[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17368-17369]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 6222, THE NATIONAL OPPORTUNITY AND COMMUNITY 
                              RENEWAL ACT

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                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2010

  Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, hunger and poverty are scourges on our 
society, but they do not have to be enduring or debilitating. Over the 
last hundred years, we have created a safety net system in this Nation 
that ensures that low-income families do not go without food, shelter 
and healthcare. No longer do we see mass starvation in this country. 
Communities aren't ravaged by disease and low-income families, for the 
most part, have access to doctors and medicine when they do face 
illnesses.
  The sad fact, however, is that we are not winning the battle against 
poverty in this country. Recent Census data show that over 43 million 
Americans now live in poverty and, of those people, over 15 million are 
children.
  If that weren't bad enough, we are continuing to recover from the 
worst economic times this Nation has faced since the Great Depression. 
Federal and state funds are tight and private donations to non-profits 
and charities aren't coming in at the same levels as before the 
recession.
  It's easy to talk the talk when it comes to poverty. There may be a 
press release or a quick statement for the local papers. Some may even 
give a policy speech talking about the travesty of poverty and 
professing the need to do something bold.
  But actions speak louder than words. We need to renew our commitment 
to fighting poverty. We need to refresh our thinking about the way our 
communities target poverty. Frankly, it's time we start addressing 
poverty in a new way, a way that reflects the challenges of low-income 
families while respecting these difficult economic times.
  That's why I introduced ``The National Opportunity and Community 
Renewal Act'' today. I'm pleased that Senator Bob Casey from 
Pennsylvania introduced a companion version in the Senate and I look 
forward to working with him on this issue.
  The idea is simple--reduce poverty by better utilizing federal and 
state resources in smarter and more sensible ways. Making ends meet 
through federal programs is not how people in this country want to 
live. The families I talk to want good paying jobs that allow them to 
put good, nutritious food on their table; pay for a roof over their 
head; and have a job that provides access to good, comprehensive 
healthcare. But the current federal safety net programs don't help 
people lift themselves out of poverty.
  This bill, however, will help them do that. The National Opportunity 
and Community Renewal Act will award ten communities grants for five 
years each to test new and innovative approaches to poverty reduction. 
Each award is for $10 million that must be used in ways that will 
reduce poverty in half over 10 years. In other words, this bill allows 
communities to come up with antipoverty plans while maximizing the 
amount of funding spent on these plans.
  We know that some plans work better in urban areas than in rural 
areas; that fighting poverty in Central Pennsylvania is different than 
fighting poverty in Central Massachusetts. But that doesn't mean the 
goals and means are any different.
  Let me be clear--no one should interpret this legislation as cut to 
the social safety net. During these difficult times, we must ensure 
that low-income families have the support they need to put food on the 
table, heat their homes and receive proper medical care. This 
legislation is a starting point in this effort, a way to begin the 
dialogue on ways to improve and more efficiently run our anti-poverty 
programs. Frankly, it's a way to start the conversation on how to cut 
poverty in half in 10 years; a way to shift the conversation from 
individual safety net programs that manage the problem to a focus on 
results that actually help lift people out of poverty.
  We need to commit to reducing poverty, but we need to do so smartly 
and responsibly. We need to allow communities the flexibility to come 
up with plans that suit their communities and we need to properly but 
responsibly fund these programs.
  Ultimately, we'll be judged by the results of these programs. I 
believe we can reduce poverty in these participating communities by 
half in 10 years and I'm looking forward to working Senator Casey, 
Father Larry Snyder and the Catholic Charities community on this worthy 
project.

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