Yvette Clarke

Clarke was born in Flatbush, Brooklyn, on November 21, 1964, to Lesley Clarke and former city councilwoman Una Clarke, both immigrants from Jamaica.{{Cite news|url=https://clarke.house.gov/about/biography/|title=Biography - Congresswoman Yvette Clarke|work=Congresswoman Yvette Clarke|access-date=2018-08-04|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-08-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804201532/https://clarke.house.gov/about/biography/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=http://observer.com/2006/12/the-clarke-family/|title=The Clarke Family|date=2006-12-18|work=Observer|access-date=2018-08-04|language=en-US}} She graduated from Edward R. Murrow High School and earned a scholarship to enroll at Oberlin College in Ohio, which she attended from 1982 to 1986.Celeste Katz, New York Daily News, [http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2006/08/yvettes-education.html Daily Politics: Yvette's Education] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104235120/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2006/08/yvettes-education.html|date=January 4, 2014}}, August 23, 2006 While studying at Oberlin, she spent a summer interning in the Washington, D.C. office of Representative Major Owens, where she told Roll Call that she worked on legislative issues involving Caribbean-American trade.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/hoh/clarke-knows-tricks-trade-capitol-hill-intern|title=Clarke Knows the 'Tricks of the Trade' From Her Internship|last1=Gangitano|first1=Alex|date=2018-07-20|work=Roll Call|access-date=2018-08-04|last2=Gangitano|first2=Alex|language=en}}{{cite news|url=http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2013/10/8534884/major-owens-dies-77|title=Major Owens dies at 77|date=October 22, 2013}}

In August 2006, Crain's New York Business and the Daily News reported that Clarke's Oberlin transcripts indicated that she had not graduated, contrary to what her campaign literature claimed.{{cite news |last1=Healy |first1=Patrick |date=August 23, 2006 |title=Yvette Clarke's Oberlin Education |work=New York Times |url=http://empirezone.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/08/23/yvette-clarkes-oberlin-education/?_r=0 |access-date=September 1, 2015}} Clarke initially said she thought she had earned sufficient credits to graduate from Oberlin, then later said she had completed her degree by attending courses at Medgar Evers College. In 2011, Clarke suggested that she planned to finish her degree at Oberlin by completing independent academic projects.Crain's New York Business, [http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20110302/INS/110309978 Clarke Still Seeking Diploma], March 2, 2011{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Tina |date=September 5, 2012 |title=Rep. Yvette Clarke of Brooklyn tells Stephen Colbert the Dutch enslaved blacks in Brooklyn in 1898 |work=New York Daily News |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/history-errors-article-1.1152362 |access-date=September 1, 2015}}

Before entering politics, Clarke worked as a childcare specialist and trained community residents to care for the children of working parents. Later, she served as an assistant to State Senator Velmanette Montgomery of Brooklyn and Assemblywoman Barbara Clark, of Queens. Clarke also worked as director of business development for the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation and was the second director of the Bronx portion of the New York City Empowerment Zone.VoteNY, {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20140103144616/http://vote-ny.org/Intro.aspx?State=NY&Id=nyclarkeyvetted Biography: Yvette D. Clarke]}}, 2012{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/14/nyregion/14yvette.html|title=In Her Mother's Footsteps, and Now in Shirley Chisholm's, Too|last=Hicks|first=Jonathan P.|work=The New York Times |date=14 September 2006 |access-date=2018-08-04|language=en}}

Clarke was elected to the 40th district of the New York City Council in 2001. She succeeded her mother, former City Council member Una S. T. Clarke,{{cite web|url=http://www1.cuny.edu/mu/forum/2010/02/17/congresswoman-yvette-clarke-discusses-federal-job-policy-former-rep-major-owens-reflects-on-the-life-of-shirley-chisholm-on-urban-focus-january-17/|title=CONGRESSWOMAN YVETTE CLARKE DISCUSSES FEDERAL JOB POLICY, FORMER REP. MAJOR OWENS REFLECTS ON THE LIFE OF SHIRLEY CHISHOLM ON URBAN FOCUS|date=February 17, 2010|publisher=CUNY.edu|access-date=September 17, 2013|archive-date=June 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627173553/http://www1.cuny.edu/mu/forum/2010/02/17/congresswoman-yvette-clarke-discusses-federal-job-policy-former-rep-major-owens-reflects-on-the-life-of-shirley-chisholm-on-urban-focus-january-17/|url-status=dead}} who held the seat for more than a decade, making theirs the first mother-to-daughter succession in city council.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ny1.com/nyc/brooklyn/news/2018/02/19/black-history-month-clarkes-profile|title=Brooklyn mother and daughter's political path was a first for city|access-date=2018-08-04|language=en}}

