[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H34]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AMERICA'S WAR ON POVERTY
(Mr. SOUTHERLAND asked and was given permission to address the House
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. SOUTHERLAND. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 50th anniversary of
America's war on poverty. While this war may have been launched with
the best of intentions, it is clear we are engaged in a battle of
attrition that has left more Americans in poverty than at any point in
America's history by number.
That fact is staggering, considering the $15 trillion and counting
that has been spent on fighting this War on Poverty. The status quo
simply isn't working. In fact, it is hurting many, many vulnerable
families.
We have a moral obligation to do better for the people of Florida's
Second Congressional District and across this great Nation, and for the
46.5 million Americans overall who are living in poverty.
As chairman of the Republican Study Committee's Anti-Poverty
Initiative, I look forward to working on things going forward, on new,
forward-thinking solutions that do several things: strengthen two-
parent families; improve effective educational opportunities; create
long-lasting job growth, producing fulfilling careers; and restore
people's God-given opportunity for earned success.
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