| The Legislative Action Team for Children & Families has issued the following Legislative Action Alert urging passage of HB 4161, Creating a State Office of Minority Affairs.
West Virginia's African American community is in distress. According to a new report entitled Legacy of Inequality: Racial and Economic Disparities in West Virginia, black West Virginians are more likely to live in poverty and have lower incomes and higher unemployment rates than white West Virginians, despite having similar levels of educational attainment.
The report found that in West Virginia:
- 28.5% of black residents live in poverty, compared with 16.6% of whites;
- nearly 60% of black children under five live in poverty, compared with 28.1% for whites;
- annual per capita income for whites was $21,272, compared with $14,915 for black residents;
- median family income was $48,479 for whites but only $31,175 for black residents.
Racial disparities also exist in employment status, health insurance coverage, home ownership and incarceration rates.
Unfortunately, there is currently no state level office or program charged with elevating the concerns of West Virginia's minority communities.
House Bill 4161, which would create the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs passed the West Virginia House of Delegates. Its companion bill, SB 329 has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and has been sent to Finance.
This bill is intended to provide a forum for discussion of issues that affect minorities; identify and promote best practices for programs and services to minorities; review information and research and make recommendations that can inform state policies to ensure fair treatment of minorities.
Action is needed to make sure the Senate will pass legislation to address these long neglected issues. Despite being passed by the House of Delegates and Senate Judiciary, the Senate Finance Committee has not yet taken the bill up for consideration.
TAKE ACTION
Click this link to send a personalized message to your State Senators and urge them to support passage of House Bill 4161 creating the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs. In particular, calls and messages need to reach Senate Finance Committee members including Finance Chairman Senator Walt Helmick.
BY PHONE: Call 1-877-565-3447 to leave a message or be transferred to your legislator's office. You can leave messages after hours that will be delivered to your legislators the next day.
Thanks for taking action on this important issue! |
