[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 164 (Monday, December 13, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2115-E2116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          RECOGNIZING POVERTY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 13, 2010

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I wish to take a moment to 
recognize the growing number of those living in poverty in the United 
States. As we approach the holiday season, a time of giving and 
reflection, it is important to remember those who are less fortunate. 
Poverty is a part of daily life for far too many individuals across 
America. According to the U.S. Census report, the wealthiest 20 percent 
of Americans received 49.4 percent of all income, compared to 3.4 
percent combined for all Americans living in poverty, marking the 
greatest level of disparity since the U.S. Census Bureau began tracking 
household income in 1967. This most recent Census Bureau information 
also indicates that the overall poverty rate climbed to 14.3 percent, 
or 43.6 million people. This marks the largest number of people counted 
as living below the poverty line last since the Census Bureau began 
keeping records in the 1950s. The concentration of poverty in urban 
centers--such as my home of Chicago hinders all those who seek to 
access all the opportunities that a great city offers. As of 2009, in 
Cook County alone, there were 825,870 people living in poverty, a 
dramatic increase from the 713,040 people living in poverty in 1999. 
The recession has pushed the Nation's poverty rate to levels not seen 
in more than a decade, destroying gains made in the long-running War on 
Poverty and adding more financial instability to the lives of millions 
of Americans.
  This increase in poverty unfairly and disproportionately affects 
young children. Indeed 20.7 percent of our nation's children were 
living in poverty as of 2009, a 2.7 percent increase from 2007. In Cook 
County, 22.6 percent of children live in poverty which is higher than 
the national average. This percentage accounts for 286,312 children who 
struggle everyday just to get by. Families living in poverty often 
cannot provide the necessary resources

[[Page E2116]]

in order to ensure healthy physical and emotional development of their 
children. Living in poverty also greatly hinders a child's access to 
quality education, health care, and living conditions. This is 
unacceptable. Children are a public good, and it is imperative that our 
country invests in and ensures the prosperity of its youngest citizens.
  The unemployment rate in my home state of Illinois, which was higher 
than the national average, was 10.1 percent this past August up 4.6 
percentage points from December 2007. This represents 671,000 Illinois 
residents who lost more than just earnings--this represents hundreds of 
thousands of families whose entire means of financial support is gone. 
This massive unemployment rate has contributed greatly to the high 
foreclosure rate in Illinois. In Illinois as of the second quarter of 
2010, 6.0 percent of all mortgages, including 18.1 percent of subprime 
mortgages, were in foreclosure.
  Alarming as well is the way that this economic downturn has hit some 
communities much harder than others. According to the most recent 
congressional Joint Economic Committee findings, the poverty rate for 
African Americans and Hispanics increased significantly from 2007 to 
2009. In 2009, the poverty rate was 25.8 percent for African Americans 
and 25.3 percent for Hispanics, compared to 24.5 percent for African 
Americans and 21.5 percent for Hispanics in 2007. Important to notice 
as well is the disparity in the number of minorities currently insured. 
The percentages of Hispanics and African Americans without health 
insurance are higher than that of whites and other racial or ethnic 
groups. Nearly one-third of Hispanics and over one-fifth of African 
Americans were uninsured in 2009, compared with about one-tenth of 
whites.
  While the number of people living in poverty remains much too high, 
we must recognize that this number was not as high as originally 
expected given the severity of the recession and the massive job losses 
last year. I am proud of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
passed by Congress this past year that expanded unemployment benefits 
and Social Security payments. This act also helped to create and save 
approximately 3.5 million jobs, gave tax cuts to small business and 95 
percent of American workers, and began to rebuild America's road, rail, 
and water infrastructure. Access to the job market is one of the first 
steps in helping individuals rise out of poverty, and this legislation 
increased jobs for the unemployed as well as the underemployed.
  This past year we have begun to reform our current healthcare system 
and passed legislation that enables 11 million children to finally be 
able to access and maintain cost-effective quality healthcare. Signed 
into law as well was the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act, 
which guarantees access to lifesaving medical services, primary care, 
and medications for low-income patients with AIDS and HIV. Both of 
these legislative acts will greatly enhance the well being of 
individuals with limited financial resources.
  While there remains much to be done to improve access to quality 
education, healthcare, and job opportunities in the United States, I am 
proud of the progress that has been made by this Congress. It is 
imperative that in this current economic crisis, the Federal government 
assists state governments in addressing the needs of individuals and 
their families. Our communities cannot afford to allow poverty to take 
hold of so many hard working individuals and families. Therefore, I 
recognize all of those living in poverty in the United States, and, in 
the spirit of this season, I promise to continue to promote programs to 
reduce poverty and support those in need.

                          ____________________