The Delta Grassroots Caucus (DGC) is a broad coalition of grassroots leaders in the eight-state Delta region. DGC is also a founding partner of the Economic Equality Caucus,
which advocates for economic equality across the USA.

1st Delta Conference in DC in 5 Years Set for May 12-14; Delta Caucus Continues Advocacy after pro-Trump Assault on the Capitol

Posted on January 08, 2021 at 04:45 PM

The Delta Caucus is moving forward with advocacy on Capitol Hill for the region’s economic progress after the defeat of the pro-Trump assault on the Capitol. There are promising prospects for the Delta’s economic progress in the new Congress and Biden administration.

The Caucus calls for strong actions against the pandemic and recession now and has just set the date for the first large-scale Delta conference on Capitol Hill in five years, on May 12-14, 2021.

We are asking all our colleagues to urge strong action by the new Congress and incoming Biden-Harris administration in efforts to promote economic development with stronger relief, unemployment aid, stimulus checks, increases in SNAP and other programs as we move past the pro-Trump failed coup and years of Presidential neglect for our region.

We encourage a strong turnout in DC on May 12-14, with a new administration and a new Congress much more likely to pursue legislation beneficial to our region.

The Delta Caucus commended Gov. Asa Hutchinson for not supporting the allegations of a fraudulent election, as well the votes of the Arkansas Congressional delegation–except Rep. Rick Crawford of east Arkansas–to vote against President Trump’s baseless claims that the election was stolen from him.

We applaud Sen. Tom Cotton–a staunch Trump supporter except for this vote–Sen. John Boozman, Rep. French Hill, Rep. Bruce Westerman and Rep. Steve Womack for voting to count the Electoral College votes duly presented by the states.

This is a victory for the rule of law, and now that this debacle is over we urge the delegation to get back to the job of taking action for job creation, infrastructure expansion, civil rights and diversity, economic opportunity for women and minorities, and a long-awaited major increase in funding for the Delta Regional Authority.

We regret that other senators and representatives from our region such as Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Rep. Rick Crawford–voted against counting the electoral votes even after the assault on the Capitol.

Rep. Crawford went even one extreme step further, blaming the US Supreme Court for not weighing the merits of the many spurious pro-Trump lawsuits. Crawford condemned the mob violence but that was a hollow gesture after he encouraged people to think the allegations should be taken seriously and then bashed the US Supreme Court for its upholding of the law.

We would ask Rep. Crawford to reconsider his position and realize his mistake in promoting the falsehoods about the election, which was fair and accurate according to knowledgeable officials from both parties.

Many Republicans have condemned Trump in this disaster, so this is bipartisan. We will be inviting participants from both parties in Congress, officials of the upcoming Biden-Harris administration, and grassroots leaders to the May 12-14 Delta Regional Conference.

BASIC SCHEDULE, MAY 12-14, 2021 DELTA CONFERENC ON CAPITOL HILL

The opening session will be on the Senate side May 12 in the evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (we are working on finalizing the meeting room).

We have set the US House of Representatives Gold Room Rayburn Building for the House session on May 13, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30. The House and Senate full sessions will include Members of Congress from both parties and new administration officials.

We will continue on the afternoon of May 13 and Friday May 14 with smaller-scale and individual meetings to make contacts to additional Congressional and executive offices.

SHORT LIST OF KEY INITIATIVES:

–Continuing relief aid and unemployment aid to fight the recession and pandemic;

–Job creation through USDA, SBA, Labor, infrastructure at DOT and other agencies;

–USDA programs for rural small business, infrastructure, and rural housing programs to help renters and aid people become or remain home-owners;

–USDA SNAP benefit increases of 15%,WIC, school meals and other nutrition programs to fight the spike in hunger caused by the pandemic. While SNAP is primarily the main bulwark against hunger, it also has a stimulus impact in that every $1 spent on SNAP generates about $1.70 in economic activity;

–Health care–continuation and improvements of Medicaid expansion and other initiatives for health care to underserved populations during the pandemic;

–Major broadband, housing, transportation infrastructure investments to create jobs and repair our deteriorating infrastructure;

–Continuation of a moratorium on housing evictions;

–Expansion of the budget for all the regional commissions, including DRA, Appalachian Regional Commission as the largest of the commissions and the others that extend throughout most regions of the country and actually cover a majority of states in the country.

–ARC funding was in the range of $500 million in its heyday. An increase to only half that of $250 million, and an increase for the DRA budget from its current tiny $28 million to $200 million would be a good starting point. If all the regional commissions were increased from their current relatively paltry amounts it would still represent a drop in the bucket of the enormous federal budget.

We needed Crawford to be focused on community and economic development in the Delta Region. He represents the heart of the Arkansas Delta. He should have been focusing on Delta economic issues instead of supporting these lies and encouraging his constituents to believe in them.

These events will not deter us from our normal advocacy on Capitol Hill, and in fact is likely to increase security there over the long term.

This week Delta Caucus Director Lee Powell was not going to let the Trump hooligans keep him from his usual practice of spending time on Capitol Hill. He is based there for that reason. While he was at the back of the melee and did not directly see any violence, there was an atmosphere of gratuitous animosity. He was not wearing any political paraphernalia or doing anything political, but because he was wearing a mask he had some Trump supporters yell at him “Take that god-damn mask off! Don’t you know it’s a hoax? There’s nothing to fear.”

Powell did not respond and moved on.

Powell saw other Trump supporters yelling at media: “You hate Trump, admit it. Say ‘I hate Trump.’” Of course it’s the pro-Trump people who are spouting hatred.

Even the day after the riot, at the Capitol there were still substantial numbers of Trump flag wavers, people with loud-speakers, etc., although they were much more subdued because there were a ton of police there that day. It was incompetent that the US Capitol Hill police were not out in those numbers on the day before.

REGISTRATION FEES

You register for the May 12-14, 2021 Delta Regional Conference on Capitol Hill by paying the $100 registration fees.

The easiest and fastest way to pay registration fees is to go on the website at mdgc.us and go to the Paypal link at the top of the site that says “Donate.”

GROUP DISCOUNT: We will give substantial group discounts down to $60 if you can recruit three others, and even larger discounts for recruiting a larger additional number of attendees.

If you prefer to pay by check, please make out the check to “Delta Caucus” and mail to:

Delta Caucus

5030 Purslane Place

Waldorf, MD 20601