Rep. G. K. Butterfield of North Carolina took the helm as the 24^th Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. In his remarks, Rep. Butterfield outlined the CBC’s focus for the 114^th Congress including corporate board diversity and strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which are also two focus areas for The ELC and subjects that will be covered at the 2015 Winter General Membership Meeting. In 2014, ELC President & CEO Ronald C. Parker and representatives of The ELC’s External Advocacy Committee met with Rep. Butterfield to discuss issues of mutual interest, with a specific focus on corporate board diversity. During last year’s CBCF Annual Legislative Conference, Parker participated in an issues panel on corporate board diversity hosted by Rep. Butterfield.

CBC inducted the largest class in its 44-year history, of which 20 are women and five are new members: Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), Mia Love (UT-04), and Stacey Plaskett (USVI).