Washington D.C. — Ahead of the 84th anniversary of the first-ever Social Security check, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) released the following statement vowing to protect and expand Social Security benefits for the over 153,000 beneficiaries in Alabama’s 7th Congressional District. Rep. Sewell is an original cosponsor of the Social Security 2100 Act which would enhance benefits for the first time in more than 50 years.
“Every American deserves to retire with dignity after a lifetime of work,” said Rep. Sewell. “While some in Washington are attempting to cut and ultimately privatize benefits, I am working to protect and expand Social Security so that seniors and others get the benefits they’ve rightly earned.”
Tomorrow marks the 84th anniversary of the first Social Security check which was issued to Ms. Ida May Fuller on January 31, 1940. Social Security benefits were last enhanced more than 50 years ago. Alongside nearly 200 House Democrats, Rep. Sewell is an original cosponsor of the Social Security 2100 Act to enhance benefits for the first time in over 50 years and extend the program’s solvency for generations to come.
Conversely, in September, nearly every House Republican voted to cut Social Security Administration funding by 30%. Earlier this month, Republicans on the House Budget Committee advanced legislation that would create a fast-track commission designed to cut Social Security.
Alabama’s 7th Congressional District is home to more than 153,000 Social Security recipients—including 9,175 widows, 15,416 children, 93,831 retirees, and 32,661 disabled workers—who collectively receive over $224 million in monthly benefits.
The Eutaw City Council held two called meetings on January 22 and January 29, 2024 to deal with important business. It handled some of the business and deferred other matters to a proposed ‘work session” next week.
At the January 29, 2024 meeting, the Council received a detailed report on the CPA audit of its finances for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022. Auditor Rick Harbin of Tuscaloosa presented the 47-page report and stated that his firm was able to issue a letter, at the beginning of the audit, that the statements “reflect fairly the financial position of the city and that the reports follow standard accounting principles accepted in the USA.”
Harbin said the audit was clean and clear and represented the best efforts to account for the city’s assets, liabilities, and net position. Mayor Latasha Johnson thanked the staff, particularly Shakelvia Spencer and Joe Powell, as well as Financial Adviser Ralph Liverman for their work in keeping accurate records. “Having this audit, will allow us to receive and compete for state and Federal funding going forward. The funding sources are requiring us to have audits that show we are capable of handling and spending government funds,” said Mayor Johnson.
The audit shows that the City of Eutaw has combined Assets between governmental and business (mainly the water and sewer system) of $9,739,000 as compared with $9,477,000, the previous year. The report shows total Liabilities of $2,933,000; and total Liabilities and Net Position of $12,978,000.
The 47-page audit contains many other financial statements and notes dealing with the finances of the city, which the councilmembers must review and study for guidance in making policy decisions. For instance, the report shows a negative $489,349 in revenues, compared with expenses for the water and sewer system. If this trend continues, the Council may need to raise water and sewer rates. The audit also shows $ 577,681 in revenues from Bingo distributions in FY 2022, The Sheriff has not provided bingo distributions to Eutaw and other Greene County municipalities since May of 2023.
The Mayor presented a proposal at both meetings to re-organize the staff and give raises to employees accepting promotions to higher positions.
These changes were necessitated by the illness and retirement of longtime city employee, Larry Sanford. The Council did not make a motion to approve these items and they were deferred for discussion to a working session to be held next week.
At the January 22 meeting, the Council approved a Resolution on the Usage of City Vehicles, which stated that city employees who live outside the city police jurisdiction cannot drive city vehicles to their home. Mayor Johnson placed an item on the January 29, 2024 meeting agenda, to rescind this policy. Many police officers, who live outside the police jurisdiction want to drive city police cars home, so they can respond to emergencies more quickly. The Council tabled this matter and deferred it to the proposed work session.
At the January 22nd meeting, the Council approved an agreement to allow the Alabama Forestry Commission to construct a 60-foot by 60-foot storage building to house its equipment on the city’s property behind the National Guard Armory. This will make the equipment more readily available than parking the equipment in Tuscaloosa. At the meeting the Council approved a plan for road improvements on the west end of Eutaw, under the Rebuild Alabama grant program. The Council also approved a $21,620 grant from Communities United for GIS mapping of city infrastructure, especially the water and sewer system. The grant requires a $1,000 matching from the city.
