Congressional Progressive Caucus

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The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is the largest non-party caucus in the United States Congress, and works to advance progressive issues and positions.

The CPC was founded in 1991 and currently has more than eighty members. The Caucus is co-chaired by Representatives Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA). Of the twenty standing committees of the House, eleven are chaired by members of the CPC.

Contents

[edit] History

The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) was established in 1991 by five members of the House: Representatives Ron Dellums (D-CA), Lane Evans (D-IL), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Then-Representative Bernie Sanders was the convener and first Chair of the Progressive Caucus. The founding members were profoundly concerned about the economic hardship imposed by the deepening recession, the growing inequality brought about by the policies of President George H.W. Bush, and the timidity of the Democratic Party response at the time.

Additional members of the House who joined soon after the Caucus's founding include: Representatives Major Owens (D-NY), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), David Bonior (D-MI), Bob Filner (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Patsy Mink (D-HI), George Miller (D-CA), Pete Stark (D-CA), John Olver (D-MA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

The CPC’s founding statement of purpose states that it was “organized around the principles of social and economic justice, a non-discriminatory society, and national priorities which represent the interests of all people, not just the wealthy and powerful.” The founding CPC members underscored that the Cold War was over, and that the nation’s budget and overall priorities should reflect that reality. More specifically, they called for cuts in outdated and unnecessary military spending, a more progressive tax system in which wealthy taxpayers and corporations contribute their fair share, a substantial increase in federal funding for social programs designed to meet the needs of low and middle-income American families, and trade policies that increase the exports of more American products and encourage the creation of good-paying jobs and sound investment in America. They also affirmed their belief that those policy goals could be achieved in concert with a commitment to long-term fiscal responsibility.

[edit] Ideology

According to their website, the CPC advocates "universal access to affordable, high quality healthcare," fair trade agreements, living wage laws, the right of all workers to organize into labor unions and engage in collective bargaining, the abolition of significant portions of the USA PATRIOT Act, the legalization of same-sex marriage, strict campaign finance reform laws, a complete pullout from the war in Iraq, a crackdown on corporate welfare and influence, an increase in income tax rates on the wealthy, tax cuts for the poor, and an increase in welfare spending by the federal government.

[edit] Supporting organizations

An array of national liberal organizations will work to support the efforts of the progressive caucus, including the Institute for Policy Studies, The Nation magazine, MoveOn.org, National Priorities Project, Jobs with Justice, Peace Action, Americans for Democratic Action, and Progressive Democrats of America. Also co-sponsoring the kickoff event were the NAACP, ACLU, Progressive Majority, League of United Latin American Citizens, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, National Council of La Raza, Hip Hop Caucus, Human Rights Campaign, Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs, and the National Hip Hop Political Convention. In 2000, the Democratic Socialists of America expressed solidarity with the Congressional Progressive Caucus, since they both shared "operative social democratic politics."[1]

[edit] Current members

[edit] Arizona

[edit] California

[edit] Connecticut

[edit] Florida

[edit] Georgia

[edit] Hawaii

[edit] Illinois

[edit] Indiana

[edit] Iowa

[edit] Maine

[edit] Maryland

[edit] Massachusetts

[edit] Michigan

[edit] Minnesota

[edit] Mississippi

[edit] Missouri

[edit] New Jersey

[edit] New Mexico

[edit] New York

[edit] North Carolina

[edit] Ohio

[edit] Oregon

[edit] Pennsylvania

[edit] Tennessee

[edit] Texas

[edit] Vermont

[edit] Washington

[edit] Wisconsin

[edit] Non-voting

[edit] Senate members

[edit] Former members

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://dsausa.org/dl/sum2k/01.html

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Progressive_Caucus"
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