[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 67 (Thursday, May 19, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S5539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KENNEDY:
  S. 1084. A bill to eliminate child poverty, and for other purposes; 
read the first time.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is shameful that in the richest and 
most powerful Nation on earth, nearly a fifth of all children--nearly 
13 million--live in poverty. That is why I am introducing the End Child 
Poverty Act to address this fundamental moral issue. It will set a 
national goal to reduce child poverty by half within a decade, and to 
eliminate it entirely as soon as possible after that.
  The effect of child poverty is far reaching. Children in poverty are 
often malnourished. They have weaker immune systems and are more 
vulnerable to infections and illness. Poor children also suffer in 
school. They lack vital nutrition necessary for healthy brain 
development. They have trouble concentrating in class. They often 
attend schools that have the least resources. Their families move 
frequently, so their school attendance is low. Overcrowding, utility 
shutoffs, and poor heating interfere with homework.
  The End Child Poverty Act would commit the U.S. to ending these 
horrors of children growing up in such dire conditions. The bill would 
establish a Child Poverty Elimination Board to make recommendations to 
the President on how best to meet this commitment to children. It would 
offset the cost with a one percent surtax on income over $1 million to 
be invested in a Child Poverty Elimination Fund.
  We must begin with this moral vision, just as we did with America's 
seniors. The elderly were once the poorest in society. But in 1935, we 
made a commitment that growing old shouldn't mean growing poor. We 
enacted Social Security and later Medicare, and now the elderly in 
America are significantly better off. The End Child Poverty Act is a 
vital step to give comparable security to America's children.
  It's time for America to make a real commitment, and give real hope, 
real opportunity and real fairness to children and families mired in 
poverty in communities in all parts of our country.
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