At the January 29th meeting the Council approved a grievance procedure, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, where persons with disabilities may make written complaints to the City Clerk and get due process and consideration of their complaints. The Council also passed an ordinance (No. 2024-01-29 #5) for Public Tree Planting in the City of Eutaw, which will be printed in the public notice section of this newspaper.
The Council was asked to approve use of the gym at the Robert H. Young Community Center (formerly Carver School) at a compensatory rate for IRS 501c3, non-profit organizations, for the Black Pearls Tru Partner’s event on February 24, 2024. The Council deferred in making a decision and referred this to the coming work session to develop a fee schedule for events to be held at city facilities.
Meteorologists reported that a storm was brewing for Saturday morning. Perhaps it was just the sound of a giant crossing over. George Sallie was just that — a gentle giant. The oldest living foot soldier crossed that bridge over troubled water for the final time on Saturday. Sallie, a 94-year-old walking, talking history book, was honored with horse and carriage over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, flanked by the rails that bridged the way for children, foot soldiers and community, as they crossed over with him. The crowd gathered with umbrellas, ponchos and other weather gear. But the rain suddenly stopped. It was a beautiful day to acknowledge a beautiful spirit. The horse, carriage and his family crossed first, with young leaders directly behind them and with them. Freedom songs rang out. They reflected Sallie’s journey — the man who made it his business to journey to the bridge each day to greet Selma’s visitors with a smile, a very gentle handshake and valuable history lessons. It was also there that he prayed daily for the state trooper who beat him, leaving a scar where he would point to on his forehead. Selma’s Foot Soldier and founder of Foot Soldiers Park & Education Center, Joanne Bland, felt it her duty to be present. “I know the angels are singing right now,” she said with a smile. She continued to speak on her fellow foot soldier. “As a foot soldier, I felt it was mandatory that I walk across the bridge with Mr. Sallie for the last time. He was an amazing man, I loved him dearly. And just a walking history book. The world lost a library when he died, but he lived a wonderful life. He was the most giving and forgiving person I’ve ever known. God’s not through with me yet. I pray that I get what George Sallie got before he left.” Sallie impacted so many lives. He met no strangers. Patricia Taylor of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, traveled in on a charter bus with her church. “It was an awesome experience to be able to help send this gentleman home,” she said. Family was everything to Sallie, so we spoke with four young family members who traveled from Montgomery: Cedric Wright, Trayvon Wright and Tyrone Johnson (great, great nephews) and Gavin Johnson (nephew). “Going across the bridge one last time with Uncle George was something, it was heartfelt,” said Cedric Wright. As Gavin smiled, Trayvon spoke of the mood the day put him in. “It was surreal going across the bridge one last time with him. It was something he and our family were always proud about—he was part of real history. He was part of the original group. It was just cool to be in his presence because he was like walking history.”
Tyrone added, “It was a special moment [crossing over today] to cherish and see, and basically write about.
Speaking of young people, Sallie thoroughly enjoyed it when they gathered at the bridge to listen as he shared history with them. And, appropriately so, the first walking group behind his carriage line was a group of young people that has marked social justice as part of their mission—the National Youth Advisory Board of Foot Soldiers Park. They studied other parts of Sallie’s journey before arriving on Saturday for his crossing. They saw his fine lines, his scar, his hands and his eyes. So, they came bearing the banner that had been around for a while — more worn and well-traveled, with many stories in its creases — instead of bringing their brand new banner that was smooth, had traveled only once and was only months old.
They said they felt honored to make the crossing:
“It was such an honor to walk across with the very man that helped start it all. It was such an amazing privilege and honor,” said Micah Thomas Jr., a senior at Southside High School.
Twins Carmen and Camron Benjamin, sophomores at Selma High School, agreed. “It was a great feeling to honor such a legend,” said Carmen. Camron stated that “it was a great feeling to be a part of this history and pay my respects to a fallen foot soldier.”
