Rubio, Wilson Working with Leading Dems to Raise Social Status of Black Men and Boys

Two members of the Florida delegation -- Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and Democratic U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson -- are working with a pair of hopefuls for the Democratic presidential nomination on a proposal to establish a federal  Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys. 

Rubio announced he was working with U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., on the proposal to create the commission which would be under the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights’ Office and “would recommend policies to improve current government programs.” 

Wilson introduced a bill establishing the commission back in April and has reeled in more than 65 cosponsors including Florida Democrat U.S. Reps. Kathy Castory, Val Demings, Ted Deutch, Alcee Hastings, Al Lawson, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Donna Shalala, Darren Soto and Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Posey. 

On Monday, Rubio weighed in on why he was backing the proposal. 

“A lack of economic opportunity and prosperity for black men is a tragedy for our nation. The United States needs their talents to solve the challenges of our time.” Rubio said. “It is intolerable and unacceptable that many black men come to believe, often for good reason, that the American Dream is not available to them. I remain passionate about working to find a solution to these problems and am proud to join Senators Harris and Booker in introducing this important, bipartisan and bicameral legislation to establish the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys.”

“We must speak truth that slavery and our country’s long history of institutional racism continue to cause great pain and inequality toward communities of color—particularly black males,” Harris said. “This bipartisan commission is just the start of a long overdue effort to confront the negative treatment black men and boys face every day in America. I am proud to support.”

“Racial inequality for black men in our country has caused significant economic and social disparities and contribute to a racial wealth gap that ultimately harms all Americans. This commission will address the long-standing societal gaps that have harmed black men in America and lowered the prospect of upward mobility,” Booker said.  “It is encouraging to see the effort being taken to reverse course and ensure equality and justice.  I look forward to also having this discussion with respect to some of the alarming trends we’ve seen regarding the school-to-prison pipeline and black girls.”

Under the proposal, the 19-members commission, which would include members of Congress and experts from in and outside of the federal government, “will investigate potential civil rights violations affecting black males and study the disparities they experience in education, criminal justice, health, employment, fatherhood, mentorship and violence.” The commission would also produce an annual report “to address the current conditions affecting black men and boys and make recommendations to improve the social conditions and provide vital guidance for Congress on effective strategies to reduce the racial disparities in education, criminal justice, health and employment.”

During his tenure as a state legislator in Tallahassee, Rubio  worked on a similar proposal to create the  Florida Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys.