Washington ( CNN ) -- The chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus said Tuesday that two African-American Republicans elected to Congress last week were welcome to join the group , but one of the new members-elect -- Tim Scott of South Carolina -- indicated he would decline . `` I grew up in an environment where we were just very much integrated , and life worked out really well , '' Scott told reporters Tuesday . `` I think the best for America is finding a way to fuse all of our communities together and erase all those lines that separate us . '' Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee of California , who chairs the Black Caucus , said in a statement that membership in the traditionally left-leaning group `` has never been restricted to Democrats . '' `` Should either of the two African-American Republicans recently elected to the House of Representatives request membership in the Congressional Black Caucus , they will be welcomed , '' Lee 's statement said . Rep.-elect Allen West of Florida , the other incoming black Republican , told CNN on Sunday that he intended to join the CBC . Scott , who was tapped by House GOP leaders to serve on the Republican transition team , signaled he might be interested in the new seat at the Republican leadership table created for a representative of the incoming freshman class . `` Certainly I am going to keep my eyes open and see what happens , '' Scott said , adding he would `` get back home tonight and figure out what I 'm going to do by tomorrow or Thursday and starting working towards it or start working for someone else . '' Scott argued his class should wield some real power because of its numbers , adding : `` I think we should play an important role , a prominent role . '' Endorsed by the Tea Party in his campaign , Scott was noncommittal about joining the Congressional Tea Party Caucus , saying : `` I do n't know much about it , but certainly l support the Tea Party platform . '' He downplayed the importance of congressional caucuses , calling them `` simply optional at this point . '' In addition , Scott said he supported Texas Republican Jeb Hensarling over Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann of Minnesota for the No . 4 House GOP leadership post , saying Hensarling has been actively seeking support from new members while he had yet to hear from Bachmann . Another incoming freshman supported by the Tea Party , Republican Rep.-elect Adam Kinzinger of Illinois , also said Tuesday that he was supporting Hensarling and was not planning to join the Tea Party caucus that Bachmann founded earlier this year .
Caucus chair is a traditionally left-leaning group . Congressional Black Caucus said 4 new black Republican would be welcomed . Caucus chair Rep.-elect Tim Scott indicates he would decline . Rep.-elect Allen West says he intends to join the black caucus .