[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 137 (Thursday, September 15, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5639-S5640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EYE-OPENING POVERTY

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, the report this week about the rate of 
poverty in America is an eye opener. The numbers that have been 
reported are stunning. The number of Americans living in poverty now 
stands at 46.2 million people. That is an increase of 8.9 million since 
2007, just in 4 years. This has increased significantly since the year 
2000. The poverty threshold for a mother and father with two children 
is an annual income of $22,000 a year. That is less than $2,000 a 
month. So for that family of four, what we are seeing is 46 million 
Americans make less than that. I think all of us understand how 
difficult it is in this day and age to survive and raise a family, but 
this national poverty rate should be a wake-up call to us. I hope it 
puts a couple of things in perspective.
  I spoke on the floor yesterday about visiting a warehouse in 
Champagne, IL, a warehouse for the food depositories in the area. It is 
a warehouse where they process and send out food for food pantries that 
are managed by local groups, churches and the like. Almost every State 
has them--I am sure they do. I was in this warehouse during the August 
recess to talk about the increased volume of people who are going to 
food pantries on a regular basis. I visit these food pantries to 
introduce myself to those who are coming in and to learn as much as 
they want to tell me about their circumstances.
  At this warehouse in Champagne, IL, was a woman who was very 
attractive and well-dressed, standing there, and I assumed she worked 
at the warehouse. It turned out I was wrong because she said at one 
point she was a teacher's aide in the local school district. I thought, 
Why is she here? I kept thinking to myself, I wonder why she is here. 
Maybe she is on the board of this food depository. It turns out she was 
there to tell me her story. She is a single mom with two young 
children. She has a full-time job as a teacher's aide in the school 
district. Because her income is below the poverty level, she qualifies 
for not only food stamps but also uses these food pantries. She said to 
me she wanted to express her gratitude that we now have extended the 
SNAP program, the food stamp program, to include fresh produce, fruits, 
and vegetables. She said it means I can take my kids to the local 
farmers market and they get to meet the farmers and ask questions and 
hear stories about where these thing come from, the fruits and 
vegetables we buy and, she said, I get to buy healthy food to give to 
my kids.
  I never would have picked her out of a crowd as a person who needed 
help to feed her children--and she did. She told me: Without this, I 
would be struggling. It is an eye opener for all Americans, when we 
hear 46 million of us are living in poverty. These are our neighbors, 
our friends, the people with whom we go to church. These are folks you 
may see in the store. They are people who are struggling, many of them 
working but not making enough money. Some have full-time jobs, many 
have part-time jobs. It is a reminder, as we get into this deficit 
debate, never to lose sight of the safety net in America.
  We are a kind and caring people. We have proven that over many 
generations. We do things many other countries do not do. For one 
thing, we have our young men and women volunteer to risk their lives in 
foreign lands to try to bring peace.
  In addition to that, we have been engaged for over a century in 
helping other countries that are struggling. I just received a 
handwritten letter from two grade school children in Illinois about 
those who are starving in Somalia. It was a heartfelt letter, asking me 
to do something. That is not unusual. It is a sentiment expressed over 
and over again in our country. We need to have the same empathy and the 
same compassion for our own in America.
  What that means is not only saying good things and perhaps helping 
through our churches and other charities, but also making certain that 
the safety net programs in our country are there for those who are 
struggling. We are engaged in a mighty debate now about deficit 
reduction. I have been part of it for a little while in some 
capacities. I keep reminding those who are in the debate that there are 
some programs that are absolutely essential. Some of them are obvious: 
the food stamp program, to make sure the lady I mentioned and others 
like her have enough food for their children; the Medicaid Program, 
which provides health insurance for one-third of America's children. In 
Illinois it pays for over 50 percent of births and it takes care of our 
elderly when they are in a nursing home and run out of their savings.
  As we talk about deficit reduction, let us focus on making certain at 
the end of the day the safety net is still in place. Let us make sure 
the childcare deductions that we have in the Tax Code are there for 
working families, the Earned Income Tax Credit, a program started under 
President Reagan which acknowledges that many people who are working 
still need a helping hand in our Tax Code; Medicaid, that I mentioned 
earlier; the food stamp program; housing programs for those who are 
homeless and need a helping hand. The safety net has to be honored and 
has to be preserved in the course of our deficit debate.
  But I would also say, at this point, the President has challenged us 
to stop giving speeches and to start moving forward on getting America 
back to work. He made a proposal in last Thursday's joint session of 
Congress to give working families across America a payroll tax cut. 
What would it mean in Illinois? The average income in Illinois is about 
$53,000 a year. The President's payroll tax cut would be worth $1,400 
to every family making that amount of money. That is $120 a month. It 
may not sound like much for people who are wealthy, but for those who 
are struggling paycheck to paycheck, it could make a difference.
  President Obama wants to give more income security to middle-income 
families. That is what his proposal is about. He has turned around and 
said when it comes to small businesses, let us give them incentives to 
hire the unemployed. The only line the President delivered a week ago 
that I remember got a standing ovation from both sides is when the 
President said let's incentivize employers to hire our veterans. 
Everybody stood up. We know that is the right thing. They served our 
country, they came home, and we ought to give them a hand to help them. 
That is part of the President's plan.
  But he went beyond that and said if people have been unemployed and 
an employer is willing to hire them, let us give them a tax credit to 
do it. The President is moving tax benefits to small businesses, the 
so-called job creators we hear so much about, and I believe they are, 
as well as to working families. But it is all paid for. This is where 
many Republicans take exception.
  How does the President pay for getting America back to work? He asked 
for sacrifice from the wealthiest people in America. There are some 
members of the Republican Party who would not impose 1 penny more in 
taxes on the wealthiest people in America. They are prepared to see 
every other family in America sacrifice except for those who can 
sacrifice without feeling any pain in their lives. I don't think that 
is fair and I think the President is right. Those who are making the 
highest incomes in America should join with

[[Page S5640]]

every other family in America and help us get beyond this recession.
  Also, the President starts eliminating the subsidies, the Federal 
subsidies for oil companies. I don't have to remind Americans what the 
price of gasoline is; they know it. In Illinois it is over $4 a gallon 
in many places I traveled to during the recess. These oil companies are 
witnessing the highest profits in the history of American business. The 
President has said, and I agree: It is time to cut the Federal subsidy, 
the tax subsidy for oil companies, these profitable companies that make 
so much money for their shareholders and give so many bonuses to their 
officers.
  Many Republicans object. They do not want to raise taxes on the oil 
companies. They do not want to raise taxes on the wealthiest people in 
America. I think they ought to put it in perspective. If we can help 
middle-income and working families get through the recession, stop 
living paycheck to paycheck and have a little bit of a cushion in their 
lives, if we can give small businesses incentive to hire Americans and 
turn this economy around, that is what America needs. Let's get beyond 
the rhetoric that has stalled efforts in Washington. Let's get beyond 
the obstructionism and the obstacles. Let us finally work together with 
the President's leadership and come up with a plan to put America back 
to work.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Republican leader is recognized.

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