Washington, DC – The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) will present a national Town Hall Meeting on the state of the U.S. energy crisis at its 36th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC). The ALC will be held September 6-9, 2006, at the Washington Convention Center. The National Town Hall Meeting, Confronting Crises: Achieving Energy Independence, is scheduled for Thursday, September 7, 2006, at 9:30 a.m.

The town hall discussion will focus on current energy challenges and opportunities confronting America. Panelists will discuss challenges facing American families and communities with regard to home heating needs, gasoline prices, and alternative energy strategies that must be implemented to reach the goal of energy independence. Attendees will also hear about the great environmental and entrepreneurial opportunities our energy transition will create for Americans.

“The conference theme, ‘Changing Course, Confronting Crises, Continuing the Legacy,’ highlights the need to take new approaches in solving problems,” said Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, Co-Chair for the ALC. “Energy costs are out of control. We need to explore existing options and alternative energy sources. We must generate strategies that make buying gas, heating and cooling homes, and meeting other basic energy needs affordable for America’s families.”

Rep. Barbara Lee expressed equal concern. “Americans want to know how we can break our addiction to oil. They’re tired of paying over three dollars a gallon for a tank of gas and they’re tired of empty rhetoric. Americans want real solutions. ”

Panelists include former Secretary of Energy, Governor Bill Richardson; former Secretary of Energy and President of Fisk University, Hazel O’Leary; President of the Apollo Alliance and Chair of the National Wildlife Federation, Jerome Ringo; Former Congressman Joe Kennedy; and representatives from Blacks in Energy. News personality Ed Gordon will moderate.

“It’s going to be an exciting conference. The Co-Chairs have meticulously shaped substantive content for the ALC, and I think conference participants will be pleased with the results,” said Rep. Kendrick B. Meek, CBCF Chair. More than 20,000 people will gather for ALC around the theme, “Changing Course, Confronting Crises, Continuing the Legacy.”

Additional conference highlights include a Welcome Ceremony on Wednesday, September 6, 2006, with keynote Reverend Al Sharpton. Over 50 Issue Forums and Braintrusts will offer timely topics such as protecting pensions and health care benefits, the War in Iraq, and voting rights. Some of this year’s participants include Senator Barack Obama, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Danny Glover, Iyanla Vanzant, Dick Gregory, Grant Hill, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Blair Underwood, Myrlie Evers Williams, Isaiah Washington, and Kweisi Mfume.

The CBCF also plans to acknowledge the historic legacy of the Congressional Black Caucus with the unveiling of AVOICE, a unique, one-of-a-kind online repository for rare political documents, historic speeches, and photographs. The site will feature rarely and never-before-seen private letters and documents from CBC members like Shirley Chisholm and Adam Clayton Powell.

The ALC raises funds for CBCF’s scholarship, fellowship, and internship programs as well as its economic development and public health initiatives. The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is a non-partisan, non-profit educational and research institution established in 1976 to promote collaboration among community and business leaders and organized labor to effect positive and sustainable change in the African-American community and African Diaspora. For registration and more information about the ALC, log on to www.alc2006.org or call 202-263-2800.