She cosponsored City Council resolutions that opposed the war in Iraq, criticized the federal USA PATRIOT Act, and called for a national moratorium on the death penalty. She was a frequent critic of the Bush administration's policies, and opposed budget cuts by Bush and Congress on several programs addressing women's rights and poverty. She later voted against extending provisions of the Patriot Act after the election of President Barack Obama.{{cite news|url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/C001067/key-votes/page2|title=The U.S. Congress Votes Database|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=December 2, 2012}}

• Committee on Contracts (chair)
• Committee on Education
• Committee on Fire and Criminal Justice Services
• Committee on Health
• Committee on Land Use
• Committee on Planning, Dispositions and Concessions
• Committee on Rules, Privileges and Elections

File:Congresswoman Yvette Clark (D-NY) speaking.JPG

Clarke's district, redrawn from the 11th in 2013, includes Sheepshead Bay, Gerritsen Beach, Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Kensington, Midwood, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Park Slope.

In April 2007, Clarke was the sole member of Congress to oppose a bill to rename the Ellis Island Library after British-born Bob Hope, saying in a statement, "Bob Hope is a great American and a fantastic human being, [but] I see the museum and all aspects of the island to be greater than any one human being."{{cite news|url=http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/30/15/30_15hopeless.html|title=No Hope for Yvette|author=Rizk, Christie|date=2007-04-14|access-date=2008-11-07|newspaper=The Brooklyn Paper}}

On September 29, 2008, Clarke voted in support of HR 3997, the Emergency Economic Stability Act of 2008. The act failed, 205–228. She wrote legislation to improve the process of removing the names of individuals who believe they were wrongly identified as a threat when screened against the No Fly List used by the Transportation Security Administration, which passed 413–3 on February 3, 2009.{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/559/text|title=Text - H.R.559 - 111th Congress (2009-2010): FAST Redress Act of 2009|last=Clarke|first=Yvette|date=2009-02-04|access-date=2018-08-04}} In November 2009 she was one of 54 members of Congress to sign on to a controversial letter to President Obama, urging him to use diplomatic pressure to resolve the blockade affecting Gaza.{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/1.5089810|title=U.S. Lawmakers to Obama: Press Israel to Ease Gaza Siege|date=2010|work=Haaretz|access-date=2018-08-04|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://zoa.org/2010/02/102603-zoa-critical-of-the-54-congressmen-who-signed-letter-to-obama-blaming-israeli-blockade-for-gazas-problems/|title=ZOA Critical Of The 54 Congressmen Who Signed Letter To Obama Blaming Israeli Blockade For Gaza's Problems|work=Zionist Organization of America|access-date=2018-08-04|language=en-us}} On March 25, 2010, she introduced the International Cybercrime Reporting and Cooperation Act – H.R.4962.{{cite web|url=http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h4962/text|title=H.R.4962 – International Cybercrime Reporting and Cooperation Act|date=March 25, 2010|publisher=Open Congress Organization|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228170910/http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h4962/text|archive-date=December 28, 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=September 10, 2012}}

Clarke supported the Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument Preservation Act (H.R. 1501; 113th Congress), a bill that would direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating the Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument in Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn as a unit of the National Park System (NPS).{{cite web|url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/1501|title=H.R. 1501 – Summary|publisher=United States Congress|access-date=May 1, 2014}} Clarke argued the bill was a good idea because "this monument commemorates not only the sacrifices of soldiers in the Revolutionary War who dedicated themselves to the cause of liberty, but a reminder that even in wartime we must protect basic human rights. These thousands of deaths were an atrocity that should never occur again."{{cite web|url=http://clarke.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-clarke-urges-designation-prison-ship-martyrs-monument-as-a|title=Congresswoman Clarke Urges Designation Prison Ship Martyrs Monument as a National Monument|date=April 29, 2014|publisher=Office of Yvette D. Clarke|access-date=May 1, 2014|archive-date=May 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502003833/http://clarke.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-clarke-urges-designation-prison-ship-martyrs-monument-as-a|url-status=dead}}

On September 17, 2013, Clarke introduced the Homeland Security Cybersecurity Boots-on-the-Ground Act (H.R. 3107; 113th Congress), a bill that would require the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to undertake several actions designed to improve the readiness and capacity of DHS's cybersecurity workforce.{{cite web|url=https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/3107|title=H.R. 3107 – Summary|date=29 July 2014|publisher=United States Congress|access-date=July 30, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/hr3107.pdf|title=H.R. 3107 – CBO|publisher=Congressional Budget Office|access-date=July 30, 2014}} DHS would also be required to create a strategy for recruiting and training additional cybersecurity employees.{{cite news|url=http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20140729/CYBER/307290008/House-passes-DHS-cyber-bills?odyssey=nav%7Chead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140805170957/http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20140729/CYBER/307290008/House-passes-DHS-cyber-bills?odyssey=nav%7Chead|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 5, 2014|title=House passes DHS cyber bills|last1=Medici|first1=Andy|date=July 29, 2014|access-date=July 30, 2014|publisher=Federal Times}}

• Committee on Energy and Commerce
• Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
• Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade
• Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (Ranking Member)

• Congressional Black Caucus, Chair{{cite web|url=https://cbc.house.gov/membership/|title=Membership|publisher=Congressional Black Caucus|access-date=7 March 2018}}
• Congressional Caribbean Caucus, Chair
• Congressional Caucus on Multicultural Media, Chair
• Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, Co-chair
• Congressional Caucus on Black Men and Boys, Co-chair
• Congressional Progressive Caucus.{{cite web|url=https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=71§iontree=2,71|title=Caucus Members|publisher=Congressional Progressive Caucus|access-date=30 January 2018}}
• Congressional Arts Caucus{{cite web|url=https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|title=Membership|publisher=Congressional Arts Caucus|access-date=13 March 2018|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140644/https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|url-status=dead}}
• Medicare for All Caucus
• Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment{{cite web|title=Membership|author=|url=https://bush.house.gov/era/about/membership|format=|publisher=Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment|date=|accessdate=17 September 2024}}
• Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans{{cite web|title=Members of the Caucus on U.S. - Türkiye Relations & Turkish Americans|author=|url=https://www.tc-america.org/in-congress/caucus.htm|format=|publisher=Turkish Coalition of America|date=|accessdate=25 March 2025}}

