The Black Belt may have a more unified voice in the Alabama Legislature next year.

Sen. Billy Beasley (D-Clayton) announced the formation of the Black Belt Legislative Caucus Thursday during the Black Belt Commission Infrastructure Committee Meeting at Craig Field. The caucus will include more than 20 legislators from the Alabama House of Representatives and Alabama Senate. Beasley will be the chairman of the caucus. He said representatives or senators that represent the Black Belt would be extended an invitation to join.

Beasley said the main mission of the caucus would be to provide a united voice for the region, with a focus on developing the areas economy, schools and health care system.

“The bottom line is that I care about Alabama and the Black Belt region, and we are going to work to bring it back to what it used to be,” Beasley said. “There is no reason that we have to be last in everything. We have to do everything we can to make sure we have healthy families, healthy children and a healthy workforce.”

Rep. David Colston (D-Hayneville) represents Autauga, Dallas Lowndes and Wilcox counties. Colston said the caucus’ formation is long overdue.

“One of my first questions when I got to Montgomery was why don’t we have a caucus in the Black Belt,” Colston said. “Now that we’ve got one, I’m excited about it.