Read the full post by Rev Lennox Yearwood, Jr. on the Huffington Post

The bill provides full congressional representation to the District of Columbia and an additional House seat to Utah, with wide support on the Hill. However a handful of legislators are manipulating the bill with a nonrelated amendment.

There is no excuse for Sen. John Ensign attaching an amendment to the voting act that would eliminate the city's ability to enforce necessary gun laws. The Senator may reside in the district when the Congress is in session, but he does not live in the part of the city plagued by gun violence.

This week, CNN's John King is shining a light on the level of devastation that persists in New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward. He even visited the Lower 9th Ward Health Clinic where of 1300 patients, 95% are without health insurance. Help the Hip Hop Caucus leverage this moment of visibility into real action on behalf of low-income Katrina Survivors.

Make a tax-deductible contribution to our Gulf Coast Renewal Campaign today. You can read this fundraising appeal for our Gulf Coast Renewal Campaign from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX-18), who represents parts of Houston, a city where many Katrina Survivors have resettled.

At this stage of Gulf Coast recovery, our country has moved past Katrina Fatigue; Katrina has been forgotten. We need your support to continue our critical and timely program through which we seek definitive solutions to the ongoing struggles of Katrina Survivors.

After three and a half years of leading demonstrations and signing onto litigation for the 'right to return'[1] of Katrina Survivors, our opportunity for a just recovery is now possible! The Hip Hop Caucus' Gulf Coast Renewal Campaign has worked consistently to connect grassroots voices to policymakers on the issues that matter most for Katrina Survivors - housing, healthcare, education and the dramatic increase in violence in New Orleans.

We are going to be transparent here - the Hip Hop Caucus did not collect millions of dollars, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars from you or foundations post-Katrina to pad our organizational coffer. We simply did the work, we fought the fights, and we succeeded in bringing Katrina survivors to testify in Congress, organizing hearings in New Orleans, pushing for extended housing provisions and opposing the bulldozing of homes without notice.

Please help keep this work going now that most have shut down their post-Katrina campaigns. Help us reach our goal of $25,000.00 by this Friday, March 27th, to maintain our grassroots and Congressional outreach on behalf of Katrina Survivors. That's just 500 people giving $50!

You can make an online tax-deductible contribution here. Or if you prefer, send a check made out to the Hip Hop Caucus Institute, with Gulf Coast Renewal Campaign in the Memo Line to our offices:

Hip Hop Caucus Institute
1112 16th St. NW, Suite 110
Washington, DC 20036

Hurricane Katrina recovery remains to be an open wound in our nation's immediate history. Let's act now so the wound will heal, and heal in a way that won't leave a permanent scar.

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[1] People, who have been forced to flee or to leave their homes or place of habitual residence, as a result of armed conflict, violence, natural or man-made disaster and who have not crossed an internationally recognized State border, are known as Internally Displaced Persons. They are entitled to all human rights enjoyed by the other citizens. In addition, they have special needs which should be addressed by the state authorities. The Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement were adopted by the UN Commission on Human Rights and Economic and Social Council in 1998.

Choice of Residence

Principle 15: The IDPs have the right to remain in the area they used to reside before the displacement or have the right to move to any other part of the country or another country of their will. This right is crucial for those who have lost their families, homes and belonging and have completely been uprooted.

Family Unit

Principle 16 and 17 highlight the importance of preserving the family unit. The responsible state authorities should help the IDPs in protecting the family unit by assisting in seeking family members who have been separated. A family unit provides security to a person. Separation from one's family also leads to violation of other human rights. Where the families insist on remaining in the same location during the period of displacement the authorities should facilitate it.

Adequate Standard of Living

According to Principle 18, the state is responsible to provide the IDPs with an adequate standard of living including essential food, potable water, shelter, appropriate clothing, essential medical services and sanitation. The highest number of deaths among IDPs is caused by malnutrition. Vulnerable groups such as children, elderly and single heads of households should be given special attention in providing an adequate standard of living.

Property Rights

The IDPs have abandoned their property in haste and are not able to secure them. Especially, the boundaries of the lands may not be visible at the site. The properties of the IDPs are also prone to theft. The responsible authorities have to take steps to protect the property of the IDPs against such occurrences.

Right to Return or Resettle

IDPs have the right to return voluntarily, in safety and with dignity, to their previous homes or resettle voluntarily in another area of the country. Right to Return or resettle is vital especially when the cause of the displacement is ceased.

After resettlement, the IDPs should not face discrimination as a result of having been displaced. They, like all other citizens, have the equal right to participate in public affairs and to have access to public services.

Yesterday was the last day of the 6th year of War in Iraq. It was not the last day of the war.

Today, another year of the war began. Though pundits and commentators don't talk about it on television anymore, it still rages on.

The damage to America's standing in the world is staggering. The missed opportunities for progress here at home have been devastating.

Read the full post by Rev Lennox Yearwood, Jr. on the Huffington Post

Read the full post by Rev Lennox Yearwood, Jr. on the Huffington Post

Rarely in history have young people been blessed with the opportunity, or the responsibility, to serve as the solution to the crisis at hand.

In this economic decline there perhaps is no other option than to turn the reins over to the next generation. This recession is a mess caused by the mistakes of the old, but the young possess the sole ability to clean it up. If the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act passes in Congress tomorrow, that torch of responsibility shall be passed on.