“It was just an honor to honor the person who fought for us and prayed for us,” said Deanisea Sullivan, a junior at Selma High School. “It was a very, very powerful experience,” she added.
Taniya Dixon, 2023 Southside High graduate and University of Alabama freshman, said “it felt historical walking after someone who marched for my rights when they were younger. So, I paid my respects by doing it while I’m young.”
The Sun spotted foot soldier Albert Southall, as he crossed the bridge back into Selma.
“I’m an original foot soldier,” he said. “My feelings were bouncing between when we marched to Montgomery, and we had rainy, muddy weather—some really bad weather. They gave us orange vests, and I think Mr. Sallie was one of the few foot soldiers that kept his vest. I was thinking about the trip and also counting my blessings.”
There were so many personal stories on the bridge Saturday morning. So many who had honorable stories about Sallie. So many remembered how he forgave and taught God and forgiveness.
“The fact that he would come to the foot of the Edmund Pettus bridge each day and pray for the state trooper that beat him on Bloody Sunday is a true testament to his character. He will be missed,” Joanne Bland said.
The remains of a true hero, George Sallie, were lowered on Jan. 27 at or about 11:30 in the morning-time.
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Three Black American reservists from the 926th Engineer Brigade, based at Fort Moore, Georgia, lost their lives in a drone attack on a U.S. base near the Jordan-Syria border. Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh identified the fallen soldiers as Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia. The tragedy occurred at the logistics support base at Tower 22 of the Jordanian Defense Network, where approximately 350 U.S. Army and Air Force personnel are stationed. That base plays a crucial role in providing support for the coalition’s efforts against ISIS, according to Central Command. The attack marks the third drone strike on the outpost in the past six months, with the first two occurring in the latter half of the previous year being unsuccessful. Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, chief of the Army Reserve and commanding general of the U.S. Army Reserve Command, said the murders of the three Black reservists cut deeply. The U.S. government has determined that Iran was responsible for the attack, prompting President Joe Biden to vow a response. “There will be a response,” Biden declared. In her last conversation with her mother, Sanders reportedly expressed aspirations to elevate her military career upon returning home from the Middle East. She also revealed her intention to purchase a motorcycle. Sanders was actively involved in coaching soccer and basketball in her hometown of Waycross, Georgia, and worked at a pharmacy. She was pursuing college courses to become an X-ray technician. Sanders’ parents shared that she volunteered for deployment to experience different parts of the world. With a history of military service in the family, Sanders had previously deployed to Djibouti and later volunteered for Kuwait, including a stint in Jordan near the Syrian border. Rivers enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2011 as an interior electrician, according to the U.S. Army Reserve Command Public Affairs Office. He served “with courage, honor, and a deep sense of duty, embodying the best of New Jersey and our nation,” said Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). “His death is a profound loss to his family, friends, colleagues, and our entire country, and a reminder of the heavy debt we owe to our military families for their sacrifice.” U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), who represents Willingboro, said in a statement that Rivers served this country and local community with great honor and bravery. “We are indebted to him and his loved ones for their service and sacrifice,” Kim stated. “We will never forget what Sergeant Rivers and his fellow fallen soldiers, Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, gave for our nation. May their memory live on in our continued service to our military families.” Moffett reportedly was no stranger to the military as both of her parents were veterans. “I was like no you should, but you know she went anyway, because of her dedication to her county, she really really honored her job,” Saryha Truell, one of Moffett’s lifelong friends, told WTOC-TV. “We are reminded that the brave men and women who defend our great nation put their lives on the line each and every day to keep our country safe,” said Brig. Gen. Todd Lazaroski, Commanding General of the 412th Theater Engineer Command. “Their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten,” General Daniels stated.
Elder Spiver Gordon, Councilwoman Valeria Watkins, Anita Lewis, Director of GCHA, Mollie Rowe, Director of EHA, GCHA Boardmember Carolyn Branch and Professor Phyllis Craig Taylor guest speaker.
