Rethinking US-Caribbean Trade Policy Is A Key Focus Of 16th Annual Caribbean-American Legislative Forum On Captial Hill
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee will headline the 16th Annual Caribbean American Legislative Forum today in commemoration of June as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month; while Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, who is a Co-sponsor of the Forum will be one of the five Caribbean Americans now serving in Congress who will demonstrated their pride of place during the annual Capitol Hill “thinkfest”.
The Forum first mounted in 1999, under the auspices of Congresswoman Donna Christensen (D-USVI), who is now running for Governor of the USVI, has become a flagship event for the Caribbean community. At the one day event, delegates and others from various Caribbean diaspora community organizations come together with staff and Members of the US Congress to address critical national legislation affecting both the domestic and foreign policy landscape. Issues to be addressed in this year’s Legislative Forum include: US Caribbean Trade Policy for the 21st Century and Organizing to Promote Inclusive Economic policies on the domestic front, such as student loan debt relief, living wage, fair pregnancy leave, and immigration reform. The Forum is a critical step in ICS effortsto engage the Caribbean diaspora and Friends of the Caribbean around education, advocacy and action that strengthens policies geared towards improving economic opportunities.
The Forum is one of a series of events taking place during 2014 Caribbean-American Legislative Week, June 22-28th in Washington DC. Other activities include: a Faith Based Conference; a Small Business Briefing at the US Patent and Trademark Office and the Inter-American Development Bank; the White House Briefing; and Census Department and the State Department Briefing on US Oceans Policy and impact for the Caribbean.
