[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 7, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         POVERTY AND INEQUALITY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 6, 2024

  Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to address the ongoing 
challenges that too many families in America face coping with poverty 
and income inequality. I thank my dear friend, Congressman DeSaulnier, 
for hosing this Special Order hour, and for his tireless work on these 
issues.
  In the richest country in the world, poverty is a policy choice. In 
early 2023, the poverty rate in California rose to 13.2 percent, and 
the child poverty rate to 13.8 percent.
  You cannot disentangle poverty and inequality from systemic racism. 
Latinos remained disproportionately poor. Latinos comprise about half 
of poor Californians, but only around 40 percent of all Californians. 
Additionally, about 13.6 percent of African Americans and 11.5 percent 
of Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders lived in poverty in California at 
the beginning of 2023 compared to 10.2 percent of white residents. That 
is why I reintroduced legislation calling for the establishment of the 
first U.S. Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation. 
This Commission will examine the effects of slavery, institutional 
racism, and discrimination against people of color, and how our history 
impacts laws and policies today.
  But while poverty has a disproportionate impact on people of color, 
poverty afflicts millions of people in America of all racial and ethnic 
backgrounds. That is why I have worked with the Poor People's Campaign 
to introduce a resolution calling for a Third Reconstruction to fully 
address poverty from the bottom up. A Third Reconstruction would 
prioritize the needs and demands of the 140 million people in America 
who are poor or one emergency away from economic desperation, with 
policies focused on healthcare, welfare, water, public education, and 
housing.
  Across the country, rents and home prices continue to rise much 
faster than income, exacerbating housing instability during an 
affordable housing supply crisis. A staggering 78 percent of extremely 
low income renters in California are severely cost burdened. meaning 
they spend more than half of their income on housing and utilities. 
This is unacceptable when we have the power and tools to eliminate 
poverty entirely.
  Access to safe and affordable housing, regardless of income, is a 
human right. I am proud to sponsor the DEPOSIT Act, which would provide 
security deposit assistance to low-income renters.
  As Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Poverty Task Force. I won't 
stop fighting until we pass comprehensive legislation to eradicate 
poverty, economic inequality, and racial injustice. There is a strong 
correlation between U.S. poverty reduction initiatives and declining 
poverty rates. We must work to ensure that the Child Tax Credit is 
restored to American Rescue Plan levels, which cut child poverty in 
half.
  We must ensure the House remains focused on combating poverty in all 
forms and creating economic opportunity for all Americans. Together, we 
can work to reduce disparities and secure justice for those struggling 
to put food on the table.

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