[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 4, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E290-E291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE'S ``THE OPPORTUNITY COMPACT,'' 
                   A BLUEPRINT FOR ECONOMIC EQUALITY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHAKA FATTAH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 4, 2008

  Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, as Chairman of the Congressional Urban 
Caucus, it gives me great pleasure to welcome Marc H. Morial, President 
and CEO of the National Urban League (NUL), and delegations from Urban 
League affiliates from around the country to Washington, DC for their 
5th Annual Legislative Policy Conference on March 5-6, 2008. Over the 
course of these two days, the NUL unveils its annual landmark State of 
Black America report, meets with Congressional leaders, and brings a 
slate of key policy recommendations to members of both houses.
  Established in 1910, the National Urban League is the Nation's oldest 
and largest civil rights organization devoted to empowering African 
Americans to thrive in the economic and social mainstream. Today, the 
National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the 
non-partisan efforts of its 101 local affiliates in 36 states and the 
District of Columbia, providing direct services to more than 800,000 
people annually, and impacting millions more through its advocacy and 
research.
  This year the NUL and its affiliate delegates are bringing to 
Congress an important blueprint for economic equality known as The 
Opportunity Compact. The Compact is a comprehensive set of principles 
and policy recommendations set forth by the National Urban League (NUL) 
designed to empower all Americans to be full participants in the 
economic and social mainstream of this Nation. In pursuit of this end, 
the NUL (1) identifies principles that reflect the values inherent in 
the American dream; (2) examines the conditions that have separated a 
significant portion of the American population--particularly the poor 
and disadvantaged residents of urban communities--from accessing that 
dream; (3) proposes, for honest evaluation and discussion, several 
policy recommendations intended to bridge the gap between 
conceptualization and realization of the American dream.
  The Opportunity Compact is the culmination of extensive research and 
policy analysis by the National Urban League Policy Institute (NULPI) 
and is based upon the input of dozens of policy experts from academia, 
public policy think tanks, non-profit service and advocacy 
organizations, the business sector, and the Urban League movement. 
Among other things, the NULPI hosted a series of five roundtable 
discussions and obtained feedback and recommendations from numerous 
experts concerning the development of a coherent and comprehensive plan 
for empowering the Nation's urban communities. As the foundation for 
such a plan, NUL has clearly identified four cornerstones that reflect 
the values represented by the American dream: (1) The Opportunity to 
Thrive (Children), (2) The Opportunity to Earn (Jobs), (3) The 
Opportunity to Own (Housing) and (4) The Opportunity to Prosper 
(Entrepreneurship). These cornerstones are supported by a list of ten 
policy priorities.

[[Page E291]]

  Each of these opportunities for upward economic and social mobility 
are available in few other countries outside the United States. 
Therefore, maintaining equal access to these opportunities is a vital 
part of preserving the very principles that make this country unique 
and will prove to be an effective way to eliminate gaps in income, 
wealth and educational attainment within this country that are too 
often defined along the lines of race or socioeconomic status.
  The Opportunity Compact serves as a vehicle to develop a serious plan 
of action to address the persistent inequalities faced by those in 
urban communities. Yet, all Americans, regardless of place of residence 
or racial identity, can benefit from the policy recommendations 
presented in this blueprint for economic equality. Furthermore, there 
is a role for all parties to play--private citizens, national, state 
and local governments, community-based service providers and the 
business community--as together, we seek to strengthen our Nation by 
maximizing the potential of all its citizens. By generating new ideas, 
initiating productive partnerships and fostering collaboration, The 
Opportunity Compact seeks to expand access to the incentives and 
rewards that act as the driving force behind what makes this country 
great--personal responsibility, initiative and hard work.
  Madam Speaker, I firmly believe that the proposals embodied in the 
National Urban League's Opportunity Compact provide a powerful 
framework for approaching the difficult challenges faced by America's 
cities. I therefore rise today to congratulate the National Urban 
League for its work on behalf of cities and for bringing The 
Opportunity Compact to the attention of Congress.

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