Press Releases Archive - Page 13 of 28 - Majority Whip James Clyburn

WASHINGTON – Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn released the following statement on the House Armed Services Committee’s markup of the National Defense Authorization Act: “I strongly support Ranking Member Adam Smith’s 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. “Ranking Member Smith’s 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. “This 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. “Following 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. “But 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. “I urge the members of the House Armed Services Committee and my colleagues in the South Carolina Congressional Delegation to support Ranking Member Smith’s 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.”

April 27, 2016

WASHINGTON – Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn released the following statement on the House Armed Services Committee’s markup of the National Defense Authorization Act: “I strongly support Ranking Member Adam Smith’s proposed amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to bar…

Clyburn to Host Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina March 18-20

February 18, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 18, 2016 CONTACT: Patrick Devlin, 202-226-3210 CLYBURN TO HOST CONGRESSIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS PILGRIMAGE TO SOUTH CAROLINA MARCH 18-20 WASHINGTON – U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (SC), along with Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Lindsey…

Clyburn Floor Statement On Iran Nuclear Deal

September 11, 2015

WASHINGTON – U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (SC) delivered the following statement on the Iran nuclear deal on the House floor today: “I rise today in strong support of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action negotiated between the…

Seven South Carolina students named 2015 HBCU All-Stars by White House

August 21, 2015

Columbia, S.C. – Yesterday, the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (WHIHBCUs) announced its 2015 HBCU All-Stars, recognizing students for their accomplishments in academics, leadership and civic engagement. There are seven South Carolina students who received this…

Clyburn Statement on 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965

August 6, 2015

WASHINGTON – U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (SC) released the following statement on the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965: “On this day fifty years ago, surrounded by leaders of both political parties, President Lyndon…

Clyburn: Symbols Matter, but They’re No Substitute for Substance

July 27, 2015

It was a great day in South Carolina—and the nation—when the Confederate battle flag was removed from the grounds of the State House. The battle flag has historical significance and should be dealt with accordingly. Unfortunately, it was unfurled in…

Clyburn Announces Introduction of the Background Check Completion Act

July 15, 2015

WASHINGTON – Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn yesterday introduced the Background Check Completion Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. Under current law, the Charleston shooter should have been barred from purchasing a firearm from a licensed dealer. But a procedural…

Clyburn Introduces Legislation to Re-Name Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse After J. Waties Waring

April 30, 2015

WASHINGTON – U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn released the following statement after joining the entire South Carolina Congressional delegation in introducing a bill to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 83 Meeting Street in…

Clyburn Statement on 5th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

March 24, 2015

WASHINGTON – U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn delivered the following statement today on the Capitol steps about the fifth anniversary of the Affordable Care Act: “Speaking at an international health care conference in 1966, Dr. Martin Luther…

Lewis, Hoyer, Clyburn, Conyers and Brady

March 19, 2015

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, lead sponsors Rep. John Lewis (GA-5), House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5), Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (SC-6), Rep. John Conyers (MI-13), Rep. Robert Brady (PA-1) and more than 170 Democrats reintroduced the Voter Empowerment Act in…

Clyburn: Reflections on Selma

March 10, 2015

Huffington Post I am home alone reflecting on the remarkable and blessed experiences of the past three days. Yesterday I sat at the steps of the Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama listening to some remarkable reflections from a spouse and daughter…

Clyburn Congradulates Charlie Sifford and Other Medal of Freedom Recipients

November 12, 2014

WASHINGTON — Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn released the following statement after President Barack Obama named 19 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which will be awarded at a ceremony at the White House on November 24: “I congratulate all…