[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 15, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE FACE OF POVERTY IN AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 15, 2006

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina exposed 
what America did not want to see. Beyond the tragedy of this natural 
disaster, Katrina shined a spotlight on America's poor and 
disadvantaged. The convenience of disregarding the plight of the poor 
came to an abrupt halt as a result of Katrina and its aftermath. 
Katrina pulled the cover off of what prior reports by the U.S. Census 
Bureau found, which stated for the past four years, the poverty rate 
has steadily increased; which is a reverse trend from 1993 to 2000.
  Katrina also exposed the gross disparities relating to poverty in 
America. According to the Census Bureau 2004 report, the Black poverty 
rate of 24.7 percent is almost twice that of the general population. 
This translates to about 9.4 million African Americans, almost one in-
four living below the poverty line. Consequently, those affected by the 
Katrina devastation were disproportionately Black and poor. Despite the 
rhetoric of conservative pundits who claim that poverty in the Black 
community is due to irresponsibility, statistics show that individuals 
living below the poverty line are hard working citizens who go to work 
everyday. It should be underscored that poverty is a result of a lack 
of income. Americans fall into poverty simply because they do not have 
enough financial resources. So it is plausible that even when people 
are working in the market place they can still fall into poverty. 
Statistics show that one-in-ten African Americans above 16 who were 
poor worked full-time jobs.
  Furthermore, 37 million Americans are living in poverty. Statistics 
in 2004 indicate that 13 million American children lived below the 
poverty line, translating into three-in-seventeen. This was an increase 
of roughly 200,000 from 2003, which means 3,000 children were falling 
into poverty each week. Moreover, African American children under the 
age of 18 consist of 43 percent of all poor African Americans. Senior 
citizens, those 65 and older, have a poverty rate of 23.8 percent. In 
comparison with other counterparts, statistics show that more African 
Americans and Hispanics are in poverty at a higher rate than whites and 
other racial classifications. African American children represent 17 
percent of American children, but they make up 31 percent of all poor 
children in America.

  Conservatives are quick to attribute poverty to dysfunctional family 
structures. However, renowned economist such as William Springs 
suggests that this is a gross over simplification. He contends that 
poverty is the ``result of economy-wide forces and public policy.'' Mr. 
Speaker, I share this analysis, hence, it places the onus on policy 
makers to enact legislation centered on relieving the burden poverty. 
After the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Economic 
Opportunity Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 the Black 
poverty rate decreased to 32.2 percent. During the years of 1993 to 
2000 which were marked by strong fiscal policy the poverty rate for 
African Americans dropped annually.
  Katrina exposed America's weakness, not only in the Federal 
Government's delinquent response, but also relative to our inability to 
address poverty particularly in the minority community. As we consider 
the 2007 fiscal budget, we must see the opportunity to provide 
provisions that alleviate poverty in the Gulf Coast and urban 
communities across the Nation. Tax cuts for the wealthy and the 
slashing of social programs will not suffice.
  Mr. Speaker, a recent article in the ``The Crisis'', entitled Poverty 
in America: The Poor are getting Poorer, by William E. Spriggs captures 
the statistical data and reports that highlight the issue of poverty in 
America, especially the disparities as to race.

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