Third-time Congressman Al Green greets constituents at a community event.

When U.S. Rep. Al Green took the oath of office for the third time in January, 2009, as the people of Texas’ representative in the 9th Congressional District, it was a watershed moment for the veteran civil rights advocate, who still had the same eye for issues that captured his attention while working with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Namely, fair housing and hiring practices for the poor and minorities were at the top of the list for the “statesman” who has dedicated his life to fighting for those people etched in stone on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, the “tired ... poor ... huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

But this term, the first under the historic leadership of America’s first African-American president, would be an opportunity to effect real change while the 111th Congress, the current meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, takes place. The hallowed halls of Washington D.C, is a long way from the Big Easy, New Orleans, La., where his parents not only taught him the importance of education, but instilled in him the drive and determination to succeed.

It was that same determination that led him to attend Florida A&M University, Tuskegee Institute of Technology and to earn his law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. He worked as Justice of the Peace, Precinct 7, Position 2, where he retired in 2004,  26 years later, but simultaneously, for almost 10 years, he served as president of the Houston Branch of the NAACP where he was known as an unwavering defender of equality and a champion of all people.

These characteristics led to his views on what he believes to be the two most important pieces of legislation currently before President Barack Obama’s first Congress—the Stimulus Bill, more formally known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, passed in 2009, and H.R. 3200, the Healthcare reform bill currently being considered by the House and Senate. Both bills have caused consternation between the Democrats and Republican members of Congress, as well as among everyday American citizens—who are still divided and confused by them.

When President Obama appeared on national television a couple of weeks after his inauguration to make the case for his economic stimulus plan, saying this is not your “run-of-the-mill recession,”  he urged Congress “to act without delay,” pointing out that only the federal government can break the “vicious cycle” gripping the U.S. economy.

Speaking of the Stimulus Plan, Congressman Green stated, “The $787 billion bill, called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, was so important because it addressed the economy that was in a tailspin. Most economists around the world agree that the economy of the world was on a precipice of a great decline. We were headed towards a deep, deep recession and possibly a depression. The Economic Stimulus Package was designed to circumvent that recession and depression. It has, to a certain extent, circumvented it by stopping the bleeding. Hopefully we will now move forward to getting the jobs back on the agenda in regards to the employment rate.”

Green pointed out that Texans benefited from the bill, which scheduled approximately $17 billion to area organizations and residents such as the Houston Independent School District, which will get about 200 million dollars. “For citizens who work, there was a reduction in payroll taxes of about $16 per week. Now that may not seem like a lot to some people, but to many people who are suffering, who are barely making ends meet, $16 per week is a great deal. There was also an increase for those who are on food stamps [by] $24 per month for individuals and $44 per month for a family of two and $63 for a family of three.”

He also pointed out that, through Pell Grants, $186.6 million will help 515,000 students entering college, and farmers were slated to receive $173 million. Childcare for persons with low income, was awarded $200 million and $555 million was sent to Texas for unemployment, although Gov. Rick Perry and the State legislature could not come to terms on that, sending the money back to D.C.  The Texas Workforce Commission announced in June that it has distributed more than $100 million in unemployment funds since February, when a $25 increase to weekly unemployment benefits was provided.

“It should save or create about 269,000 jobs. In my district, we are talking about 8,000 jobs. Let me explain ‘save or create.’ If you are a firefighter, and the city has a tight budget, and they don’t get the funds that we set, you might lose your job. So that means your job is in essence, saved. The money we sent to HISD helps to keep them from cutting back or laying off school teachers,” Green continued.

A child-tax credit benefits about 1.7 million Texas children. That means that parents will be able to take that credit and pay less taxes. The Housing Authority received around $7 to $8 million, the City of Houston Transit was scheduled to receive around $90 million and $2.9 million was earmarked for Community Development Block Grants Harris County. In total, Harris County received $8.2 million in CDBG, homelessness prevention and Head Start funding from the stimulus plan.

Still, many African-Americans feel they are getting the short end of the stick. Most notably, Black contractors are saying that federal funds are not trickling down to them. Green stated, “I think they have a legitimate complaint. We, in the Congress, give the money to the states, the states give it to the various municipalities and various counties. A lot of those entities are very difficult for minority contractors to negotiate with. This stimulus package didn’t change the structure of things at the various levels. It did not eliminate discrimination that was taking place. It didn’t eliminate or change the processes that are in place currently, so I think they have a legitimate complaint which is why we try to work closely with councilpersons, commissioners to do what we can to influence the process, but the process has layers within it, and the Congress person does not dictate to the cities what they can and cannot do. Their elected representatives who work with the cities and the contractors should work within the process.”

Next week, Congressman Green shares how 10 members of the House Committee on Financial Services brought an additional $4 billion to the African-American community and gives insight to healthcare reform.