Opinion
Opinion: In the 116th Congress, Democrats Will Fight for the People


Last Thursday, we marked a new era when we swore in the most diverse Congress in U.S. history.
With a record number of women and members of color elected to the House of Representatives, we finally have a Congress that looks more like America.
Plus, the largest class of Congressional Black Caucus members ever means we’ve got more congressmembers working to address issues impacting African Americans than ever before.
I’m excited to be part of this sea change – as the only woman of color serving in Democratic leadership. As Co-Chair of the House Democrats’ Steering and Policy Committee, I will help shape our policy agenda and ensure that every perspective is reflected at the leader
ship table – and push for issues of racial justice and poverty to be held as top priorities for our caucus. But I can’t do it alone. And I’m thrilled to have so many new members – of different races, religions, economic back-grounds and regions – who will bring their ideas to Congress. And we need those ideas Last Thursday, we marked a new era when we swore in the most diverse Congress in U.S. history.
With a record number of women and members of color elected to the House of Representatives, we finally have a Congress that looks more like America.
Plus, the largest class of Congressional Black Caucus members ever means we’ve got more congressmembers working to address issues impacting African Americans than ever before.
I’m excited to be part of this sea change – as the only woman of color serving in Democratic leadership. As Co-Chair of the House Democrats’ Steering and Policy Committee, I will help shape our policy agenda and ensure that every perspective is reflected at the leadership table – and push for issues of racial justice and poverty to be held as top priorities for our caucus.
But I can’t do it alone. And I’m thrilled to have so many new members – of different races, religions, economic backgrounds and regions – who will bring their ideas to Congress.
And we need those ideas now, more than ever.
There’s no question that these are difficult times.
Our government is shut down. Our democracy is under attack – by adversaries abroad and cynical voter suppression tactics here at home. The wealthy and well-connected are more powerful than ever, while financial security for working families in the East Bay and around the country has stagnated and declined.
It will take vision and fearlessness to restore a government for the people.
But House Democrats are ready to tackle these challenges – and fight for progress that every American can be proud of.
As our very first act in the new Congress, House Democrats passed a bipartisan bill to reopen the government and end President Trump’s shutdown.
Most families can’t afford to go weeks on end without a paycheck, nor should they have to. Our message to President Trump is simple: stop the games and open the government back up.
But we won’t stop there. Next, we are getting to work on a bold, progressive agenda for the American people.
We’ve already introduced H.R. 1 – the For People Act – which would protect and expand voting rights, get big money out of politics, and clean up corruption in Washington. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation.
We’re also committed to expanding quality, affordable health care for the American people. For far too many families, access to health care is still determined by the zip code you live in, the contents of your bank
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of June 25 – July 1, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of June 25 – July 1, 2025

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Oakland Post: Week of June 18 – 24, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of June 18 – 24, 2025

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Activism
Juneteenth: Celebrating Our History, Honoring Our Shared Spaces
It’s been empowering to watch Juneteenth blossom into a widely celebrated holiday, filled with vibrant outdoor events like cookouts, festivals, parades, and more. It’s inspiring to see the community embrace our history—showing up in droves to celebrate freedom, a freedom delayed for some enslaved Americans more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

By Wayne Wilson, Public Affairs Campaign Manager, Caltrans
Juneteenth marks an important moment in our shared history—a time to reflect on the legacy of our ancestors who, even in the face of injustice, chose freedom, unity, and community over fear, anger, and hopelessness. We honor their resilience and the paths they paved so future generations can continue to walk with pride.
It’s been empowering to watch Juneteenth blossom into a widely celebrated holiday, filled with vibrant outdoor events like cookouts, festivals, parades, and more. It’s inspiring to see the community embrace our history—showing up in droves to celebrate freedom, a freedom delayed for some enslaved Americans more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
As we head into the weekend full of festivities and summer celebrations, I want to offer a friendly reminder about who is not invited to the cookout: litter.
At Clean California, we believe the places where we gather—parks, parade routes, street corners, and church lots—should reflect the pride and beauty of the people who fill them. Our mission is to restore and beautify public spaces, transforming areas impacted by trash and neglect into spaces that reflect the strength and spirit of the communities who use them.
Too often, after the music fades and the grills cool, our public spaces are left littered with trash. Just as our ancestors took pride in their communities, we honor their legacy when we clean up after ourselves, teach our children to do the same, and care for our shared spaces.
Small acts can inspire big change. Since 2021, Clean California and its partners have collected and removed over 2.9 million cubic yards of litter. We did this by partnering with local nonprofits and community organizations to organize grassroots cleanup events and beautification projects across California.
Now, we invite all California communities to continue the incredible momentum and take the pledge toward building a cleaner community through our Clean California Community Designation Program. This recognizes cities and neighborhoods committed to long-term cleanliness and civic pride.
This Juneteenth, let’s not only celebrate our history—but also contribute to its legacy. By picking up after ourselves and by leaving no litter behind after celebrations, we have an opportunity to honor our past and shape a cleaner, safer, more vibrant future.
Visit CleanCA.com to learn more about Clean California.
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