Whereas the World Bank estimates that about 1,400,000,000
people are living below the international poverty level of $1.25 U.S. per
day;
Whereas the Census Bureau found that 43,600,000 United
States citizens are living in poverty, the highest number in 51 years of record
keeping;
Whereas supplemental factors of poverty include hunger,
malnutrition, lower levels of education, and disease;
Whereas the world’s poor are the most vulnerable to the
impacts of financial crises, climate change, and natural disasters;
Whereas women comprise 70 percent of the world’s poor and
lack access to education, employment, and ownership of property and other
assets;
Whereas a disparity exists between developing and
developed countries and amongst low-income and high-income households, with
more children dying in developing countries and low-income households;
Whereas the World Health Organization finds that
poverty-related diseases are caused by the negative impacts of poverty,
including poor nutrition, lack of proper sanitation and clean water, indoor air
pollution, and low access to health care and education;
Whereas the United States should remain committed to
providing aid and increasing awareness and education of world poverty;
and
Whereas in 1992, the United Nations General Assembly
declared October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of
Poverty
to recognize the struggle of people living in poverty around
the world and provide an opportunity for the poor and their advocates to make
their concerns known internationally: Now, therefore, be it
That the House of Representatives supports
the goals and ideals of the International Day for the Eradication of
Poverty
.