117th Congress: House Majority Whip Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.)

He’s one of the most influential Democrats on Capitol Hill and a key supporter of President Biden’s agenda. Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) talks with Washington Post congressional reporter Marianna Sotomayor about voting rights legislation, the “Build Back Better” plan and why the president’s priorities have been stalled in Congress.

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Highlights

“President Biden made a commitment at the Charleston debate… two years ago and said if he had the opportunity he would appoint or nominate an African American woman on the Court. And he has reiterated in recent days that he plans to keep that commitment.” (Video: Washington Post Live)

“I don’t have any problem with the seven or eight names that I have seen floated as possibilities. They’re all great people. The fact of the matter is, I have been discussing Michelle Childs with the president and his people now for I guess at least 13 months.” (Video: Washington Post Live)

“We have two Republican senators from South Carolina. Both of them know Michelle Childs very well and both of them have spoken highly of her. And the Republicans all over this state think that she is an outstanding jurist.” (Video: Washington Post Live)

“We need to have election day as a national holiday. Why is it that we have elections on Tuesdays? In most countries like ours, elections are on weekends.” (Video: Washington Post Live)

“I saw polls out this morning that says that Joe Biden’s programs were getting up to 60 percent approval–infrastructure approval, Build Back better approved by the electorate but his number are low simply because we have allowed the discussion to take place over what we have not done rather than over what we have done.” (Video: Washington Post Live)

House Majority Whip Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.)

James E. Clyburn is the Majority Whip and the third-ranking Democrat in the United States House of Representatives. He previously served in the post from 2007 to 2011 and served as Assistant Democratic Leader from 2011 to 2019.

When he came to Congress in 1993 to represent South Carolina’s sixth congressional district, Congressman Clyburn was elected co-president of his freshman class and quickly rose through leadership ranks. He was subsequently elected Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Vice Chair, and later Chair, of the House Democratic Caucus.

As a national leader, he has championed rural and economic development and many of his initiatives have become law. His 10-20-30 federal funding formula was included in four sections of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Congressman Clyburn is also a passionate supporter of historic preservation and restoration programs. His efforts have restored scores of historic buildings and sites on the campuses of historically black colleges and universities. His legislation created the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor and the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, elevated the Congaree National Monument to a National Park, and established the Reconstruction Era National Monument in South Carolina’s Lowcountry.

Congressman Clyburn’s humble beginnings in Sumter, South Carolina as the eldest son of an activist, fundamentalist minister and an independent, civic-minded beautician grounded him securely in family, faith and public service. His memoir, Blessed Experiences: Genuinely Southern, Proudly Black, was published in 2015, and has been described ‎as a primer that should be read by every student interested in pursuing a career in public service.

Jim and his late wife, Emily England Clyburn, met as students at South Carolina State and were married for 58 years. They are the parents of three daughters: Mignon Clyburn, Jennifer Reed, and Angela Clyburn and four grandchildren.