Dr. Carol P. Zippert, Dr. Dione Edison, Dale Lanier, Lester Cotton, Gus Richardson, Mr. and Mrs. Coleman with Spiver Gordon at New Peace Baptist Church
“Godly Men” at Unity Breakfast at the Eutaw Activity Center
Elder Spiver Gordon presents award to Bishop Glen McCord
The Alabama Civil Rights Freedom Movement, under the direction of Spiver W. Gordon held a series of programs during the weekend of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday, to honor his legacy and challenge the people of Greene County and the western Alabama Black Belt, to work harder to realize the dream of justice and equality for Black people. A youth educational program on Black history on Friday, January 12, 2024, was limited because 11th and 12th graders, who were scheduled to attend, did not have school because of the weather. Several adults attended the meeting at New Peace Baptist Church and discussed the importance of reaching out to involve young people in the continuing movement and struggle. Two hundred people attended the Unity Freedom Breakfast at the Eutaw Activity Center, on Monday morning, January 15, 2024. Mayor Latasha Johnson of Eutaw, Commissioner Garria Spencer, Commissioner Allen Turner, Herbert Lavender of Pickens County, John Zippert, Co-Publisher of the Greene County Democrat, and Dr. Monty Thornburg were among those who gave greetings. Attorney Glen McCord, a native of Wilcox County, who has a law office in Eutaw, was the primary speaker. McCord said he was glad to be working in Greene County and “to be grafted in” by the residents here. He said that there was great potential for growth in Greene County because Highway 43, will soon be 4 lanes, and the double Interstate Highway of 59 and 20, that go right by Eutaw and Greene County. We have the potential to grow as part of Tuscaloosa, but we must take care to preserve our own identity. McCord celebrated Dr. King’s work and accomplishments. He said, “Be as humble when you are successful, as you were when you had nothing.” Gordon gave awards to group of men, who worked to support their communities and churches. He also memorialized a group of people, who died during the past year, “who gave time, service and dedication to support the cause of freedom, justice and equity” in Greene County. Gordon and a small group marched uptown, from the Activity Center to the Courthouse, followed by a dozen or more cars with people who felt too old to walk or too uncomfortable in freezing temperatures to walk. Another program was held at the Courthouse to mostly honor women who participated in movement and church activities. After a spirited devotion, led by women and several selections from the Greene County Community Choir, several women including Mayor Latasha Johnson of Eutaw, Carolyn Branch of the Greene County Housing Authority, Johnnie Knott, former Circuit Clerk, and leader of “Woman to Woman”, and former Probate Judge Earlean Isaac, brought greetings and spoke to the legacy of Dr. King. Dr. Carol P. Zippert, Co-Publisher of the Greene County Democrat introduced the guest speaker, Professor of Law Phyllis Craig Taylor, who is a native of Choctaw County, daughter of Thelma Craig and a law professor at North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC. Zippert, who has known Phyllis Craig Taylor since she was a young girl, stressed her connections to the Black Belt. Dr. Taylor spoke to the issue that there are “new Confederates” in America, who want to take us backwards. “We must be aware that systemic racism is making a comeback in our nation. There are attacks in every state against our voting rights. These people feel threatened by the skills, spirit and unity of Black people. They have become afraid of us, and they want to stop our progress,” she said. “We must do like we did in the times after slavery and in Reconstruction, when Black people bought and owned 13 million acres of land; built hundreds of schools, through the Rosenwald school’s model; and provided teaching excellence in our schools before integration. Do not underestimate our enemies. Dare to organize and invest in our communities and people. Take our voting rights back. Do not vote sometimes, but all the time, and for every office on the ballot. We must send our enemies back to the pit of darkness, where they came from,” Taylor said. At the end of the program, Spiver W. Gordon again gave out numerous awards and citations to women who had been active in the movement, church, and community.
