Press Releases
Today we commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an American hero whose voice, vision, and legacy of leadership continue to influence the course of American history. Dr. King on occasion sacrificed his freedom and ultimately his life to ensure that all Americans are treated equally, and given the opportunity to participate fully in society and realize their dreams.
The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced a funding opportunity that would enable incarcerated individuals to access the services and supports they need to secure jobs upon their release. Under the department's Linking to Employment Activities Pre-Release (LEAP) initiative, local workforce development boards may apply for one of ten $500,000 grants to place these vital services in correctional facilities.
Today, the Brookings Institution released a paper that ranks Miami, Florida, among the top ten U.S. cities with the highest levels of income inequality. Since 2007, Miami, much like other major cities, has experienced increased levels of income inequality due to marked declines in household incomes in the bottom 20th percentile in the past seven years.
On Wednesday, February 24, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson was invited to attend a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade hearing titled "Boko Haram: The Islamist Insurgency in West Africa."
The congresswoman does not sit on the Foreign Affairs Committee, so her participation was an important recognition of the Florida lawmaker's deep and abiding commitment these past two years to defeating the Nigerian terrorist group and the safe return of the 219 Chibok schoolgirls who are still missing 682 days after 682 their abduction.
"I am extremely pleased that the Department of Justice and the City of Miami have reached a workable compromise to implement reforms on officer-involved shootings. The settlement enables the Miami Police Department to institute much-needed changes that will save lives without creating a substantial financial burden on the city. I hope the city will also use this opportunity to hire more officers who reflect the communities they serve.
With the U.S. State Department as their backdrop, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Wednesday, April 20, 2016, gave the world a moving reminder that the 219 Chibok schoolgirls who are still missing after their abduction by Boko Haram deserve to be remembered every day, not just on tragic anniversaries, and that the fight for their safe return is a global one. They also praised the girls who escaped from the terrorist group on April 14, 2014, for their courage and their commitment to continuing their studies.
"Today we honor the men and women who have lost their lives on the job. As we pay tribute to those who have died while trying to make an honest living, we must also strengthen our resolve to fight to ensure that all Americans work in safe environments," said Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson. "As the Ranking Member of the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, I am committed to finding policy solutions that prevent tragic workplace fatalities."
Today Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.) and several House lawmakers hosted a press conference in response to the breaking news that one of the 219 Chibok schoolgirls had been rescued more than two years after they were abducted from their dormitory rooms by the world's deadliest terrorist group, Boko Haram.
Today, the Department of Labor issued a final rule strengthening outdated rules for determining workers' overtime eligibility. Under the new rule, most salaried, white-collar workers who earn less than $47,476 a year, or $913 a week, will be entitled to time-and-a-half pay for hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a week.
Sixty-two years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that school segregation was unconstitutional. Its Brown v. Board of Education ruling underscored what people of color in communities already knew-that racially segregated, or separate, schools were definitely not equal. The ruling opened doors of opportunity for low-income, minority students that resonate to this day.