[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 520]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   JOBS ARE THE BEST CURE FOR POVERTY

  (Ms. FOXX asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, last week we marked the 50th anniversary of 
the war on poverty. While the standard of living of Americans has risen 
in the last 50 years, the number of those who fall under the poverty 
line has remained largely constant.
  In war, good generals adjust when current tactics aren't producing 
results. Yet we continue to wage war on poverty with the same tired, 
bureaucratic ideas. This strategy was outdated in 1964; it is 
antiquated today. The solution to poverty isn't aid programs; it is 
jobs.
  Last week also marked one of the worst jobs reports in years. 
President Johnson said he wanted ``to give our fellow citizens a fair 
chance to develop their own capacities.'' My bill, the SKILLS Act, 
would streamline the Federal Government's overlapping and outdated 
workforce development programs and help put Americans back to work.
  The SKILLS Act passed the House with bipartisan support. It is time 
for the Senate to take action on this vital legislation.

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