The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus released its legislative agenda with a Wednesday press conference at the Capitol, promoting improved literacy and nutrition for children, better access to health care through Medicaid expansion and making sure the entire state’s economic and infrastructure needs are addressed.

“In Mississippi we have been in trouble for years on various issues,” said caucus Chairman Rep. Chris Bell, D-Jackson. “But now we have the opportunity to come together and help all our people … Medicaid expansion, it’s time. Early voting, it’s time. Taking care of our roads and bridges, especially in the Mississippi Delta, it’s time.”

Rep. Otis Anthony of Indianola said, “The issues we are fighting for today do not have a party attached to them. They have people attached to them.”

The caucus agenda includes:

• Promoting literacy and nutrition for children, including advancing reading proficiency in k-8th grades.
• Reforming justice and judicial equity, including overhauling the youth court system, addressing prison conditions and protecting Black judicial districts in redistricting.
• Increasing access to healthcare, including expansion of Medicaid, improving maternal and infant health and tackling the state nursing shortage.
• Opening workforce development pathways, including funding more training programs and creating opportunities in underserved communities.
• Redressing inequities in state spending, including ensuring equitable funding for public schools, universities and hiring of minority contractors.
• Introducing early voting reform, including voter access and ballot initiatives.
• Targeting economic and public service gaps, including more support of minority businesses and improving correctional facilities and addressing vendor disparities.

The caucus includes 53 members of the House and Senate in the 174-member Mississippi Legislature.

Sen. Rod Hickman of Macon said lawmakers this year should focus on criminal justice rehabilitation, “instead of a pipeline to prison.” And he said focusing on the state’s youth is crucial.

“It is our priority that we must ensure that every child in Mississippi has the opportunity to succeed,” Hickman said.