Clarke has said she supports a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.{{Cite news|url=https://clarke.house.gov/congresswoman-clarke-s-statement-hres11/|title=Congresswoman Clarke's Statement on H.Res.11 - Congresswoman Yvette Clarke|date=2017-01-06|work=Congresswoman Yvette Clarke|access-date=2018-08-12|language=en-US}} Some of her stances have subjected her to public criticism by constituents in her district, which is roughly 20% Jewish according to 2010 Census estimates.{{cite news|url=http://crownheights.info/communal-matters/24009/yvette-clarke-takes-step-against-israel-again|title=Yvette Clarke takes Step Against Israel, Again|date=July 3, 2014|access-date=August 31, 2015}}{{Cite web|url=http://pjvoice.org/2014/01/08/jewish-population-by-congressional-district/#.W3BdpthKgWo|title=Jewish Population by Congressional District|website=pjvoice.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-12}} In 2010, Clarke signed two petitions urging Obama to pressure Israel to resolve the Gaza Blockade, which she later retracted.{{cite news|url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new_york/clarke_gets_earful_israel|title=Clarke Gets An Earful On Israel|last1=Dickter|first1=Adam|work=The Jewish Week|access-date=August 31, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304190028/http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new_york/clarke_gets_earful_israel|url-status=dead}} In 2009, she voted against H.R. 867,{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-resolution/867|title=H.Res.867 - 111th Congress (2009-2010): Calling on the President and the Secretary of State to oppose unequivocally any endorsement or further consideration of the "Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict" in multilateral fora.|last=Ileana|first=Ros-Lehtinen|date=2009-11-03|website=www.congress.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-08-12}} which sought to condemn the controversial Goldstone Report{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/world/middleeast/24goldstone.html|title=Israel Completing Rebuttal to Goldstone Report|last=Bronner|first=Ethan|work=The New York Times |date=23 January 2010 |access-date=2018-08-12|language=en}} commissioned by the United Nations.{{Cite news|url=https://clarke.house.gov/congresswoman-yvette-d-clarke-votes-against-h-res-867/|title=Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke Votes Against H. Res. 867 - Congresswoman Yvette Clarke|date=2010-12-21|work=Congresswoman Yvette Clarke|access-date=2018-08-12|language=en-US}} In 2015 Clarke indicated she would vote for the JCPOA, known as the Iran nuclear deal, despite appeals from some of her Jewish constituents and local advocacy groups to vote against it.{{cite news|last1=Berman|first1=Yackov|title=An Open Letter to Congresswoman Yvette Clarke|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-yaacov-behrman/an-open-letter-to-congres_5_b_7907296.html|access-date=August 31, 2015|work=The Huffington Post|date=July 30, 2015}}{{cite news|title=Rep. Clarke Ignores Constituency, Supports Iran Deal|url=http://crownheights.info/communal-matters/498969/rep-clarke-ignores-constituency-supports-iran-deal|access-date=August 31, 2015|work=Crown Heights Info}}{{cite news|title=Locals Reach Out to Rep. Clarke|url=http://www.collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=36563|access-date=August 31, 2015|work=COLLIVE|date=August 4, 2015}}{{cite news|title=Crown Heights Jews Campaign Congresswoman to Block Iran Deal|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/199140#.VeTWMl1Z2Qw|access-date=August 31, 2015|work=Arutz Sheva|date=August 4, 2015}} Explaining her decision, Clarke said in a statement, "Iran is on the verge of creating a nuclear bomb, right now. The JCPOA provides a pathway that holds great potential to forever change this reality."{{Cite news|url=https://clarke.house.gov/congresswoman-clarkes-statement-on-the-iran-nuclear-agreement/|title=Congresswoman Clarke's Statement on the Iran Nuclear Agreement - Congresswoman Yvette Clarke|date=2015-08-31|work=Congresswoman Yvette Clarke|access-date=2018-08-12|language=en-US}} In 2015, Clarke attended Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu's speech before a joint session of Congress after initially expressing uncertainty.{{Cite web|url=http://www.collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=34619&alias=activists-applaud-yvette-clarke|title=Activists Applaud Yvette Clarke|last=Line|first=Chabad On|website=collive|date=13 March 2015|language=en|access-date=2018-08-12}} She voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.{{Cite news |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |date=2023-10-25 |title=House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/house-israel-vote.html |access-date=2023-10-30 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last1=Washington |first1=U. S. Capitol Room H154 |last2=p:225-7000 |first2=DC 20515-6601 |date=2023-10-25 |title=Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023528 |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |language=en}}

Clarke has stated that she is pro-choice.{{Cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/public-statement/761529/us-rep-yvette-d-clarke-marks-roe-v-wade-anniversary#.W46RN5NKgWo|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Vote Smart|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-04}} She has earned high ratings from interest groups such as NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood for her votes against legislation to place restrictions on abortion rights, including the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act of 2011, which would have prohibited federal funds from being used to cover abortions.{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/44741/yvette-clarke#.UKsVZ4dJOAg|title=Yvette Clarke's Voting Records|work=Project Vote Smart|access-date=February 12, 2016}} Her ratings with anti-abortion organizations such as the National Right to Life Committee have been correspondingly low.{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/44741/yvette-clarke#.UKsHS4dJOAh|title=Yvette Clarke's Ratings and Endorsements - The Voter's Self Defense System - Vote Smart|work=Project Vote Smart|access-date=February 12, 2016}}

Clarke has consistently opposed legislation to reduce government spending and cut taxes, including voting against the Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act of 2012, which sought to extend tax cuts established during George W. Bush's administration through the end of 2013. Clarke received a 92% rating from the National Journal for being liberal on economic policy in 2011, while she received a 15% rating from the National Taxpayers Union for her positions on tax and spending in 2011, and a 2% rating from the Citizens Against Government Waste in 2010.

