Augustus Freeman (Gus) Hawkins

Congressman Gus Hawkins was the first African American to represent California in Congress and the first Black representative from any western state. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1963 to 1991 (88th-101st Congresses). Before serving in Congress, Hawkins was a member of the California state assembly for 28 years. Hawkins authored more than 300 state and federal laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; the Job Training Partnership Act; and the School Improvement Act. Hawkins also sponsored the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment Act of 1978, which focused on the goals of full employment, growth in production, price stability and a balance of trade and budget. Hawkins was a member of the Joint Economic Committee and served on the Committee on Education and Labor (chair, 99th, 2nd session-101st Congresses), Committee on House Administration (chair, 97th-98th Congresses), Joint Committee on the Library (chair, 97th Congress) and Joint Committee on Printing (chair, 96th and 98th Congresses). He continued his advocacy on such issues as fair housing, fair employment, low-cost housing and disability insurance legislation, and workers’ compensation for domestic workers while serving in Congress. Hawkins earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles.