The committee held its third annual awards lunch at the Howard Theatre , a historic black landmark in Washington where the RNC and more than 400 attendees also paid tribute to the late Republican Sen. Edward Brooke , the first African-American popularly elected to the U.S. Senate , who died last month at the age of 95 . As part of a GOP celebration , African-American paid tribute to record-setting members of the Republican National Committee 's . It 's part of Congress effort to build a more welcoming brand for the Congress .
As part of a GOP celebration , African-American paid tribute to record-setting members of the Republican National Committee 's . It 's part of Congress effort to build a more welcoming brand for the Congress .