Clarke was among the 46 House Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4029522-republicans-and-democrats-who-bucked-party-leaders-by-voting-no/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601031919/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4029522-republicans-and-democrats-who-bucked-party-leaders-by-voting-no/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 1, 2023|title=Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no|first=Jared|last=Gans|date=May 31, 2023|access-date=June 6, 2023|work=The Hill}}

Clarke has supported efforts to combat climate change and limit fossil fuel consumption.{{Cite news|url=https://clarke.house.gov/paris-talks-must-address-harm-climate-change/|title=Paris Talks Must Address the Harm of Climate Change - Congresswoman Yvette Clarke|date=2015-12-01|work=Congresswoman Yvette Clarke|access-date=2018-09-09|language=en-US}} She has generally opposed legislation that gives priority to economic over conservation interests, such as the Stop the War on Coal Act of 2012 and the Conservation and Economic Growth Act of 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/2578|title=H.R.2578 - 112th Congress (2011-2012): Conservation and Economic Growth Act|date=2012-06-20|website=www.congress.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-09-09}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/3409|title=H.R.3409 - 112th Congress (2011-2012): Stop the War on Coal Act of 2012|date=2012-11-13|website=www.congress.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-09-09}} She has supported legislation that increases conservation efforts and regulation of the energy industry, such as the Offshore Drilling Regulations and Other Energy Law Amendments Act of 2010. In 2011 Clarke received 100% ratings from Environment America, the League of Conservation Voters, and the Sierra Club, the latter on her clean water positions, while she received a 14% rating over the period 2008–2011 from the Global Exchange for her loyalty to the finance, insurance, and real estate lobbies. She was strongly critical of the Trump administration's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/repyvetteclarke/status/1002583228694319105|title=Yvette D. Clarke on Twitter|work=Twitter|access-date=2018-09-09|language=en}}

Clarke has called for immigration reform that would create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants living in the United States and direct resources away from enforcement.{{Cite news|url=https://clarke.house.gov/congresswoman-welcomes-passage-of-dream-act-caribworldnews/|title=Congresswoman Welcomes Passage of DREAM Act - CaribWorldNews - Congresswoman Yvette Clarke|date=2010-12-21|work=Congresswoman Yvette Clarke|access-date=2018-09-09|language=en-US}} In 2010, she voted for the DREAM Act, which passed the House but was blocked in the Senate.{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/12/dream-act-dies-in-senate-046573|title=DREAM Act dies in Senate|work=POLITICO|access-date=2018-09-09|language=en}} Clarke has voted against legislative proposals to constrain immigration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/6136|title=H.R.6136 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018|date=2018-06-27|website=www.congress.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-09-09}} She praised the Obama administration's DACA program and condemned the Trump administration's termination of the program, calling it "cruel and vindictive".{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/oped-protecting-dream-daca-fight-over-america-s-soul-n798986|title=OpEd: Protecting the Dream: DACA is a fight over America's soul|work=NBC News|access-date=2018-09-09|language=en-US}} She has also called for extending the Temporary Protected Status granted to Haitian immigrants seeking refuge after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti,{{Cite news|url=https://clarke.house.gov/4728-2/|title=Clarke Leads Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers to Protect TPS Migrants - Congresswoman Yvette Clarke|date=2017-11-14|work=Congresswoman Yvette Clarke|access-date=2018-09-09|language=en-US}} and for the abolition of ICE.{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/progressive-democrats-introduce-bill-abolish-ice/story?id=56537797|title=Progressive Democrats introduce bill to abolish ICE|date=2018-07-12|website=ABC News|language=en|access-date=2018-09-09}}

In 2023, Clarke was among 56 Democrats to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.{{cite web |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/118-2023/h136 | title=H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023 | date=March 8, 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2023-03-08/house-votes-down-bill-directing-removal-of-troops-from-syria |title=House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria |date=March 8, 2023 |agency=Associated Press}}

On April 10, 2019, Clarke and Senators Ron Wyden and Cory Booker introduced the Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2019, legislation granting additional powers to the Federal Trade Commission in addition to forcing companies to study whether race, gender or other biases influence their technology.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-regulation-algorithms/u-s-lawmakers-propose-bill-to-fight-bias-in-tech-companies-algorithms-idUSKCN1RM2WJ|title=U.S. lawmakers propose bill to fight bias in tech companies' algorithms|date=April 10, 2019|first=Jeffrey|last=Dastin|work=Reuters}} That June, Clarke also introduced H.R. 3230: Deepfakes Accountability Act into the 116th United States Congress.{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/3230|title=H.R.3230 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Defending Each and Every Person from False Appearances by Keeping Exploitation Subject to Accountability Act of 2019|last=Clarke|first=Yvette D.|date=2019-06-28|website=www.congress.gov|access-date=2019-10-16|archive-date=17 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217110329/https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/3230|url-status=live}}

