[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2720]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING JANUARY AS POVERTY IN AMERICA AWARENESS MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize this past 
January as Poverty in America Awareness Month and to thank the young 
intern in my office, Ms. Foster, for developing this very excellent 
statement.
  Mr. Speaker, Nelson Mandela once proclaimed, ``Overcoming poverty is 
not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection 
of a fundamental human right: the right to dignity and a decent life.''
  During this season of economic crisis, we policymakers have an 
obligation to promote justice and to protect our citizens who are 
struggling. Poverty is a reality for far too many people in Chicago, 
Illinois, and throughout the Nation.
  In the United States, 36 percent of our Nation is considered low 
income, with 17 percent living in poverty. In Illinois, 33 percent of 
the population is low income, with about 15 percent living in poverty
  In 2007, 21 percent of Chicagoans lived in poverty, with another 21 
percent teetering on its edge.
  The current economic crisis is exacerbating these conditions. The 
unemployment rate in Illinois in the Nation is over 7 percent. Hundreds 
of thousands of jobs in Illinois have been lost in recent months. There 
are more than 500,000 foreclosures, 50,000 foreclosures in Cook County 
alone.
  And due to an almost $4 billion State budget gap, programs vital to 
assisting the public, such as mental health centers, are facing funding 
reductions in the range of millions of dollars.
  Poverty is most harmful to children, especially young children. 
Children in poverty are more likely to experience child abuse or 
neglect. Families in poverty often cannot provide appropriate resources 
for healthy child development. Children's physical health and cognitive 
abilities can be compromised. When compared with wealthier children, 
poor children have poorer outcomes in the areas of school achievement, 
emotional control, and behavior.
  Living in poverty affects the quality of education, health care, and 
living conditions.
  Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to be a part of a Congress that has crafted an 
economic recovery package that provides critical aid to families 
experiencing poverty. The substantial increases in the food stamp 
program will directly help families make ends meet. The provisions 
providing health care for those who lost their jobs during this crisis 
will help many in Chicago and throughout the Nation.
  The one-time payment for families who rely on supplemental security 
income for the poor, elderly, and individuals with disabilities will 
provide a lifeline for families that are barely making it. The 
increases in the child tax credit will help families stand on their own 
feet.
  In addition to these provisions of the American Recovery Bill that 
will help alleviate the effects of poverty, I look forward to moving 
towards a system of universal health coverage during this Congress to 
help all Americans have access to health care. I also anticipate that 
Congress will consider ways in which to improve public assistance 
programs, such as simplifying enrollment procedures for Medicaid and 
other safety net programs.
  During this economic downturn, it is critical that we continue to 
support safety net programs to assure that those in need are assisted. 
The role of the Federal Government is especially necessary given that 
many State governments are cutting vital support programs to comply 
with State balanced-budget requirements.
  And Mr. Speaker, as Mr. Mandela recognized, we have a responsibility 
to work to minimize the harm of poverty. Therefore, I join with my 
colleagues in recognizing January as Poverty in America Awareness Month 
and promise to continue to promote programs--no matter what else it is 
that I do--that are designed to help eliminate and reduce poverty in 
America.
  I thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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