For the first time, this year advocates seeking reparations for the harms inflicted on Black people during centuries of slavery in America saw a movement for redress that elicits hope. Many municipalities either started or are forming commissions to address compensation to the descendants of enslaved Africans. California has made the most zealous effort. The state’s reparations task force spent two years researching the impact of the generational damage of the discriminatory practices and produced a 1,100-page report with comprehensive recommendations that it considers to be the blueprint for other cities and states — and the federal government — to follow. The blockbuster file includes a method to calculate financial compensation for those eligible for redress. More than 400 organizations have signed on to support reparations in the country’s most populous state. While Evanston, Illinois, became the first city in the country in 2021 to actually pay reparations to its eligible Black residents, and New York recently enacted a commission to study the effects of slavery there, California’s push represents a major swing in the decades long fight for reparations. Yet Californians are looking ahead to the next year to see if any of these recommendations will actually come to fruition — and if there is enough political will to make it so. Indeed, the road to reparations remains arduous. Opposition is significant. California’s efforts surpassed those of the federal government. And while many cities and states are creating reparation committees, they are far from getting money into people’s pockets. And then there’s the underlaying reticence of a significant part of the population: “Public opinion — meaning white people and white politicians — is not sympathetic to our plight and how it is tied to slavery,” said Jonathan Wright, a Los Angeles entrepreneur who attended three of the dozen California reparation public hearings. In fact, a 2022 Pew Research Center poll said that 77% of Black adults believe descendants of enslaved Africans in the U.S. should receive reparations in some way, but only 18% of white respondents agreed. “Call me a pessimist,” Wright said. “They have benefited from slavery and discrimination for centuries, but they can’t even tolerate the idea that our families for generations have been impacted by this. It’s OK for them to benefit, but not for us to be compensated. That’s what we’re dealing with and that makes me pessimistic.” Those pushing for reparations understand Wright’s position. But many in California and beyond who are committed have a strategy they believe will be decisive. Their plan is to educate the naysayers or uninformed on why reparations are deserved and needed and use that newfound support as leverage with politicians who could bring forward reparation studies and proposals. To that end, Assembly member Reginald Jones-Sawyer, who was on the California Reparations Committee, has spent much of his time since the publication of the recommendations report visiting groups and communities of all races, sharing knowledge about reparations, how they would work and why they are important. “And I will tell you, it’s been received well,” Jones-Sawyer said. He said there has been strong engagement and people asked questions that conveyed their interest. “We dispelled a lot of misconceptions” and “explained why this push for reparations is still needed in 2023, 2024 and beyond if we’re going to make this a just society.” The committee’s report lays out 112 recommendations that include programs around housing, education and public health, among many others. The California Legislative Black Caucus has hired a team of experts to whittle down the massive report to a digestible length. That condensed report will be shared with the public and the California Assembly, which will have to vote on bills based on the recommendations. Jones-Sawyer said the group plans to ultimately create and present 12 bills that will cover the report’s recommendations. He said the first five bills will be introduced at the start of 2024 and “will span just about every category in the report, whether it’s racial terror, education, the criminal justice system, incarceration rates, homeownership, the wealth gap.” The members of the CLBC have distinct expertise in each area, Jones-Sawyer said. “We’re going to tackle just about every field of human endeavor. And we have people that have the ability to be able to carry those bills because of their backgrounds.” The California Senate is made up of 80% Democrats, which could be a positive for these bills. Gov. Gavin Newsom has expressed support for reparations efforts in the past. However, in September he made a point of emphasizing that reparations in the form of cash payments may not be the recourse. “Dealing with that legacy is about much more than cash payments,” the governor said at the time. Still, for some Black people in California, the hard work does not translate into optimism. Take Amina Ali, a 52-year-old Oakland resident who has followed the reparations hearings since Newsom gave the go-ahead two years ago to create a commission. “I won’t hold my breath,” Ali said. “I want it as badly as the next Black person. But I also live in the world. I know the reparations people worked hard for a long time to make the case. I commend them. And they made their very strong case. But I know that there are enough people against it to keep it from happening. Be real: White people don’t want us to have an even playing field.” But Kamm Howard, founder of the organization Reparations United and co-chair of the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America, is looking to level the field across the nation. He said the Black voting bloc is so strong that it can influence a federal reparations movement, as President Biden is working to avoid Black voter defection in next year’s election. Black voters have a transformative moment