The White House Convening on Equity

On Wednesday, February 14, 2024, the White House held a forum on the Biden-Harris Administration’s dedication toward advancing equity. One year after President Biden signed the Executive Order, the Advancing Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, this event focused on how the federal government is taking a whole-of-government approach toward conscious policymaking as a driver to advance equity.

Representative Steven Horsford (NV-04), Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, kicked off this event highlighting the historic achievements of this Administration in reducing systemic barriers in underserved communities. This includes a fifty-year record low of black and brown unemployment rates across the country, in addition to the inclusion of provisions in infrastructure legislation investing in marginalized communities.

The Congressional Black Caucus currently has the largest membership of over sixty legislators, who represent 120 million Americans across the country. The Congressional Black Caucus has formed a tri-caucus, working collaboratively with the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to address the needs of all marginalized communities.

Representative Horsford introduced the panelists of this event, which included:

• Deb Haaland, U.S Secretary of the Department of the Interior
• Marcia Fudge, U.S. Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of the Department of Education
• Isabel Guzman, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration
• Tanya Bradsher, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs
• Stephen Benjamin, Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and Former Mayor
• Janet McCabe, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Carlos Monje, Under Secretary of Transportation with the Department of Transportation
• Vernice Miller-Travis, Metropolitan Group
• Latanya Byrd, National Safety Advocate

The panelists discussed the importance of working collaboratively among all agencies to address equity. President Biden has taken a comprehensive approach to advancing equity and addressing systemic racism in federal policies and programs. A coordinated, whole-of-government approach connects people to economic prosperity and closes generational wealth gaps.

For more information about the White House Convening on Equity, or if you would like to become involved in ACA’s advocacy efforts please contact the ACA Government Affairs and Public Policy team at advocacy@counseling.org