![](media/image1.jpeg){width="1.8333333333333333in"
height="1.7395833333333333in"}*U.S. Congressman*\
**James E. Clyburn** *(SC-6)*\
*Chair, House Democratic Caucus*

News Release

1703 Gervais Street  •  Columbia, SC 29201  •  (803) 799-1100  •
 Contact: Hope Derrick

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\
January 18, 2006\
*

**Congressman Clyburn becomes Chair of the House Democratic Caucus**

(*Washington, DC*) - South Carolina\'s Sixth District Congressman James
E. Clyburn today officially became Chair of the House Democratic
Caucus.  Clyburn was elected to the position in December, when it was
announced the previous Chair Bob Menendez would be appointed to the U.S.
Senate, but took office today when Menendez officially vacated his House
seat. 

"This is a tremendous day for me, my family and the people of South
Carolina," Congressman Clyburn said.  "Thirteen years ago I came to
Washington as South Carolina\'s first African American elected to
Congress since Reconstruction.  This week as we celebrate the life and
legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, the significance of my becoming Chair
is not lost on me."

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Clyburn is the second African American to hold the position of Chair of
the House Democratic Caucus, the third ranking leadership position. 

"I have been honored to deliver a number of speeches over the past week
honoring Dr. King\'s life, and as I often do, I reflected on King\'s
powerful Letter from the Birmingham City Jail in which he responded to a
call from eight white clergy who told him the time was not right for
King to pursue his agenda," Congressman Clyburn said.  "Just as King did
in his response, I question the theory of a 'right time' to do
anything.  That is why as Chair of the Democratic Caucus I will stand up
against this Administration that seem to be asking working Americans to
carry the burden of their-ill fated policies on Iraq, Social Security,
taxes, health care and education.  Where is the justice when there is no
shared sacrifice?"

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Congressman Clyburn\'s first official duty as Chair will come at 2:00 PM
today when he joins other Democratic Leaders in the House and Senate
presenting the "Democratic Declaration: Honest Leadership and Open
Government" event. Clyburn's first full Caucus meeting will be on
Wednesday, February 1, when his replacement as Vice Chair will be
chosen.  The next day, members of the House Democratic Caucus will
convene in Williamsburg, Virginia for their annual Issues Conference
that will be led by Clyburn. 

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Clyburn\'s role as Chair will mean some changes in the staffing of the
House Democratic Caucus office. Here are the new Caucus staff members
and the roles they will be playing:

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**Yelberton (Yebbie) Watkins, Chief of Staff** - Yebbie, a Columbia,
South Carolina native, is a graduate of Duke University and Georgetown
Law School.  He has served as served on Congressman Clyburn\'s staff
since he first came to Washington in 1993.  Yebbie will serve double
duty as Chief of Staff for the Caucus and Congressional offices. 

**Jaime Harrison, Executive Director** - Jaime, an Orangeburg, South
Carolina native, is a graduate of Yale University and Georgetown Law
School.  This former intern to Congressman Clyburn has served on the
Congressional staff since 2003.  Before joining Congressman Clyburn\'s
office, Jaime served as Chief Operations Officer for the national
education based non-profit, College Summit.  At age 29, Jaime will be
one of the youngest and the first African-American to serve as Executive
Director.  He will oversee the day-to-day operations in the Caucus
office.

**Lindy Birch, Director of Outreach** - Lindy, a Florence, South
Carolina native, is a graduate of University of South Carolina and
University of Leicester, England.  She came to Congressman Clyburn\'s
Congressional staff in 1993 after working on his campaign.  She will
work with reaching out to Democratic organizations in and outside of
Washington, DC, and constituency groups like African Americans and
Latinos. 

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**Burns Strider, Policy Director** \-- Burns, a native of Grenadda,
Mississippi, comes to the Caucus office from Leader Pelosi\'s staff. 
Burns has eight years experience working on the Hill, and has worked
closely with Clyburn over the past year in the Congressman\'s capacity
as Chair of the Leader\'s Faith Working Group. Strider has worked in a
freshman Member\'s office, the Democratic Congressional Campaign
Committee and in Leadership. He has a broad understanding and
perspective of the Caucus and Congress. He will oversee the development
of Democratic Caucus issues and policies. 

**Allie Neill, Member Services Director** \-- Allie, a native of Dallas,
Texas, has served in this capacity for the Caucus since 2001.  She
joined the Caucus staff under Martin Frost\'s leadership, and will
continue her duties in organizing the weekly Caucus meetings and serving
as a liaison to Member\'s offices.

**Wendy Hartman, Planning Director** \-- Wendy, a native of Annapolis,
Maryland, has been on the Caucus staff for the past three years. Prior
to coming to the Hill, she served as Vice President Gore\'s Deputy
Director of Scheduling and Advance from 1994-1999. She then joined the
DNC as the White House Liaison, and after the 2000 election served in a
variety of roles at the DNC until moving over to the Democratic Caucus
office.   She will continue her primary duty of planning and
coordinating the annual Democratic Issues Conference and other special
projects.

**Tomica Burke, Staff Assistant** \-- Tomica, a native of Queens, New
York, is a graduate of the University of Virginia, and will remain in
her current position..  She has served as Staff Assistant since joining
the Caucus staff in June 2005.

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The Caucus office is located in 1420 Longworth House Office Building and
can be reached by phone at (202) 226-3210 or by fax at (202) 225-9253. 
For now, media inquiries should be directed to Congressman Clyburn\'s
personal office Communications Director, Hope Derrick, at the office
(803) 799-1100 or by cell (803) 553-1732.

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