Rep. Bobby Rush Bobby Lee RushCongress should investigate OAS actions in Bolivia Rep. Bobby Rush introduces legislation focused on addressing racism, lack of diversity in the federal government House Democrat introduces bill to replace Confederate monuments nationwide MORE (D-Ill.) on Tuesday endorsed former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg Michael BloombergTop Democratic super PAC launches Florida ad blitz after Bloomberg donation The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Latest with the COVID-19 relief bill negotiations The Memo: 2020 is all about winning Florida MORE for president, Bloomberg’s campaign announced, becoming the fourth House lawmaker to endorse him.

Rush, who had endorsed Sen. Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump and Biden vie for Minnesota | Early voting begins in four states | Blue state GOP governors back Susan Collins Kamala Harris: Black Americans have been 'disproportionately harmed' by Trump Biden town hall draws 3.3 million viewers for CNN MORE (D-Calif.) before her exit from the race early last month, said he had been contacted by former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenSenate Republicans face tough decision on replacing Ginsburg What Senate Republicans have said about election-year Supreme Court vacancies Biden says Ginsburg successor should be picked by candidate who wins on Nov. 3 MORE and Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenBiden's fiscal program: What is the likely market impact? Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon MORE’s (D-Mass.) campaigns before he decided to endorse Bloomberg.

“He alone, among the current Democratic candidates, has been the clearest, the most focused, and the most reasonable voice for addressing the depressed state of the African-American economy,” Rush said of Bloomberg in a statement. “His Greenwood Initiative is not only inspirational, it's practical and it's doable.”

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Bloomberg announced the Greenwood Initiative — his plan to address economic disparities among African Americans — on Sunday in Tulsa, Okla., the site of a racist riot in 1921 that destroyed the eponymous black neighborhood, one of the most prosperous African American communities in the U.S. at the time.

The Bloomberg campaign on Tuesday also announced that Rush will serve as its national co-chair.

“Congressman Bobby Rush has dedicated his life to building a more open, inclusive, equitable, just and prosperous America -- as a civil rights activist, pastor, and leader in Congress, where he has been a force for change on issues we both feel passionately about, including health care, gun violence, and poverty," Bloomberg said.

Rush is the first African American House member to endorse Bloomberg, with Reps. Harley Rouda Harley Edwin RoudaUS Chamber of Commerce set to endorse 23 House freshman Democrats OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Watchdog to weigh probe of Trump advancements on Pebble Mine | Interior finalizes public lands HQ move out West over congressional objections | EPA to issue methane rollback: report Watchdog to weigh probe of Trump administration advancements of Pebble Mine MORE (D-Calif.), Stephanie Murphy Stephanie MurphyDemocrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise Bank lobbying group launches ad backing Collins reelection bid House Democrats call on State Department for information on Uighur prisoner Ekpar Asat MORE (D-Fla.) and Max Rose Max RoseLawmakers fear voter backlash over failure to reach COVID-19 relief deal The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep Navy cancels training flight over NYC on 9/11 after criticism MORE (D-N.Y.) also endorsing his White House bid.

Bloomberg has faced scrutiny over New York City's controversial stop-and-frisk policy, which disproportionately affected African American and Latino residents. Bloomberg apologized for the policy shortly after kicking off his campaign in November.

Despite defending the policy before he ran for president, the former mayor has emphasized racial justice issues on the campaign trail, saying in a recent speech “My story might have turned out very differently if I had been black, and … more black Americans of my generation would have ended up with far more wealth, had they been white.”