to use their influence to “make a demand of the president and the party,” Howard said. “We’ve amassed a significant amount of power within the party by voting Democrat 80%, 90%, for years. We’re a dependable base within the party. And they know that they cannot win an election without us at this point,” the Reparations United founder said. “And if he’s totally dependent on the Black vote, then we have the power to leverage that for a reparations commission,” Howard continued. “I believe that the only way Biden can earn the vote and energize Black people and reverse a potential defection of Black voters is to make executive order to create a reparations commission before the election.” In 2021, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden supported studying reparations for Black people. Two months later, the House Judiciary Committee voted to advance H.R. 40 to a full vote, the furthest a bill to create a commission to study the effects of slavery has ever moved in Congress in the three decades since the legislation was first proposed. H.R. 40 was re-introduced in 2023; on the federal level, movement beyond that has been slow. Howard said California’s in-depth work is a benchmark on what could be done on a federal level. “What California did was tremendous,” he said. “We want to make reparations and the redressing of past social ills and crimes in America a standard in America, something that is appreciated for the benefit that it will produce.” In 2020, a Citigroup study indicated that the U.S. cost itself $16 trillion in the last two decades alone because of racism. “That shows that reparations is not a drain on America,” Howard said. “It would be an investment in America. Every dollar spent on reparations, you get that dollar back plus another dollar or $2 in return on the investment, particularly around Black business development.” All of this hopeful thinking requires patience. “We didn’t just get into this position overnight. This is 400 years in the making,” Howard said. “So it’s not something that happens quickly. But I’m in it for the long haul. And a lot of other people are, too.”
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
The collateral consequences of a criminal conviction often amount to a lifelong disadvantage, particularly for African Americans. According to the Sentencing Project, in 2010, one in three (33%) African American adult men had a felony conviction on their record, compared to 13% of all adult men.
Researchers found that employers discriminate against job candidates who have criminal histories, especially against those who are Black. Further, application questions about criminal histories deter some people from applying to certain jobs and colleges, with a 2017 study finding that nearly half of unemployed men had a criminal conviction. Additionally, almost one-third of all U.S. jobs require an occupational license, and many licensing boards bar or impose cumbersome obstacles for people with criminal records. Fee-based programs to seal criminal records also exacerbate racial disparities., and the Sentencing Project noted that these policies stand in stark contrast to a growing evidence base showing that post-incarceration employment prevents recidivism and that tackling heightened labor market discrimination against Black people with criminal records would reduce recidivism rates. The Sentencing Project has again highlighted a critical element causing inequalities in incarceration with “One in Five: How Mass Incarceration Deepens Inequality and Harms Public Safety.” The report highlights laws and policies that worsen inequality and unfairly burden communities of color. Initiated to provide an in-depth analysis of racial inequities within America’s criminal legal system, the series of reports covers a spectrum of topics.
From the progress made in the 21st century in reducing the U.S. prison population to disparities in crime and policing, the series also explores the key causes of racial and ethnic disparities in imprisonment. Additionally, it highlights reforms that have played a pivotal role in mitigating these sources of disparity. “A primary driver of disparity within the U.S. criminal legal system is the multitude of laws and policies that intensify economic and social inequalities, diverting public spending from effective public safety investments,” stated Nazgol Ghandnoosh, Co-Director of Research with The Sentencing Project and lead author of the report.
Ghandnoosh emphasized the importance of protecting and expanding promising reforms initiated by states and local jurisdictions nationwide. The report delves into various criminal legal laws and policies, including fines, fees, predatory pricing, exploitative wages, collateral consequences, and the diversion of adequate investments in public safety. The report proposes two key strategies to eliminate racial disparities in incarceration, including addressing sources of inequality by limiting socioeconomic disadvantage resulting from a criminal conviction and significantly increasing investments in effective public safety programs.
The “One in Five” series concludes with a call to action, emphasizing the need for durable investments in communities of color, a reduction in policing footprint, and ongoing efforts to tackle critical drivers of racial disparity. “Certain regulations intensify the marginalization of justice-involved people – who are disproportionately people of color – by wearing down economic and social buffers against crime and increasing the likelihood of police contact,” added Ghandnoosh
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
President Biden continues to make significant strides in alleviating the student loan debt crisis, announcing the approval of debt cancellation for an additional 74,000 student loan borrowers. The latest action contributes to the record-breaking relief the administration has provided to more than 3.7 million Americans.