On January 11, 2022, Clarke and Representative Ritchie Torres sent a letter to Jen Easterly, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), requesting more information on efforts to reduce security risks to federal networks through the adoption of multi-factor authentication requirements. The letter argues that broad adoption of multi-factor-authentication is essential to protect the security of federal networks and systems.{{Cite web|url=https://clarke.house.gov/reps-clarke-and-torres-push-for-adoption-of-multi-factor-authentication-to-reduce-federal-security-risks/|title = Reps. Clarke and Torres Push for Adoption of Multi-Factor Authentication to Reduce Federal Security Risks|date = 12 January 2022}}

Clarke introduced H.R. 5586, an updated Deepfakes Accountability Act into the 118th United States Congress on September 20, 2023, in a continuing effort to protect national security from deepfake technology threats, while providing legal recourse to victims of harmful deepfakes.[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/hr5586 H.R. 5586: DEEPFAKES Accountability Act] Govtrack.US accessed August 15, 2024.

On the Colbert Report, in its "Better Know a District" segment in early September 2012, when Stephen Colbert asked Clarke what she would have changed in 1898, the year Brooklyn merged with New York City, if she could go back in time, Clarke answered the abolition of slavery. Colbert replied, "Slavery...Really? I didn't realize there was slavery in Brooklyn in 1898". (Slavery was abolished in New York State in 1827.) Clarke responded, "I'm pretty sure there was", saying the Dutch owned slaves in New York in 1898.{{cite news|url=http://newsone.com/2034297/yvette-clarke-slavery-gaffe-colbert-report|title=Brooklyn Democrat Makes Slavery Gaffe On 'The Colbert Report'|date=September 5, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/09/yvette_clark.php|title=Congresswoman Yvette Clarke On The 1898 Dutch Enslavement Of Brooklyn (That Never Actually Happened)|last=King|first=James|date=September 5, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/history-errors-article-1.1152362|title=Rep. Yvette Clarke of Brooklyn tells Stephen Colbert the Dutch enslaved blacks in Brooklyn in 1898|date=September 5, 2012|location=New York|work=Daily News}} The next day, Clarke was unavailable for comment, and her media representative stated the statements were meant in jest.{{cite news|url=http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2012/09/6536249/yvette-clarkes-spokeswoman-says-colbert-appearance-was-supposed-be-|title=Yvette Clarke's Spokeswoman Says Colbert Appearance Was Supposed Be Funny}}

Clarke endorsed Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and cast a vote for her as a superdelegate at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/238912-2016-hillary-endorsement-list/|title=Hillary racks up endorsements for 2016|first=Meghashyam|last=Mali|newspaper=The Hill |date=15 April 2015}} During the 2016 campaign, Clarke appeared with Clinton at an event at Medgar Evers College.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kingscountypolitics.com/clinton-rocks-crown-heights/|title=Clinton Rocks Crown Heights In Women's Town Hall|website=www.kingscountypolitics.com|date=6 April 2016|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-12}}

Image:Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Laura Richardson, Yvette Clarke.jpg of Ohio (left) and Laura Richardson of California (center)]]

In 2004, Clarke, then a member of the New York City Council, made her first run for Congress for the 11th district against incumbent Major Owens, for whom she had interned in college.{{Cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/boroughs/owens-warning-clarke-article-1.622076|title=OWENS GETS A WARNING FROM CLARKE|work=NY Daily News|access-date=2018-08-07|language=en}} Clarke's run followed an unsuccessful bid by her mother in 2000 against Owens for the same seat.{{Cite news|url=http://www.qchron.com/caribbean-american-involvement-in-new-york-city-politics-on-the/article_2e648cb3-b836-5d56-b11b-b47939bbe855.html|title=Caribbean American Involvement In New York City Politics On The Rise|work=Queens Chronicle|access-date=2018-08-07}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2000/wcon2000.pdf|title=Primary Election Kings 2000|last=New York State Board of Elections}} Clarke lost the 2004 Democratic primary to Owens, who won 45.4% of the vote to her 28.9% in a multi-candidate race.{{cite web|url=http://vote.nyc.ny.us/downloads/pdf/results/2004/primary/p2004kings.pdf|title=Primary Election Kings|last=NYC Board of Elections|work=vote.nyc.ny.us/html/results/2004_previous.shtml|access-date=April 20, 2013}} After the 2004 election, Owens declined to seek reelection, after which Clarke announced her intention to run again in 2006.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/23/nyregion/23brooklyn.html|title=Councilwoman Gains Backing in Congress Race|last=Hicks|first=Jonathan P.|work=The New York Times |date=23 August 2006 |access-date=2018-08-05|language=en}} Owens later called Clarke and her mother's successive political campaigns against him "[a] stab in the back".{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/major-r-owens-former-congressman-dies-at-77/2013/10/22/692d7c00-3b31-11e3-b6a9-da62c264f40e_story.html|title=Major R. Owens, liberal congressman known as 'Rappin' Rep,' dies at 77|newspaper=Washington Post|date=October 22, 2013|first=Adam|last=Bernstein}}{{Cite book|title=The Caribbeanization of Black politics : race, group consciousness, and political participation in America|author=Wright Austin, Sharon D.|date=March 2018|isbn=9781438468099|location=Albany|pages=137|oclc=1019835943}}

