Al Green

Al Green

Al Green is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 9th district of Texas.

Early Life & Education

Al Green was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. After attending Florida A&M University in 1971, he went on to attend Tuskegee Institute of Technology. In 1974 he earned his law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University, where he later served as an instructor.

Employment

After graduating from law school, Green co-founded and co-managed the law firm of Green, Wilson, Dewberry and Fitch. In 1977, he was elected Justice of the Peace, Precinct 7, Position 2, where he served for 26 years before retiring in 2004.

JStreet PAC endorsement

In 2024 JStreet PAC endorsed Al Green.

Ceasefire Now Resolution

November 17, 2023: A full list of members of Congress who have called for a ceasefire in the one month since the Ceasefire Now Resolution was introduced includes: Representatives Cori Bush (MO-01)*, Rashida Tlaib (MI-12)*, Andre Carson (IN-07)*, Summer Lee (PA-12)*, Delia Ramirez (IL-03)*, Jamaal Bowman (NY-16)*, Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12)*, Chuy Garcia (IL-04)*, Jonathan Jackson (IL-01)*, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14)*, Ilhan Omar (MN-05)*, Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)*, Nydia Velazquez (NY-07)*, Barbara Lee (CA-12)*, Pramila Jayapal (WA-07)*, Greg Casar (TX-35)*, Alma Adams (NC-12)*, Maxwell Frost (FL-10)*, Jim McGovern (MA-02), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Al Green (TX-09), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Don Beyer (VA-08), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Becca Balint (VT), and Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), and Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

Resolution condemning socialism

Fedrary 2, 2023 House Republicans moved a Resolution condemning socialism and certain dictators.

The Resolution began:

Whereas socialist ideology necessitates a concentration of power that has time and time again collapsed into Communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorships;

Whereas socialism has repeatedly led to famine and mass murders, and the killing of over 100,000,000 people worldwide;

Whereas many of the greatest crimes in history were committed by socialist ideologues, including Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Fidel Castro, Pol Pot, Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un, Daniel Ortega, Hugo Chavez, and Nicolás Maduro;

Eighty six Democrats voted no. Forteen voted "present" and six didn't vote.

Representative Al Green voted "Nay".

EMGAGE PAC

Al Green was endorsed by EMGAGE PAC during her 2022 Congressional race.

Humanitarian Needs in Cuba letter

December 16 2021 , House Rules Committee Chair James McGovern (D-MA), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory Meeks (D-NY), House Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations Chair Barbara Lee (D-CA), and House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Energy Chair Bobby Rush (D-IL) led 114 Members of Congress in a letter to President Biden asking him to prioritize the well-being of the Cuban people as they experience the worst economic and humanitarian crisis in recent history...

In the wake of this year’s protests, the members urged the administration to support the Cuban people by suspending U.S. regulations that prevent food, medicine, remittances, and other humanitarian assistance from reaching the Cuban people...

Signatories included Al Green.

Labor Caucus

The Labor Caucus is an official caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2021 members included Al Green .

Peace on Korean Peninsula Act

Congressman Brad Sherman introduced the 'Peace on Korean Peninsula Act' (H.R. 3446) on 5/20/2021 with co-sponsors including Rep. Andy Kim, Rep. Grace Meng, Rep. Ro Khanna, Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Tom Suozzi, Rep. Al Green, and Rep. Marilyn Strickland.

North Korea resolution

As of Oct. 23, 2020 the number of US congressmen who support a resolution calling for the official end of the Korean War and the adoption of a peace treaty with North Korea increased to 51. Al Green, a Democrat from Texas, and Katie Porter, a Democrat from California, became the 50th and 51st members of congress to sign the resolution.

Brad Sherman, a Democrat from California; Joaquin Castro, a Democrat from Texas; and Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York, the nominees for the next chair of the US Committee on Foreign Affairs, have all voiced support for the resolution. That makes it more likely that the resolution will be a major agenda item for the committee, no matter which of the three ends up as its chair.

“While North Korea and the US aren’t currently engaged in dialogue, this kind of progress speaks volumes. It’s notable that more and more people want North Korea-US issues to be tackled through peace and diplomacy rather than through tension and pressure,” said Hyun Lee, US national organizer for Women Cross DMZ.