Earlier this month, Biden announced the accelerated implementation of a crucial provision under the Student Aid for Voluntary Education (SAVE) plan, which the administration said has helped 3.6 million Americans by canceling their student debt. Biden said the plan aims to create a more affordable student loan repayment structure while providing life-changing support to students and their families.
“Today, my administration approved debt cancellation for another 74,000 student loan borrowers across the country, bringing the total number of people who have had their debt canceled under my administration to over 3.7 million Americans through various actions,” Biden said in a statement on Jan. 19.
The beneficiaries of the latest round of relief include nearly 44,000 teachers, nurses, firefighters, and other public service professionals who have earned forgiveness after a decade of dedicated service. Additionally, close to 30,000 individuals who have been in repayment for at least 20 years without receiving relief through income-driven repayment plans will now see their debts forgiven.
Biden credited the success of these relief efforts to the corrective measures taken to address broken student loan programs. He asserted that these fixes have removed barriers preventing borrowers from accessing the relief they were entitled to under the law.
The president outlined the broader achievements of his administration in supporting students and borrowers, including achieving the most significant increases in Pell Grants in over a decade, aimed at assisting families with incomes below approximately $60,000 per year. Other accomplishments include fixing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and introducing the most generous income-driven repayment plan in history, known as the SAVE plan, he said.
Borrowers are encouraged to apply for this plan at studentaid.gov. In response to challenges, including the Supreme Court’s decision on the student debt relief plan, Biden affirmed the administration’s commitment to finding alternative paths to deliver relief to as many borrowers as possible, as quickly as possible.
“From Day One of my administration, I vowed to improve the student loan system so that higher education provides Americans with opportunity and prosperity, not the unmanageable burdens of student loan debt,” Biden asserted. “I won’t back down from using every tool at our disposal to get student loan borrowers the relief they need to reach their dreams.”
Retired Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) poses for a portrait in Washington on Jan. 3, 2019. Just over 100 years ago, the first woman was sworn into Congress. Now a record 131 women are serving in the Legislature. (Elizabeth D. Herman/The New York Times)
News Analysis by: Barbara Reynolds
(TriceEdneyWire.com) – Once in a private moment after I had finished producing her weekly cable show for her Dallas district as her communications director, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson shared with me what really mattered. “I really love compassionate nursing because nurses can do anything. Keep your eye on them.” In that one sentence she was sharing what a tough job it was becoming the first registered nurse in 1997 to be elected to Congress, but nurses could manage that and more. To learn from Rep. Johnson’s lawyer that she recently died a “terrible, painful death” in a rehabilitation center without receiving the kind of compassionate nursing from the profession she loved that could have saved her life was sad and shocking. Yet, it was a reminder that African-American women , no matter who they are, are all often disrespected by the medical profession, a barrier that even Johnson, one of the most recognized and honored women in Texas could not dispel. The Congresswoman’s death resulted from a September back surgery that became infected when she was left to lie in her own feces in her bed at a rehab medical center while she repeatedly pleaded for help that didn’t come, according to Les Weisbrod. He is a malpractice attorney for the family who is threatening to sue the Dallas Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation for medical negligence. After undergoing more surgery to treat the infection, Johnson, 89, died from a spinal infection while in hospice care at her home on New Year’s Eve. She retired from Congress last year. As horrible as the situation that denied one of the most visible personalities in Dallas with powerful friends in Texas and in the nation’s capital to die with dignity and unnecessary pain, her plight is not uncommon, according to Weisbrod. “It can happen to anybody, whether they’re a Congressperson or not,” he said. “I’ve probably represented clients suing every major hospital in North Texas.” Two problems contributed to the demise of Johnson. First, are how the medical profession shows an institutionalized disregard for people of color, especially women, and how understaffed most nursing facilities are, which calls for patients to enter hospitals with their own medical advocate that will skillfully monitor their nursing care. A recent Pew Research study revealed that 49 percent of those studied say a major reason why Black people generally have worse health outcomes is because health care providers are less likely to give Black people the most advanced medical