[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 26, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H350-H353]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1530
POVERTY IN AMERICA AWARENESS MONTH
Mr. McDERMOTT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the resolution (H. Res. 1024) expressing
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support for designation of January as Poverty in America Awareness
Month.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1024
Whereas, in 2008, the Census Bureau found that the number
of people living in poverty has jumped by nearly 2,600,000 to
39,800,000, the highest number since 1960;
Whereas that same report found that the percentage of
people living in poverty, 13.2 percent, rose to the highest
level since 1997;
Whereas, in 2008, the number of children who lived in
poverty increased by 744,000 to 14,000,000;
Whereas the share of people in the United States who have
incomes that fall below half of the Federal poverty line
reached 5.7 percent, or 17,100,000 people, its highest level
since 1994;
Whereas the next Census report on poverty will likely
illustrate higher levels of poverty as the report will
reflect data from 2009, a year in which the economy
experienced substantial job loss and historic levels of long-
term unemployment, leading some experts to project that the
overall poverty rate may increase by 1.5 percentage points
and the percentage of children living in poverty may increase
by 6 percentage points in the next report;
Whereas, between 1989 and 2000, the overall poverty rate
declined by 1.5 percentage points and child poverty decreased
by 3.4 percentage points, those achievements have been nearly
reversed as the overall poverty rate increased by 1.9
percentage points and child poverty increased by 2.8
percentage points from 2000 to 2008;
Whereas there is broad consensus among researchers and
policy experts that the Federal poverty measure is outdated
and inadequate in determining the depth and extent of poverty
in the United States;
Whereas rising levels of poverty and economic hardship have
a severe impact on the overall well-being of children in the
Nation;
Whereas the U.S. Census Bureau and other organizations have
highlighted the unmet needs that existed for some of the most
vulnerable families prior to the recession;
Whereas while the Federal Government has provided critical
assistance to needy individuals and families in their time of
need, more can and should be done to strengthen the Nation's
safety-net programs, and other programs investing in
communities and families to ensure that all needy people in
the United States have access to the support services for
which they are eligible;
Whereas, during the present economic downturn, Congress
should do more to help individuals and families rise out of
poverty and maintain economic stability through the use of a
variety of programs promoting education and training,
childcare assistance, housing security, and related services;
and
Whereas it would be appropriate to designate the month of
January 2010 as Poverty in America Awareness Month: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That--
(1) the House of Representatives--
(A) supports the designation of Poverty in America
Awareness Month; and
(B) recognizes the important contributions of those
individuals and organizations that have made a commitment to
providing critical support and services to needy individuals
and families; and
(2) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
(A) eradicating poverty in the United States should be the
goal for all people in the United States, including all
levels of government;
(B) the severe economic downturn has highlighted the need
to ensure that the Nation's most vulnerable individuals and
families are able to meet their most fundamental needs during
a time of financial crisis; and
(C) Congress should recommit itself to helping individuals
and families facing economic hardship receive the assistance
they need and deserve in moving towards greater economic
security through programs under Title IV of the Social
Security Act and other related programs.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Washington (Mr. McDermott) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny
Brown-Waite) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
General Leave
Mr. McDERMOTT. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 1024.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Washington?
There was no objection.
Mr. McDERMOTT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise today in support of recognizing the designation of January as
``Poverty in America Awareness Month.''
In 2008, there were nearly 40 million Americans living in poverty,
including one in every five children. There were also more than 49
million Americans living in households that the USDA calls ``food
insecure,'' which is really just a technical way to say that those 49
million Americans--nearly one out of every four children--had
experienced hunger. While poverty affects every segment of our
population, these figures are drastically higher for children in
single-parent families and in black and Latino households.
At the same time, a recent report showed that the top 1 percent of
the richest Americans now hold the greatest proportion of our Nation's
wealth since 1928. For the wealthiest Nation in the world, this is
completely unacceptable, and we must readjust our priorities. In fact,
the way we measure poverty is badly outdated.
The current poverty threshold is calculated by taking the cost of a
minimal diet in 1955 and multiplying that number by 3 and then
adjusting this amount for inflation. That method may have made some
sense when the measure was created in the 1960s because the cost of
food actually made up about one-third of a family's average
expenditure, but today, families only spend about one-seventh of their
income on food, and our current measure fails to capture the costs of
basic necessities such as clothing, utilities, and shelter.
What we define as poverty no longer reflects at all what it really
means to be poor in this country. Using our current method of measuring
poverty, we don't even consider a family of four making just $23,000
poor. There's something wrong with our formula, and a majority of
Americans agree with a higher threshold.
Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan famously said, ``You can't solve a
problem until you first learn how to measure it.'' We are making great
progress in moving toward the publication of a new measure of poverty
that reflects the economic and social realities in this country. An
accurate measurement is essential in determining how to best tackle
this problem. If the moral cause of helping the poor doesn't serve as
motivation to help struggling Americans rise out of poverty, maybe the
economic argument will.
Economists estimate that persistent child poverty alone costs our
society an estimated $500 million a year in lost productivity and
increased spending on health care and the criminal justice system. More
and more Americans are slipping through the mesh of our badly tattered
safety net, and we are at risk of losing an entire generation.
As Congress discusses PAYGO and the deficit reduction agenda, I often
hear the rhetoric that we can't drive up the deficit on the backs of
our children. But we cannot abandon the needs of vulnerable groups with
little political voice and certainly few lobbyists on K Street. Because
the voices of the least among us are too often drowned out, we must
take opportunities like this to draw attention to the realities facing
poor Americans. Awareness is a critical step in finding solutions to
improve the well-being of those living in poverty, so let us affirm the
recognition of January as Poverty in America Awareness Month.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise today in support of House Resolution 1024, which expresses
support for designating January as Poverty in America Awareness Month.
As I'm sure my colleagues would agree, awareness of poverty is
something that Congress should never lose sight of, not for one single
day. But it also should be noted that poverty can only be eliminated in
this country when there are jobs available for every able-bodied man
and woman. I know this firsthand because I grew up in poverty. I know
that the only way that my mother helped get my brother and me out of
poverty was by having a great work ethic and working her way out of
poverty.
The government does not create jobs; small businesses do. The
American people know this even if the majority in Congress does not.
That is why CNN is reporting that 75 percent of Americans polled
believe that at least half of the stimulus has been wasted, and a third
of those believe that it actually has made the economy worse.
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In a perfect world, the President could hold a jobs summit and
everyone would breathe a sigh of relief as they went off to new jobs
created. But in the real world, sitting around and talking about jobs
does not magically make them appear. In a perfect world, the money to
pay for the stimulus and the endless unemployment extensions would come
from a magic tree growing on the South Lawn of the White House. But we
know that unemployment benefits are no real substitute for a paycheck.
We know that the stimulus didn't work. And we know that the closest
thing the government has to a money tree is the money that it takes out
of taxpayers' pockets.
The bottom line is, if they are serious about reducing poverty, the
President and my Democrat colleagues need to stop talking about jobs
and start working with Republicans to support and facilitate an economy
that will create them. Specifically, the Democrats, who control the
progress of legislation in this town, should do three things:
First, they need to end their obsession with the trillion-dollar
takeover of health care, because this single-minded approach is coming
at the expense of everything else that matters to the American public.
Second, the tax code should be reformed to protect workers' wages, to
encourage investment and entrepreneurship, to reward saving, and to
provide the American people with the confidence and certainty about
their financial future.
And third, my Democrat colleagues need to take a long, hard look at
their failed trillion-dollar stimulus plan and fix it. Don't just
borrow another hundred billion dollars here and there and hope that it
works better this time.
Raising awareness about poverty is important, and I support this
legislation. But before we spend too much time patting ourselves on the
back for this feel-good resolution, let us get down to business in a
bipartisan manner and really do the hard work of making this economy
great again.
With that, Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McDERMOTT. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady
from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).
Ms. McCOLLUM. In the wealthiest country in the world, far too many of
our citizens live in poverty, and the number is growing. Mr. McDermott
and Chairman Rangel, thank you for bringing this important resolution
to the floor.
Families in Minnesota and across our country are hurting. The economy
may be improving on Wall Street, but on Main Street people are hurting
and they're afraid. Unemployed workers are worried about where and how
they will find a job and whether they can survive after their
unemployment insurance runs out. Our neighbors with jobs are facing
hours being cut, facing pay cuts, and they're in fear of also losing
their jobs.
The housing crisis has driven families from their homes, and the
homeless shelters are filled. Families are sleeping in their cars.
Access to basic health care and putting food on the table are now a
struggle for far too many Americans. More families are falling below
the poverty line and they need our help.
In 2008, one in eight residents of Minnesota's Fourth Congressional
District, which I represent, was living in poverty--over 68,000 men,
women, children, and seniors. The number is certainly growing with the
economic recession, and that means children are going hungry, parents
lack day care and reliable transportation to get a job, seniors
struggle to pay rent. And yes, many illnesses are left unattended.