National Impeachment Summit

Free Speech For People Board Members Stephanie Sanchez, John Bonifaz, Jennifer Taub, and Ben Binswanger with Congressman Al Green in his office on Capitol Hill.

Free Speech For People Board Members Stephanie Sanchez, John Bonifaz, Jennifer Taub, and Ben Binswanger with Congressman Al Green in his office on Capitol Hill for the National Impeachment Summit. Congressman Al Green "was also among the featured speakers at the press conference, speaking about why Congress must start impeachment proceedings now."

NAACP

Al Green served as president of the Houston Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for nearly ten years. Under his leadership, the organization increased membership from 500 to 3,500 and the staff from one to twenty.

Black and Brown Coalition

Al Green co-founded the Black and Brown Coalition with Judge Armando Rodriguez. This organization brings together Houston's African American and Hispanic communities to work on issues of common interest.

Fair share

Green also created the Houston Fair Share Program, which encourages corporations to join with minority firms in joint ventures.

Marching with Justice for Janitors

Al Green with Justice for Janitors, 2006

Green has been a strong supporter of SEIU's Justice for Janitors campaign.

At at June 19 hearing of the House Financial Services Committee regarding JP Morgan's recent massive banking losses, Rep. Al Green (D-TX) secured a commitment from CEO Jamie Dimon to meet with him to discuss the issue of poverty wages paid to janitors who clean his company's office buildings in Houston.

"The average janitor in Houston is making less than the poverty level," Representative Green explained. "I want to meet with you about something I call, 'too small to live off.'"

Voted against cutting funding for ACORN

In September 2009, following the lead of their Senate colleagues, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to cut off funds to ACORN. the vote was 345-75. All of the 75 were Democrats, and included Al Green.

Houston "progressives"

Texas Congressmembers Al Green and Sheila Jackson-Lee lead a march of 300 supporters through downtown Houston in March 2007

According to James Thompson of the Communist Party USA paper People's World;

Houston also has a strong union movement which is very progressive and is active in electoral politics. The city's three Congress people Al Green, Gene Green and Sheila Jackson-Lee are at the forefront of the progressive struggle in the House of Representatives.

Healthcare rally

In July 2009, a spirited rally was held recently at the Harris County AFL-CIO headquarters in Houston to support health care reform. The effort was called by Organizing for America which is the successor to Obama for America.

Participants were treated to rousing speeches from local elected officials who support health care reform, including U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, Carol Alvarado, Texas State Senator, U.S. Rep. Al Green, and Jolanda Jones, Houston City Councilperson.

Congressman Al Green praised organized labor and pointed out that labor is responsible for many of the benefits that many working people enjoy today, including the 40-hour work week, pension plans, minimum wages, vacation, sick leave, and medical leave. He noted that organized labor has supported all working people and that working people need to support the Employee Free Choice Act.

Congressperson Green reminded the crowd that 47 million Americans are without health care. He stated that the U.S. has the most expensive “sickness care system” in the world. The U.S. spends 50 percent more than any other industrialized nation in the world on health care.

Meeting with radicals

Rev. James Caldwell, Rep. Al Green

Rev. James Caldwell (third from left) at a 2012 meeting which included Texas Organizing Project members, Tennessee Communist Party USA member Dennis Laumann, fourth from left, and Rep. Al Green (9th from left) and Sissy Farenthold, 11th from left.

Congressional Black Caucus

In 2011 Al Green was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. The CBC is an organization representing the black members of the United States Congress. Membership is exclusive to blacks.

Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

In May 2013, Al Green was listed as a member the Executive Board of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Meeting ARA

Gene Lantz, back left

When 500 retirees convened in Washington DC, Setember 2011, for the Alliance for Retired Americans legislative conference, nine Texans were among them. Tony Padilla and Emmett Sheppard came from Central Texas; Melva White, Emma Stewart and Eunice Parrish came from Houston; and North Texas contributed Sarah Carothers, Bob Felzke, Mary Felzke, and Communist Party USA member Gene Lantz.

Seven of the Texans were able to participate in an afternoon of visiting Congresspeople on Capitol Hill on September 8th. Tony Padilla's vast experience in these visits was best utilized by letting him go on his own, but six others were led by Emmett Sheppard through several offices. They visited Congressman Jeb Hensarling, Congressman Kenny Marchant, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Congressman Lamar Smith, and Congressman Al Green. Mr Green, a longtime friend of Sheppard, "was especially hospitable".

