[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 28614]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY

  (Ms. SOLIS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SOLIS. Madam Speaker, today I rise to discuss poverty and 
homelessness in the San Gabriel Valley in the 32nd Congressional 
District. At least 43 percent of adults living below the Federal 
poverty line in L.A. County have worked either full-time or part-time. 
They have to balance rent or mortgage payments, child care, food, gas 
prices, and health care. The increasing costs can lead to homelessness 
if you can't make these payments.
  In Los Angeles County, over 152,000 people are homeless over the 
course of a year; and in the city of Azusa, at least 1,500 children 
were homeless last year.
  I am proud that Democrats have taken steps to reduce poverty and 
homelessness. In 2007, our farm bill raised the minimum benefit in the 
food stamp program for the first time in 30 years. For the first time 
in more than 10 years, we have raised the minimum wage and expanded 
American homeownership, and also would help to provide and ensure that 
low-income and middle-income families have affordable mortgage loans.

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