Lafayette, LA – Congressman-elect Cleo Fields recently visited St. Landry Parish, where he outlined his key priorities for Louisiana’s newly redrawn 6th Congressional District, which stretches from Baton Rouge to Shreveport. Fields, who is set to take office on January 3rd, shared his vision for tackling pressing issues such as raising the federal minimum wage and expanding access to early childhood education.
Fields, a former U.S. Congressman who served from 1993 to 1997, has long been a fixture in Louisiana politics. He expressed optimism about returning to Washington, D.C., despite the district’s complex legal history. The newly drawn 6th District is the result of a years-long legal battle and is now a majority-Black district, which Fields believes will better reflect the diverse communities he seeks to represent.
“This is in the courts now, but that’s nothing new for me,” Fields remarked during his visit. “Thirty-two years ago, when I was first elected to Congress, the district was challenged. Anytime there’s a second minority-majority district, the district is always challenged.”
Fields’ return to Congress comes at a time when the district—and the nation—faces significant economic and social challenges. He has made it clear that his top priority will be addressing economic inequality, particularly through raising the federal minimum wage. Fields emphasized that many hardworking Americans continue to struggle financially despite putting in long hours on the job.
“We’ve got too many people working hard every single day of their lives, and at the end of the day, they’re still poor,” Fields said. “It’s not because they’re lazy—it’s because we’re not paying them for the work they do.”
Fields, a longtime advocate for economic justice, has been vocal in his support for increasing the minimum wage, an issue he believes has been ignored for too long. He argues that a wage increase would not only provide relief for workers but also stimulate the economy by increasing the purchasing power of millions of Americans.
Another area of focus for Fields is expanding access to early childhood education, which he sees as a crucial investment in both individual futures and the broader community. Fields believes that providing children with educational opportunities from a young age can help address a range of societal issues, from poverty to crime.
“If we give kids an opportunity earlier in life, we can avoid the problems they face later,” Fields explained. “We can reduce crime and save money by investing in early childhood education.”
As part of his efforts, Fields is advocating for an increase in the number of available Head Start slots nationwide. Head Start is a federal program that provides free early childhood education to low-income children, and Fields hopes to expand the program’s reach to ensure more children have access to quality early learning experiences.
Fields’ vision for the district includes policies aimed at improving the lives of working families and creating a more equitable future for Louisiana residents. As he prepares to take office, the congressman-elect is focused on building momentum for these initiatives and ensuring that the people of Louisiana’s 6th District have access to the resources they need to thrive.
“I’m excited to serve again,” Fields said. “What’s important to me from day one is ensuring that we start offering quality services to the people of this district.”
With a deep understanding of the challenges facing his constituents, Fields is ready to tackle the work ahead as he returns to Congress with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to his community.