ARA endorsement, 2012

The Alliance for Retired Americans endorsed Al Green in 2012.

ARA PAF endorsement, 2014

The Alliance for Retired Americans Political Action Fund endorsed Al Green in 2014.

Supporting janitors strike

In a June 2012 strike SEIU janitors in Houston received much support from the local progressive, as well as from their fellow janitors across the U.S. According to Houston Communist Party USA activist Fabian Sneevliet, at a rally on June 12, Texas Rep. Al Green, D., gave an inspirational speech in support of the striking workers. At this rally, Richard Shaw, head of the Texas AFL-CIO, was there in solidarity with the janitors, as well as the Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston.

Sudan protest

March 16, 2012, Washington, DC: Today at the Sudanese Embassy, 2210 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, TransAfrica Forum President Nicole Lee joined actor and activist George Clooney who just returned from a trip to Sudan and NAACP President Benjamin Jealous, human rights advocate Martin Luther King III and Representative Al Green to demand immediate action to stop Sudan’s use of food as a weapon. All were arrested.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir is blocking food and humanitarian aid from reaching half a million people in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile regions where they are at grave risk of starvation.

Hundreds of activists are demonstrating at the Sudanese Embassy this morning starting at 10am

Also at the protest were Tom Andrews, President, United to End Genocide, Nick Clooney, Journalist, Bishop Andudu Adam Elnail, Anglican Bishop of Kadugli, South Kordofan, Rabbi Steve Gutow, President, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Fred Kramer, Executive Director, Jewish World Watch, Congressman Jim McGovern, Congressman James Moran, Dr. E. Faye Williams, national chair of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc., Rabbi David Saperstein, Dick Gregory, and Rep. John Olver.

Lame Duck Session Agenda of Jobs

On Thursday, November 9, 2012, at the Bob Casey Federal Courthouse in Houston, TX, Congressman Al Green participated in the Post-Election News Conference on the Lame Duck Session Agenda of Jobs. He was joined at the news conference by representatives from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), AFL-CIO, Texas Organizing Project, Good Jobs Great Houston, Houston Organization of Municipal Employees, Congressman Gene Green, and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

Congressman Al Green spoke on the importance of maintaining safety net programs as well as investments in infrastructure important to creating jobs in the Greater Houston Area. During the news conference, union activists also praised Congressman Al Green’s tireless advocacy for his community in Congress.

PDA contact

In 2013 Progressive Democrats of America assigned activists to deliver their material to almost every US Congressman and several Senators. Tim Potts, was assigned as contact for Rep. Green.In June it was Darlene Woodring.

Honorary Board Asian American Action Fund

Circa 2013, Al Green served on the Honorary Board of the Asian American Action Fund;

Immigration rally arrest

More than 20,000 people - including thousands of unionists -- who marched down the Washington, D.C., Mall on Oct. 8, 2013, to demand the U.S. House immediately pass comprehensive immigration reform. And 200, including 90 union leaders and union members and eight members of the House of Representatives were arrested when, in an act of civil disobedience, they blocked a street in front of the Capitol.

Arrestees included Lisa Bergmann, SEIU 1199 member Delphine Clyburn and activist Joelle Fishman, both also from Connecticut, Communications Workers Secretary-Treasurer Annie Hall and Political Director Yvette Herrera, The Newspaper Guild's president, Bernie Lunzer, and Paul Booth, the top assistant to AFSCME's president. Among the nation's top labor leaders also taken into custody were AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre, AFT President Randi Weingarten, Unite Here President D. Taylor and Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.

Among the lawmakers arrested were Reps.Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), John Lewis (D-Ga.), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Joseph Crowley (D - N.Y.), Al Green (D-Texas), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.).

Unions, led by contingents from the Service Employees and their Local 32BJ, the Laborers and Unite Here, contributed a large share of the demonstrators. Other unions represented included AFSCME, the Communications Workers/TNG, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, AFT and the United Farm Workers.

"Hands up"

Four Democrats took to the House floor December 23, 2014, to display the “hands up, don’t shoot” gesture that has come to be symbolic of the Ferguson protests.

Expressing solidarity Monday night with Michael Brown, the young man shot and killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo., were Reps. Hakeem Jeffries, Yvette Clarke, Al Green and Sheila Jackson-Lee.

Jeffries, called the gesture and chant “a rallying cry of people all across America who are fed up with police violence.”

TOP connections

Texas Organizing Project February 7, 2015.

Right now, TOP members are meeting with Reps. Luis Gutierrez and Al Green, talking about how to protect President Obama's executive action on immigration and get people ready for enrollment in May. Join us today at 2 p.m. at Lindale Assembly of God, 503 Reid, Houston, TX, 77022 for a rally with these congressmen. See you there!

February 2016 rally

Al Green with Jules Ray Winfield.

2018 rally

Condemning Criticism of Islam legislation

On December 17, 2015, Rep. Don Beyer, Jr. introduced legislation condemning "violence, bigotry, and hateful rhetoric towards Muslims in the United States." The legislation is based on unsourced claims that there is a "rise of hateful and anti-Muslim speech, violence, and cultural ignorance," and a "disproportionate targeting" of "Muslim women who wear hijabs, headscarves, or other religious articles of clothing...because of their religious clothing, articles, or observances." The resolution, H.Res.569 - Condemning violence, bigotry, and hateful rhetoric towards Muslims in the United States

The legislation was cosponsored by Rep. Michael Honda, Rep. Keith Ellison, Rep. Joseph Crowley, Rep. Andre Carson, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Betty McCollum, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Rep. Dan Kildee, Rep. Loretta Sanchez, Rep. Charles Rangel, Rep. Scott Peters, Rep. Brad Ashford, Rep. Alan Grayson, Rep. Mark Takai, Rep. Brian Higgins, Rep. William Keating, Rep. Raul Grijalva, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Rep. G.K. Butterfield, Rep. Gerry Connolly, Rep. Ruben Gallego, Rep. Cheri Bustos, Rep. John Delaney, Rep. Kathy Castor, Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Rep. Michael Quigley, Rep. Elizabeth Esty, Rep. Joseph Kennedy III, Rep. Robin Kelly, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Rep. Grace Meng, Rep. Al Green, Rep. Katherine Clark, Rep. Adam Schiff, Rep. Alcee Hastings, Rep. Sam Farr, Rep. Frank Pallone, Rep. Jim McDermott, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Donna Edwards, Rep. Robert Brady, Rep. Frederica Wilson, Rep. Michael Doyle, Rep. Albio Sires, Rep. Suzan DelBene, Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Jared Polis, Rep. David Loebsack, Rep. Bill Pascrell, Rep. Debbie Dingell, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Steve Cohen, Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, Rep. John Yarmuth, Rep. Niki Tsongas, Rep. Jim Langevin, Rep. Mark Pocan, Rep. John Conyers, Jr., Rep. Mark Takano, Rep. Tim Ryan, Rep. Jose Serrano, Rep. Hank Johnson, Rep. Paul Tonko, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Lois Capps, Rep. David Price, Rep. Doris Matsui, Rep. Gwen Moore, Rep. Denny Heck, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Rep. John Carney, Rep. Xavier Becerra, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Rep. John B. Larson, Rep. Dina Titus, Rep. Peter Welch, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Rep. Jim Himes, Rep. Matt Cartwright.

2016 Cuba trip

Representative Al Green was part of President Barack Obama's March 2016 delegation to Cuba.

Ant-Trump rally

The Communist Party USA is one of over 500 partner organizations of the Women’s March that have joined together around eight “unity principles” for ending violence, and for reproductive rights, LGBTQIA rights, worker’s rights, civil rights, disability rights, immigrant rights and environmental justice.

Across the country CPUSA members were part of the massive marches and rallies from the nation’s capitol to large cities and small towns.

The rally in Houston, Texas was organized in ten days, led by the League of Women Voters. It was the largest in the city’s history. Houston

“Houston loved our banner!” said Alvaro Rodriguez. Houston Mayor Silvester Turner, and Congressman Al Green who boycotted the inauguration were among the speakers along with the many organizations who sponsored and spoke.

Impeaching Trump

A group of six Democratic House members introduced articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump Wednesday November 15, 2017, claiming the president has violated federal law, the public trust and should be charged with high crimes and misdemeanors.