care. A roughly equal share (47 percent) says hospitals and medical centers giving lower priority to their well-being is a major reason for differing health outcomes. Another often heard complaint is the unfounded belief that Black women can stand more pain than whites resulting in their denial of requested painkillers, Dr. Rhoda Alale is an Ohio registered nursing consultant and a former faculty member of the Howard University School of Nursing. She charges that the death of Rep. Johnson is a stark reminder of how Black people are treated by health care institutions nationwide. She argues that health disparities for people of color are at an all-time high, citing recent personal observations. “My 15-year-old granddaughter received a letter canceling her insurance because they say she had seen too many specialists.” Why does sickness disqualify you from insurance? And she also pointed to another patient who consulted her for help when he went into the hospital for a minor illness but came out with a major illness because of an open wound infection, an all-too-common malady. Many health professionals are also urging patients to have a medical advocate, preferably a family member or a private nurse within the medical institutions to scrutinize the nursing care. Alale says that nursing must change and should adopt the pediatric care model with families as inpatients, like some pediatric wards that have an extra bed, and shower in the room. Adding to the systemic problems within nursing are reports of a desperate shortage of nurses resulting from the COVID epidemic where so many nurses were victims or became burnt out and did not return to the profession. Dr. Carthenia Jefferson, RN, an official of the National Black Nurses Assn. which Rep. Johnson was also a member, said she hopes the terrible treatment of the congresswoman will bring national attention for the need for the improvement of quality care in rehabilitation and other health care institutions. “I am saddened beyond words.” Dr. Jefferson is so right. If Rep. Johnson’s painful premature death will turn the spotlight on the sickness within the medical profession, her love for the nursing profession will deserve her affection.
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Religious leaders and human rights advocates, led by Reverend Jesse Jackson, are preparing for what they call a vital emergency summit for Gaza. The “Call to Action” summit is scheduled at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition Headquarters in Chicago on Friday, January 12, and Saturday, January 13. Jackson told the Black Press the summit would “address the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, denounce violence against civilians, and urge immediate action to bring an end to the crisis.”
Organized by a coalition including the Rainbow Push Coalition, the Arab American Institute, and Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen, the summit will feature a diverse lineup of influential speakers, including Jackson, Dr. James Zogby (President of the Arab American Institute), columnist and political commentator Peter Beinart, Congressman Johnathon Jackson, Congressman Chuy Garcia, and others.
The central focus of the summit is to condemn attacks on civilians and call for an immediate, permanent ceasefire. “We are faith leaders and advocates, united in this moment of moral reckoning to affirm the sanctity of all human life,” Jackson declared.
The organizers have unequivocally “condemned the Israeli government’s military siege and indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza.” They said there’s a moral obligation to leverage collective power to end the escalation of death and ongoing humanitarian crises.
The coalition demands an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the rapid release of all Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners held without charges or due process, and they are calling on U.S. leadership to facilitate unimpeded UN-supervised humanitarian aid in Gaza.
“I recommend that they let everyone out,” Jackson asserted. “The captives should be able to go home under the supervision of the United Nations, and anyone [bought to trial] should be done so in the World Court.”
Jackson and the rest of the coalition have also urged America to abide by its regulations and condition funding to Israel on its adherence to U.S. law, like requirements for other nations receiving U.S. military financing.
The organizers collectively stressed that a ceasefire is just the beginning. The staggering civilian casualties underscore the belief that there is no military resolution that can bring justice for Palestinians and security for Israelis, Jackson insisted. He said there should be a diplomatic solution to “end apartheid and occupation.”
Further, Jackson said the summit aims to build upon historical legacies and current global movements for peace, justice, and liberation. The civil rights legend and other organizers expressed concern about rising anti-Semitic and anti-Arab incidents.
They have emphasized the need for unity. “We gather to build upon the historical legacy and current global movements for peace, justice, and liberation,” Jackson emphasized, before adding what he said in Lebanon some 40-plus years earlier. “We do not seek to exchange sufferers, but rather to stop suffering.”
