-226-3210\nCLYBURN TO HOST CONGRESSIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS PILGRIMAGE TO\n\t\t\t\t\tSOUTH CAROLINA MARCH 18-20\nWASHINGTON  U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (SC), along with Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Representative John Lewis (D-GA), will host a Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina on March 18-20, 2016. The Faith and Politics Institute, which is leading the pilgrimage, released the following statement today:\n\nCongressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina March 18-20\nDelegation to Explore Civil Rights History in Journey Toward Reconciliation with Stops in Columbia, Orangeburg and Charleston\nWASHINGTON  The Faith and Politics Institute will lead a bipartisan Congressional Civil RightsPilgrimage to South Carolinaon March 18-20, 2016. A delegation of up to three dozen members of Congresswill take part in a journey that explores the unique role of faith and the civil rights history of South Carolina. The pilgrimage will make stops in Columbia, Orangeburg and Charleston and listen to the stories of civil rights luminaries, religious leaders and historians.\nU.S. House of Representatives Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn (D-SC) and U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) along with Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and civil rights movement icon U.S. Representative John Lewis (D-GA) will co-host the pilgrimage the weekend of March 18-20, 2016. Participants will learn about South Carolina civil rights pioneers such as Septima Clark and about the 400-year old Gullah Geechee cultural heritage.The delegation is scheduled to visit such historic sites as Zion and Brookland Baptist Churches and that of the Orangeburg massacre where three students were killed on February 8, 1968 while demonstrating against segregation. Participants will also discuss the impact of the 2015 Charleston killing, and the reactions of the victims family members on the community, South Carolina and nation. The pilgrimage culminates in a Sunday worship service at the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.\nThe murders of nine people of faith at Mother Emanuel AME church in Charleston is a cornerstone of the pilgrimage that will connect participants to the ongoing conversation of racial healing and reconciliation in America today. In the wake of the massacre, the faith and courage demonstrated by the survivors, members of the victims families and the Mother Emanuel AME church allowed the nation to witness the power of love and forgiveness, which holds open the door to increased understanding and reconciliation.\nOn this journey, many who led the civil rights movement and lived its history will lead efforts to support effective government by bringing members of Congress together in a spirit of openness, honesty and reconciliation across lines of race, religion and political affiliations for the purpose of working together in service to our nation and the world. The leaders of the pilgrimage will hold media briefings during the course of the weekend.\nSince 1998, The Faith and Politics Institute has led annual bipartisan Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimages to five southern states affording hundreds of members of the U.S. House and Senate an experiential journey through the American civil rights movement as well as international trips. Described by some members as one of the most valuable experiences oftheir time in Congress, the bipartisan pilgrimages offer opportunities for engaged and reflective dialogue that transcends politics.\nFor more information, contact The Faith and Politics Institute at (202) 546-1299 or email info@faithandpolitics.org. For media queries, please email josh.taylor@faithandpolitics.org.\nVisit The Faith and Politics Institute at www.faithandpolitics.org and on Twitter and Facebook.\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://clyburn.house.gov/clyburn-to-host-congressional-civil-rights-pilgrimage-to-south-carolina-march-18-20/", "Clyburn to Host Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina March 18-20", "2016-02-18", "2016", "2016-02", "Democrat", "House", "SC", "James E. Clyburn", "C000537", "clyburn.house.gov", "clyburn", "https://clyburn.house.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 18, 2016\n\nCONTACT: Patrick Devlin, 202-226-3210\n\nCLYBURN TO HOST CONGRESSIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS PILGRIMAGE TO\n\nSOUTH CAROLINA MARCH 18-20\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (SC), along with Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Representative John Lewis (D-GA), will host a Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina on March 18-20, 2016. The Faith and Politics Institute, which is leading the pilgrimage, released the following statement today:\n\nCongressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina March 18-20\n\nDelegation to Explore Civil Rights History in Journey Toward Reconciliation with Stops in Columbia, Orangeburg and Charleston\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 The Faith and Politics Institute will lead a bipartisan Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina on March 18-20, 2016. A delegation of up to three dozen members of Congress will take part in a journey that explores the unique role of faith and the civil rights history of South Carolina. The pilgrimage will make stops in Columbia, Orangeburg and Charleston and listen to the stories of civil rights luminaries, religious leaders and historians.\n\nU.S. House of Representatives Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn (D-SC) and U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) along with Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and civil rights movement icon U.S. Representative John Lewis (D-GA) will co-host the pilgrimage the weekend of March 18-20, 2016. Participants will learn about South Carolina civil rights pioneers such as Septima Clark and about the 400-year old Gullah Geechee cultural heritage. The delegation is scheduled to visit such historic sites as Zion and Brookland Baptist Churches and that of the Orangeburg massacre where three students were killed on February 8, 1968 while demonstrating against segregation. Participants will also discuss the impact of the 2015 Charleston killing, and the reactions of the victims\u2019 family members on the community, South Carolina and nation. The pilgrimage culminates in a Sunday worship service at the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.\n\nThe murders of nine people of faith at Mother Emanuel AME church in Charleston is a cornerstone of the pilgrimage that will connect participants to the ongoing conversation of racial healing and reconciliation in America today. In the wake of the massacre, the faith and courage demonstrated by the survivors, members of the victims\u2019 families and the Mother Emanuel AME church allowed the nation to witness the power of love and forgiveness, which holds open the door to increased understanding and reconciliation.\n\nOn this journey, many who led the civil rights movement and lived its history will lead efforts to support effective government by bringing members of Congress together in a spirit of openness, honesty and reconciliation across lines of race, religion and political affiliations for the purpose of working together in service to our nation and the world. The leaders of the pilgrimage will hold media briefings during the course of the weekend.\n\nSince 1998, The Faith and Politics Institute has led annual bipartisan Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimages to five southern states affording hundreds of members of the U.S. House and Senate an experiential journey through the American civil rights movement as well as international trips. Described by some members as one of the most valuable experiences of their time in Congress, the bipartisan pilgrimages offer opportunities for engaged and reflective dialogue that transcends politics.\n\nFor more information, contact The Faith and Politics Institute at (202) 546-1299 or email info@faithandpolitics.org. For media queries, please email josh.taylor@faithandpolitics.org.\n\nVisit The Faith and Politics Institute at www.faithandpolitics.org and on Twitter and Facebook.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T20:44:24Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 43, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Democrat", "p1": "SC", "p2": "2016"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=SC&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 43, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=SC&year=2016", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=SC&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 43, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=SC&year=2016&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=SC&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "SC", "label": "SC", "count": 43, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2016", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=SC&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "2016", "label": "2016", "count": 43, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=SC", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": null, "next_url": null, "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 115.82396598532796, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}