Yesterday, I visited a Head Start site in St. Paul, and the staff
members there are worried about food insecurity for the children in
their classrooms. It is unacceptable that children would go hungry.
The role of the Federal Government is to keep our country safe and to
provide an opportunity for people to improve their lives. We have much
work to do. But because of the Democrats in Congress passing the
Recovery Act, an estimated 60.1 million Americans did not fall below
the poverty line, including 66,000 Minnesotans.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. McDERMOTT. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 additional minute to the
gentlewoman.
Ms. McCOLLUM. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution,
because if we're going to defeat poverty and create jobs and economic
opportunity for all Americans, we need to reach out to get to know
those Americans who need our help the most, those in poverty.
Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, in closing, I want
to reiterate that there still is much work to be done--and undone--to
breathe new life into this economy. The Democrats told Americans that
if their stimulus passed, unemployment would stay below 8 percent and
millions of Americans would continue receiving paychecks. Instead, the
stimulus passed and a record 12 million Americans are now collecting
unemployment checks. As predicted, that is triggering massive State tax
hikes that will continue for years to come.
Frankly, Madam Speaker, that is why the stimulus isn't working. Every
dollar spent by government is a dollar that first must be taken out of
the economy. That dollar of government spending is a dollar that a
business owner can use to hire a new worker and it's a dollar that a
mother can use to feed her child.
My colleagues will say that this is what the stimulus was supposed to
do, but what they won't tell you is that the government wastes 50 cents
collecting that dollar and fumbling around trying to put it back into
the economy. As part of our awareness of poverty, let us also be aware
of that.
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of
House Resolution 1024 ``Expressing support for designation of January
as poverty in America awareness month.'' This resolution seeks to
designate the month of January as an official ``Poverty in America
Awareness Month,'' and also expresses the sentiments of the House of
Representatives that eradicating poverty in the United States should be
the goal of all American citizens--especially those in government
positions.
Over the last several decades the numbers of people living in poverty
in the United States has steadily increased to a high point in 2008 of
over 39 million Americans living below the Federal poverty line.
This is a particularly important issue for the people living in my
home district in Houston, Texas where the number of residents with
income below the poverty level in 2007 was 20.7 percent, which is
several percentage points higher than the Texas State average of 16.3
percent.
These problems have been further exacerbated by the recent economic
downturn which has pushed many American families to a financial
breaking point. Over the past 10 years much of the progress that was
made during the 1990s was reversed as the overall poverty rate
increased by 1.9 percent.
As the Chairwoman of the Congressional Children's Caucus I also
understand the severe impact that poverty can have on children in the
United States. In fact, 14 million of the 39 million Americans
currently living below the poverty line are children. For children,
growing up in poverty can have numerous negative effects on development
ranging from malnutrition to poor education.
As Americans we can not allow underprivileged children in our Nation
to be overlooked and ignored. We must ensure that all children of all
income levels in this country are provided with quality education,
proper nutrition and access to support services.
Furthermore, we can not allow hard-working American citizens to
continue to fall below the Federal poverty line. That is why it is
important that we support this resolution as it would bring further
attention to this important matter and provide an opportunity to
reverse the growing trend of poverty in the United States.
Officially establishing the month of January as ``Poverty in America
Awareness Month,'' would seek to improve the lives of our citizens as
well as increase advocacy for some of the most vulnerable families in
our Nation.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I also ask my
colleagues for their continued support for the 39 million Americans
currently living in poverty.
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to applaud the
actions of the House of Representatives in addressing poverty in
America and designating January as Poverty in America Awareness Month.
I strongly support H. Res. 1024 and urge my colleagues to support this
piece of legislation.
The Census Bureau's poverty statistics are alarming. In 2008, 13.2
percent of people were living in poverty. This statistic was even worse
for children under 18 years old. In 2008, 19 percent of children under
18 years old were living in poverty. In my state, Georgia, 14.3 percent
of people were living below the poverty level in 2007.
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Poverty has many adverse effects on society. Poor Americans are less
likely to eat healthy, which leads to poor health. Poor health can make
study and work difficult. Poor education and the inability to work can
adversely affect individual income, and the American economy as a
whole.
This resolution expresses the sense of the House that eradicating
poverty in the United States should be the goal for all people in the
United States. Further, this resolution recognizes that the severe
economic downturn, and double-digit unemployment rate, increases the
need for Congress to commit itself to helping individuals and families
facing economic hardship.
I join the chairman in urging my colleagues to support this important
piece of legislation.
Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. McDERMOTT. Madam Speaker, I urge the adoption of the resolution,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1024.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. McDERMOTT. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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