Washington, D.C. — The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation closed out its 54th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) with the Phoenix Awards Gala, featuring fiery remarks by former Vice President Kamala Harris, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries after a week of panels, grassroots engagement, and calls for action.

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“With your help, 75 million Americans stood with us last year on behalf of a stronger America, Stood with a belief in the promise of America, and today, the CBC, in the tradition of its founders, confronts an unprecedented but not unfamiliar threat to that promise,” Harris said, referring to the 2024 election.

Harris’s appearance this year carried a different tone than in 2024, when she headlined the Phoenix Awards during the heat of the campaign season. This time, she arrived in Washington while on her book tour, giving her a softer spotlight compared with last year’s high-stakes election context. She also accepted the CBCF Board Chair and CBC Body Award. While she is no longer campaigning, her remarks focused on her former opponent and politics. 

“Ronald Reagan was president, and the extreme right wing was attaching the long-term agenda that is being swiftly implemented today, enhanced today by propaganda and misinformation, and I recall they played the long game, working for decades to take over state houses, gerrymander districts, stack the Supreme Court and create the radical blueprint currently being used by this administration,” Harris said. 

She referenced her book 107 Days, discussing how Republicans have long been working toward the policies and strategies they are now pursuing.

“The current president is their vehicle, but the road was paved over decades by a hot and pungent proof Ronald Reagan celebrity, the belligerent discourse of Newt Gingrich, and the nativism of Pat Buchanan. CBC, we have some deep work to do,” Harris said.

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While President Donald Trump and his administration were not mentioned by name by most speakers, caucus members consistently took jabs and made statements alluding to the current administration, including Harris.

“With each day, we are witnessing a president who has lined his own pockets and those of the super rich while he raises tariffs on the backs of working people, cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, ignores science, ends the war on cancer, and deploys the United States military to the streets of America. And let us be clear, we predicted all that,” Harris said.

 “CBC, what I did not predict was the capitulation; the universities, law firms, media corporations, the titans of industry who have been so quick to kneel before a tyrant.” 

Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League and former mayor of New Orleans, pushed back against claims of high crime in D.C. and other urban areas, defending the city amid Trump’s calls for a “federal takeover.”

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“Some people say that the ward eights of America are places of crime, and destruction, and all things negative,” Morial said during the opening press conference. “We’re here because we want the world to see … people in our community striving and thriving.”

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser echoed that message, noting that crime rates have been declining and emphasizing efforts to ensure safety and opportunity for residents.

“Let me say a few things about the real Washington, D.C.. We are 700,000 Americans that live and work here, and each of them has their own story. Some come here to work for the Congress. Others come here for Howard University, like our Vice President and others like me, the born and raised here,” the mayor said. “The real D.C. is faith, beautiful, and strong. In 2025, our city is the fastest-growing in the nation…We see a precipitous decline in violent crime.”

Moore highlighted Maryland’s leadership on education, equity, and infrastructure, emphasizing the state’s accomplishments at a moment when speculation grows about a Larry Hogan gubernatorial run.

“When the President is spending his time condemning our history and banning our books, in the state of Maryland, we are lifting up our history, and I actually signed legislation banning the banning of books. You will not ban books in the state of Maryland,” Moore said. He also touched on the “historic pace” of the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed last year.

“In a time when we have a president who’s playing politics with rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland … I promise you, we will continue to rebuild this bridge at a historic pace, and we will continue to make you proud.” 

Throughout the week, CBCF officials stressed that the challenges facing black Americans must be addressed holistically. “There is not one issue. There are myriad issues that all work together,” CBCF President Nicole Austin-Hillery told the Washington Examiner. 

She reiterated the foundation’s Black Public Policy Playbook as a guide for lawmakers and communities.

The foundation also pledged to boost voter education heading into the midterm cycle. “For us, it doesn’t matter who you vote for,” Austin-Hillery said. “It’s about making sure that every person has an opportunity to engage in our political process.”

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That emphasis on unity comes at a time when the caucus has faced questions about inclusivity. Currently, five black Republicans serve in Congress, yet none are members of the CBC. Florida Rep. Byron Donalds has said he was barred from joining, while caucus leaders insist membership decisions are based on shared priorities and values.

Asked about the absence of black Republicans, Austin-Hillery said the foundation’s mission is rooted in common goals, not party labels. “We welcome everyone to the table who is committed to advancing equity and justice,” she said. “Unity cannot mean uniformity — it means working together on the values that lift our community.”

With a potential government shutdown looming in just a few days, Jeffries highlighted the stakes for black communities and the broader public, stressing the importance of maintaining federal support and avoiding disruptions to critical programs.

“Now, in just a few days, the government may shut down. Our position has been clear. We will meet with anyone at any time and at any place to try to reach a spending agreement that actually meets the needs of our community and the American people, but we will not support a partisan Republican spending bill that continues to conduct the health care of the American people,” Jeffries said.

With tight Senate and House races ahead, both parties are making calculated efforts to appeal to black voters. 

Black voters — particularly women — remain a cornerstone of Democratic coalitions. A Fall 2025 poll of black women voters in America, conducted by the Highland Project in partnership with Cornell Belcher of Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies, found historic levels of dissatisfaction with the country’s direction. 

Polling shows black women continue to express the highest level of loyalty to the party, with more than 85% saying they are likely to back Democratic candidates. Yet younger voters and black men are showing signs of shifting, with Republicans making notable inroads. 

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“A time such as this demands that we win the midterms and enforce checks and balances on this unchecked, incompetent, unhinged president,” Harris said. 

As Harris closed out the evening, she underscored the need for bold action. “We must fight fire with fire.”