CLYBURN ANNOUNCES RUN FOR HOUSE ASSISTANT DEMOCRATIC LEADER

WASHINGTON, DC – House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (D-SC) today is sending a letter to Democratic colleagues announcing his intention to run for Assistant Democratic Leader in the 113^th Congress.  Below is the text of the letter.

Dear Democratic Colleague:

            As we prepare for the convening of the 113^th Congress in January, I ask for your support for another term as your Assistant Democratic Leader.  I’m proud of my accomplishments during the current term, and I want to build on that record and provide even stronger support for and greater service to my Caucus colleagues.  We Democrats rightly look with pride on the fact that we won the popular vote for Congress by an impressive margin of a half million votes, and we can look to the future confident of the support of the American people.

Our nation’s diversity is the heart of our democracy, and our Caucus’s diversity shows that we are the face of America.  Indeed, for the first time in history, women and minorities will constitute a majority of the Democratic Caucus.  This is a cause for celebration and a call to action on behalf of all the American people.

            As a former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, a former Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and a former Majority Whip, I remain uniquely positioned to work with all seven internal caucuses of our Democratic Caucus.  I have always sought to build bridges, and to make sure all points of view are represented and all voices are heard at the Leadership table.

            Throughout the 112^th Congress, I have worked in the trenches to defend Democratic priorities and fight against the Republicans’ exclusive agenda.  As a member of the Biden Group and the so-called “Super-Committee,” I worked vigorously to prevent the Tea Party Republicans from implementing their draconian “cuts only” budget that would have decimated essential services for the most vulnerable among us.  Fairness must be the guiding principle in the budget debate going forward, and I believe I have the credibility to make that case on behalf of the Democratic Caucus.

            As one of the Leadership’s primary liaisons to the White House, I have developed a strong bond with our President and maintain solid working relationships throughout his administration.  As a veteran of the Appropriations Committee, I am well-prepared for the struggle of budgeting and fiscal issues that are likely to dominate the legislative agenda in the next Congress.  As the only Member of the Leadership from a deeply red state, I understand the needs of our Members to project their own individual brands to the people back home.  And as the son of a fundamentalist minister, I have been proud to help lead the House Democrats’ efforts to connect with faith voters through emphasis on the values we hold dear in our progressive agenda.

            The job of a leader is to serve the needs of the Members of the Democratic Caucus in the pursuit of our shared goals.  I’m proud of my record of service and look forward to working with each of you to build on our historic achievement and demonstrate that diversity truly is our greatest strength. 

            I respectfully ask for your support.

                                                                                    Sincerely,

                                                                       

James E. Clyburn