CCBWG ANNOUNCES NEW CO-CHAIRS TO LEAD CAUCUS IN 120TH CONGRESS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

September 21, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT:

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WASHINGTON, DC - Last week, Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), announced that Representatives LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Lateefah Simon (CA-12) and Shontel Brown (OH-11) will take up the mantle as new Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls (CCBWG) in the 120th Congress.

Despite more than 430 registered Congressional caucuses and Member organizations in 2016, until the creation of the CCBWG, no group on Capitol Hill had sought to make Black women and girls a priority in policy debates. Inspired by the #SheWoke Committee, a collective of seven women leaders with a shared vision of advocacy, equity, and sisterhood; Reps. Clarke, Kelly, and Watson Coleman created the Caucus to advance policies that eliminate barriers and disparities experienced by Black women. With Reps. Kelly and Watson Coleman departing at the conclusion of the 119th Congress, Reps. Brown, McIver and Simon will take their place alongside Rep. Clarke. The Co-Chairs made the announcement at the caucus-hosted panel event titled "Reclaiming the Narrative and Building Economic Power" during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference at the Washington Convention Center.

"I'm incredibly appreciative of the work Congresswomen Clarke and Kelly and I have accomplished over the last decade," said Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman. "It has truly been an honor and a privilege having them as partners as we did our best to help further cultivate a sisterhood here in Congress. Forming this caucus was already critical at the time, but its work and impact is exponentially more important today. And while we've made great strides in representation over the years, there is much more to do in order to make our voices heard in every facet of our society and to ensure policies don't have an unintended negative impact on our communities."

"It feels like the last ten years have flown by, but it is indeed time. I am proud to pass the baton to Congresswomen LaMonica McIver, Lateefah Simon, and Shontel Brown - three outstanding women who have already demonstrated leadership by fighting for the right things and making sure Black women's voices are heard. I'll miss the Caucus, but I'm fully confident that we're leaving it in great hands and that they will take it to the next level. America is primed for a better future when everyone has a seat at the table. Instead of waiting for a spot to open up, my sisters have brought their own chair."

"Over the last ten years, my co-chairs and I, Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman and Yvette Clarke, have put our hearts into building this Caucus from the ground up to highlight both the extraordinary successes and the ongoing plight of Black women across America, ensuring our voices are heard and represented in Congress," said Representative Robin Kelly. "It has been a true honor to lead alongside them. While leaving this leadership legacy is bittersweet, I am thrilled to welcome Reps. Shontel Brown, LaMonica McIver, and Lateefah Simon as the new co-chairs, alongside Representative Yvette Clarke. They each bring their own powerful vision, passion, and lived experiences to this work, and I know that the mantle we built together is in wonderful hands as they lead our Caucus into its next decade of progress."

"Words cannot fully express my gratitude to my fellow Black Women & Girls Caucus Co-Chairs, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Robin Kelly, for their years of hard work, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to bringing greater attention to the systemic challenges facing Black women and girls and ensuring their voices are heard and represented in Congress," said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. "While I am saddened to see my sisters depart, I am excited to welcome Reps. Shontel Brown, LaMonica McIver, and Lateefah Simon as the new Co-Chairs. I look forward to working alongside them as we pick up the mantle and continue fighting for the equity, opportunity, and justice our Black women and girls deserve, especially as this administration continues to target Black women in the workplace, threaten equitable access to healthcare, and undermine the support systems our communities rely on. The work continues, and I look forward to advancing this important mission with our new Co-Chairs."

"Black women and girls play a vital role in shaping politics and policy, bringing invaluable perspectives and experience to the table," said Representative Lamonica McIver. "Too often, that contribution is undervalued and overlooked. We face barriers to entry, and barriers to success. Under the leadership of Reps. Watson Coleman, Kelly, and Clarke, this caucus has done the important work of amplifying our voices and confronting the systemic inequalities that silence us. I am humbled and excited to carry that legacy forward, and deeply grateful to the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls for what they have built. I am also grateful beyond words to Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, who has been a light to me personally; my co-chairs and I will do all we can to carry on what she has built."

"I am deeply honored to join the Caucus on Black Women and Girls as a Co-Chair next Congress and pick up the mantle from Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman, Yvette Clarke, and Robin Kelly," said Congresswoman Lateefah Simon. "I started my career working with young girls who were impacted by the criminal justice system, and I know intimately that in every aspect of life from school to the workplace - Black women and girls face unique opportunities and challenges. Congress can and should do more to ensure that our federal policies sees and serves Black women and girls equally, and I look forward to working with my Co-Chairs on this caucus to advance these efforts. Thank you to Congresswomen Watson Coleman, Clarke, and Kelly for the pioneering work you have done to advocate for our girls in Congress - the fight continues."

"I am honored to become the new Co-Chair of the Black Women and Girls Caucus," said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. "As a Black woman and a Black lawmaker, it is incredibly frustrating to watch the current administration weaponize policies designed to help the very communities they have locked out of the conversation. This Caucus has been critical in countering those efforts by shining a national spotlight on the issues that disproportionately impact our community. But our work has to be about more than defense. We have an opportunity to set a forward-looking agenda that expands opportunity, protects the rights of Black women and girls, and makes sure they have a real voice in shaping the policies that affect their lives. I am so grateful for the leadership of Reps. Clarke, Kelly and Watson Coleman in this Caucus, which has led to the advancement of long overdue legislation that supports Black women. From the Crown Act to the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act, the Members have shown that they are fighters for meaningful change for our women and girls. The legacy that they leave behind is one that I am proud to carry forward."

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