[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 110 (Thursday, July 21, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1377-E1378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                DEBT REDUCTION PLANS EFFECTS ON POVERTY

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                          HON. MARCIA L. FUDGE

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 21, 2011

  Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the devastating 
effects of the Republican agenda on the poor. Debt reduction plans that 
gut social safety net programs will put millions of low-income families 
at risk.
  According to the U.S. Census, the number of people in poverty in 
2009--43.6 million--is the largest number in the 51 years for which 
poverty estimates have been published.
  In my home state of Ohio, 15.2 percent of the state's population 
lived in poverty in 2009. Among African-American seniors, 67 percent 
are at or below the poverty line, and 12 percent of African Americans 
rely on Medicare to survive.
  Cuts to Medicaid will disproportionately affect African-American 
communities. In 2009, 27 percent of African-Americans--approximately 10 
million people, including 6 million children--were covered by Medicaid.
  When everyone talks about the budget, all you hear about are numbers. 
Behind those numbers are people: hard-working Americans or the 
unemployed or those who are just getting by.
  There is an urgent need to resolve the debt ceiling issue and it is 
beyond irresponsible not to raise the debt limit. We all agree that we 
have to responsibly reduce the deficit, but not on the backs of the 
most vulnerable. My job in Congress is to be a voice for the voiceless 
and I will fight to help these Americans by opposing the Republican 
budget.

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