Democratic Reps. Steve Cohen of Tennessee, Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, Al Green of Texas and Adriano Espaillat of New York introduced five articles of impeachment at a press conference at the Capitol Wednesday. The articles have two more co-sponsors: Reps. Marcia Fudge of Ohio and John Yarmuth of Kentucky.

The congressmen list a number of charges against the president, including: obstruction of justice, a violation of the Constitution’s foreign emoluments clause, a violation of the Constitution’s domestic emoluments clause, undermining the federal judiciary process and undermining the press.

The articles focus primarily on Trump’s handing of the termination of former FBI Director James Comey, and potential conflicts of interest with Trump’s businesses and properties while he’s served as president.

AAPI Mobilization to demand a CLEAN DREAM ACT

Al Green, Tulsi Gabbard, Judy Chu, and Raja Krishnamoorthi

South Asian Americans Leading Together November 27, 2017.

On Nov 15 and 16, SAALT along with NCAPA, AAJC, APALA, NAKASEC and other national partners rallied on Capitol Hill to press for the passage of a clean, bicameral Dream Act and Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Over 120 Asian American and Pacific Islander undocumented youth and allies, including two young South Asian DREAMers brought in by SAALT, hosted a press conference, rally, and individual meetings with House and Senate leadership. This included Representative Judy Chu, Representative Luis Gutierrez Representative Ro Khanna, Senator Dick Durbin, and Senator Dianne Feinstein, among many others. The young leaders demanded a clean DREAM Act that doesn’t compromise the future of other immigrants or negatively impact our immigration system.

Attending the rally were Al Green, Tulsi Gabbard, Judy Chu, Pramila Jayapal, and Raja Krishnamoorthi.

Medicare For All Congressional Caucus founders

In August 2018 Medicare For All Congressional Caucus founding members included Representative Al Green.

Medicare for All Act

In February 2019 Rep. Pramila Jayapal introduced H.R.1384 - Medicare for All Act of 2019. By May 29 she had 110 co-sponsors including Rep. Al Green.

Staff

The following have worked as staff members for Al Green:

• Debbie Aledo-Simpson
• Antonio Aleman
• Keiana Barrett
• Revlon Belle
• Laura Brown
• Cynthia Marie Buggage
• Samantha Burch
• Ryan Caldwell
• Gloria Si-Chun Chan
• Chung-Ching Chen (Alice)
• Ernest Cowan
• Adria Crutchfield
• Kevin Dancy
• Myra Lynette Dandridge
• Lucinda Daniels
• Kevin Lee Ducoff
• Cardrenia Ellis
• Jacqueline Arlinda Ellis
• Carol Ditta Ertel
• Ashley Etienne
• John Gibbs
• Brittani Gordon
• Ashlea Graves
• George Greenfield
• Brandon Greer
• Lisa Marsh Hallford
• Antonio Harrison (Tony)
• Julie Hart
• Deidra Hines
• Clarence Holliday
• Leteisha Hunt
• Deric Jackson
• Vanessa Jones
• John Jones
• Jean Kim
• Catherine Le
• Pete Leal
• Joe Leonard, Jr.
• Dawn Lin
• Rosemary Ann Manesis
• Jessica Swafford Marcella
• Daniel Mauer
• Renee Mayo
• Sam Merchant
• Brett Merfish
• Alvaro Ortiz
• Gregg Orton
• John Jioni Palmer
• Latrice S. Powell
• Paul Puente
• Oscar Ramirez
• Syed Bobby Refaie
• Rachael Rodriguez
• Amena Ross
• Susie Saavedra
• Irene Schwoeffermann
• Thomas Servello
• Ebony Simpson
• Sabrina Simpson
• Crystal Spearman
• Bessie Swindle
• Jasmine Taylor
• Shashrina Thomas
• Cora Thompson
• Gilbert Thompson
• Anesha Truesdale
• Victoria Tung
• Kimbal Urrutia
• Sahar Wali
• Whitney Warrick
• Crystal Webster
• Jeanne Patrice Willoughby

Awards

Al Green has received the following awards:

• Texas Black Democrats’ Profiles of Courage Award, 2007
• AFL-CIO MLK Drum Major Award for Service, 2007
• Ebony Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Black People, 2006
• NAACP Fort Bend Branch Mickey Leland Humanitarian Award, 2006

External links

• Green's website with the House of Representatives

References

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