{{See also|2006 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#11th District}}

In May 2006, another Caribbean-American candidate, Assemblyman N. Nick Perry, withdrew from the race to succeed Owens, leading some observers to contend that Clarke's chances for winning the race would improve now that another candidate from the same community was no longer competing.

On September 12, 2006, Clarke won the Democratic nomination with a plurality, 31.20%, of the vote in a four-person primary, defeating then-councilman David Yassky, State Senator Carl Andrews, and Major Owens's son, Christopher Owens. In the November 7 general election, Clarke was elected to the House of Representatives with 89% of the vote against Republican nominee Stephen Finger.{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2006/Primary/2006PrimaryCD.pdf|access-date=2023-08-26|title=New York State Board of Elections - Primary Vote Congressional Districts|date=2006-09-12}}{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2006/general/2006_cong.pdf|title=NYS Board of Elections - Congressional Vote|date=2006-11-07|access-date=2023-08-26}}

{{See also|2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 11}}

Clarke was reelected on November 4 by a large margin.

{{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 11}}

Clarke was reelected on November 2 by a large margin.

{{See also|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 9}}

Clarke was challenged in the Democratic primary by Sylvia Kinard, an attorney and ex-wife of former New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Bill Thompson.{{Cite news|url=https://observer.com/2012/03/sylvia-kinard-forms-committee-for-yvette-clarke-challenge/|title=Sylvia Kinard Forms Committee for Yvette Clarke Challenge|date=2012-03-09|work=Observer|access-date=2018-09-07|language=en-US}} Clarke defeated Kinard with 88.3% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2012/Primary/FederalPrimaryOfficialCertifiedResults2012(AllDistricts).pdf|title=Congress Election Returns June 26, 2012|publisher=New York State Board of Elections}} She had $50,000 in her campaign account before the June primary.{{cite web|url=http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20120320/INS/120319885|title=Marty for Congress? Don't fuggedaboutit!|date=19 March 2012|publisher=Crains New York}} In the November general election, Clarke defeated Republican nominee Daniel Cavanagh.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2012/results/states/new-york.html|title=New York|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-09-07}}

{{See also|2014 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 9}}

Clarke was reelected with 89.5% of the vote, defeating Cavanagh again.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2014/new-york-elections|title=New York Election Results|work=The New York Times |access-date=2018-07-16|language=en}}

{{See also|2016 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 9}}

Clarke ran unopposed in the primary and defeated Alan Bellone in the November general election with 92.4% of the vote.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/new-york-house-district-9|title=New York U.S. House 9th District Results: Yvette D. Clarke Wins|access-date=2018-07-16|language=en}}

{{See also|2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 9}}

On June 26, Clarke narrowly defeated primary challenger Adem Bunkeddeko with 51.9% of the vote.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/06/26/us/elections/results-new-york-primary-elections.html|title=New York Primary Election Results|last=Almukhtar|first=Sarah|work=The New York Times |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=2018-07-16|language=en}} She defeated Republican nominee Lutchi Gayot in the November 6 general election.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/politics/campaigns-elections/new-yorks-congressional-primary-election-results-2018.html|title=New York's 2018 congressional primary election results|last=d_evers|date=2018-06-26|work=CSNY|access-date=2018-09-07|language=en}}

{{See also|2020 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 9}}

Clarke faced a four-way Democratic primary against Adem Bunkeddeko, Chaim Deutsch, and former army veteran and Democratic Socialists of America member Isiah James.

• List of African-American United States representatives
• Women in the United States House of Representatives

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• [http://clarke.house.gov/ Congresswoman Yvette Clarke] official U.S. House website
• [https://voteyvette.com/ Yvette Clarke for Congress]

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