Biographical Profile for Yvette D. Clarke
| Currently Elected Rep. In Congress District 9, New York |
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Yvette D. Clarke's positions and views on the issues:
Links are only provided where we have information. The first
link is a report of all issues and questions made available to the candidates.
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List of Issues | Biographical | Reasons & Objectives
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General: (political statement of goals, objectives, views, philosophies)
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Yvette Clarke was first elected to the US Congress in November 2006 with 86% of the vote. Prior to being elected to Congress, she represented Central Brooklyn for five years as a New York City Councilwoman. Known in her community for speaking truth to power, she has been called the "authentic voice of Brooklyn." Rep. Clarke sits on the Homeland Security and Small Business Committees, as well as serving as Secretary of the Congressional Black Caucus and Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A champion for her Central Brooklyn community, Rep. Clarke has fought against the Republican majority's attacks on women, immigrants, and labor unions and stood up to preserve essential programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Her priorities for the 112th Congress include:
Standing Up for Working Families: Tired of seeing the privileged get bailed out while working families struggle, Rep. Clarke introduced the Alleviating Income Disparity Act in 2012. This legislation would provide a refundable tax credit based off the income disparity between the top 5% and bottom 5% of income earners, and effectively repeal the Bush tax cuts. She'll also continue to work to make sure student loan rates remain low for all students.
Creating Job Growth through Small Business: In 2011, Rep. Clarke introduced the Expanding Opportunities for Small Business Act. This legislation expands assistance for small businesses seeking procurement contracts, assuring these vital businesses have the tools they need to thrive and expand in a tough economy.
Fighting for Immigration Reform: Rep. Clarke is known as a champion for immigration reform, and bills she has introduced have included H.R. 1007, proving Homeland Security measures can be secure, fair, just and accurate; and H.R. 3297, a bill that would seek to reunite Haitian families separated after the devastating earthquake in 2010. She'll also continue to lobby for passage of the DREAM Act.
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Personal: (gender, age, marital status, spouse's name and age, children's name and
ages, home town, current residence)
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The daughter of successful Jamaican immigrants, Rep. Clarke was born and raised in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn, where she still lives today.
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Education: (times and places of schools, colleges, major, degrees, activities, sports)
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A product of the New York City Public School System, Rep. Clarke received a scholarship to Oberlin College and was a recipient of the prestigious APPAH/Sloan Fellowship in Public Policy and Policy Analysis.
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Profession: (profession and work experience outside politics)
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Prior to her election to the New York City Council, Rep. Clarke served as Director of Business Development for the Bronx Empowerment Zone (BOEDC). As the first director of the Bronx portion of the New York City Empowerment Zone, she administered the $51 million budget that resulted in the revitalization and economic development of the South Bronx.
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Military: (branch, years of service, active duty experience, highest rank, medals,
honors, discharge date and type)
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none
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Civic: (past and present organizations, charities involvement)
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Please see biography.
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Political: (dates and titles of previously held political offices)
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In November 2001, Rep. Clarke was elected to the New York City Council as the representative for the 40th District in Brooklyn. Rep. Clarke succeeded her pioneering mother, former City Councilmember Dr. Una S.T. Clarke, making them the first mother-daughter succession in the history of the New York City Council.
As a member of the council, Rep. Clarke was an advocate for the empowerment of women and minorities. During her tenure, she introduced legislation that resulted in the Council's Minority & Women-Owned Business Empowerment (MWBE) study that confirmed that women and minority-owned businesses are not awarded their fair share of city contracts, forcing New York City to end its system of economic discrimination. As co-chair of the New York Council's Women's Caucus, Clarke secured $9.5 million in funding for organizations that addressed the issues of domestic violence prevention, breast cancer awareness, housing and HIV/AIDS counseling for women.
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Religion: (current and past religious affiliations, beliefs)
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Christian
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Accomplishments: (significant accomplishments, awards, achievements)
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Throughout her tenure in Congress, Rep. Clarke has received an "A" rating from the Drum Major Institute and TheMiddleClass.org, 100% by Peace Action, The Brady Campaign, the ACLU and the AFL-CIO and was named an After-School Hero for her work on education funding and reform. She has received endorsements from the Sierra Club and the New York League of Conservation Voters (where she was one of only 24 members for receive a 100%), as well as from labor unions including UFCW, HTC, SEIU, and the Mason Tenders.
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