Weekly Report 2-4

Commits $100,000 to TSU Banking Program

Texas Bankers Foundation Foundation and Texas Banks to Support “State-of-the-Art” HBCU Banking Program

By d-mars.com News Provider

The Texas Bankers Foundation, the charitable arm of the Texas Bankers Association, has recently committed $100,000 over three years to the Future Bankers Leadership Program at Texas Southern University, Jesse H. Jones School of Business, which will prepare students for careers in the field of banking. The all-new banking program will launch in the Fall of 2021.

“The Texas Bankers Foundation is honored to support the TSU Future Bankers Leadership program,” said Lizzie Williams, chair of the Texas Bankers Foundation Board of Directors. “This endeavor will no doubt provide strength, stability and diversity in the banking industry for years to come.”

The Texas Bankers Foundation’s commitment endeavors to help TSU build the nation’s premier banking program at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). In addition to the Foundation’s support, individual Texas banks are stepping up to support the program.

“As a board member of TBA and CEO

of Allegiance Bank, I am extremely proud of the financial contribution that our bank and the TBA Foundation are making to support this initiative,” said Ray Vitulli of Allegiance Bank. “The benefits of this program to Texas community banking and the business community will without a doubt continue to help build strong banks and stronger communities. Most importantly, the TSU program will have a meaningful impact on attracting and developing future leaders in the banking industry.”

Jesse H. Jones School of Business at TSU will offer a commercial banking program designed to develop its diverse population of students into banking professionals with financial and technical skills. The program will educate and prepare students to become commercial bankers and aim to deliver a pipeline of students from underserved minority communities with the necessary skills to add value

to the banking industry.

“The Jesse H. Jones School of Business is appreciative for this very generous and transformative gift from the Texas Bankers Foundation,” said Dr. David Yen, dean of the Jesse H. Jones School of Business. “With the rapid advancement of FINTECH, this opportunity to work with the Texas Bankers Association to develop a state-of-theart banking program that will

Congressional Black Caucus

diversify the workforce and create a significant impact in metropolitan Houston and Texas state is tremendous.”

The Texas Bankers Foundation is devoted to ensuring the future of the industry by growing and supporting the banking programs at Texas colleges and universities, as well as promoting a diverse workforce amongst Texas Banks, their employees and the communities in which they serve. The Texas Bankers Association, along with its charitable arm, have committed hundreds of thousands of dollars to building the next generation of bankers to ensure an inclusive and diverse workplace, at all levels of the banking industry, for years to come.

For more information about the Texas Bankers Foundation, visit www.texasbankers.com.

Source: Texas Bankers Association

Elects Executive Committee for the 117th Congress

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

U.S. rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) will chair the Congressional Black Caucus for the 117th Congress. The announcement came as the CBC embarks on its 50th anniversary as the voice of Black America in Congress.

Along with Congresswoman Beatty, the CBC announced a new executive committee that begins this month.

• Rep. Steven Horsford, who represents Nevada's 4th district and currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, Budget Committee, and Natural Resources Committee, will serve as 1st Vice-Chair of the CBC.

• Rep. Brenda Lawrence, who represents Michigan's 14th district and currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee and the Oversight and Reform Committee, was tapped as 2nd Vice-Chair.

• Rep. Frederica Wilson of Florida's 24th district , who currently serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the House Education and Labor Committee, where she chairs the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee, was elected as Secretary of the CBC.

• Rep. Hank Johnson, who represents Georgia's 4th district and currently serves on the Transportation and

Infrastructure Committee, as well as the House Judiciary Committee, where he chairs the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, will take over as Whip.

• Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who represents Texas's 18th district and currently serves on the House Judiciary Committee, Homeland Security Committee, and the Budget Committee, will serve as Parliamentarian.

Next year marks 50 years for the CBC, which outgo-

In 1971, thirteen Black Members of Congress organized their efforts to help improve Black people's conditions in America and around the world.

Though small in numbers, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) founders understood their responsibility for the millions of voices they represented, Congresswoman Bass noted.

"That responsibility drove them to speak up and speak out against injustice wherever they found it – from Apartheid in South Africa to voter suppression, economic oppression, racial violence across the country," she said.

Under the leadership of Chair-elect Beatty, the Caucus will enjoy its largest membership in history, with a record 57 Members forming a body as diverse as the nation.

ing Chair Rep. Karen Bass of California called 50 years as a champion for bold, progressive ideas in Congress.

"Fifty years of making a seat at the table and building a pipeline for those to come, and 50 years as the 'Conscience of the Congress,'" said Congresswoman Bass, adding, "On behalf of the entire Congressional Black Caucus, congratulations to the members of the Executive Committee for the 117th Congress."

"After four years under one of the most racist and repressive regimes in modern history, the CBC has an enormous opportunity under the Biden-Harris Administration to restore faith in our democracy and show Black Americans the power of their vote," Bass said.

"We look forward to the work ahead on behalf of Black America."

Source: NNPA