[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11777]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           THE WAR ON POVERTY

  (Mr. HILL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, over the past four decades, the growth of 
upward mobility in America has stagnated despite the numerous programs 
and trillions of dollars spent on our efforts to reduce poverty.
  In the wake of a stalemated war on poverty, we need to move beyond 
the status quo and, instead, look at the tangible impact that local 
leadership is having on the programs and concepts that they have 
created to help those who are struggling in our communities.
  In other words, Mr. Speaker, we need to focus on what works. Our goal 
should be moving people out of poverty and up the socioeconomic ladder, 
and we can start by turning to our local nonprofit leaders that are 
working to defeat hopelessness and offering concrete and aspirational 
futures.
  Look at AR Kids Read, the volunteer-based literacy initiative getting 
private sector volunteers into our elementary schools in Little Rock 
and Pulaski County and guiding third-graders to a successful future by 
working with them to assure that they read at grade level.
  Let's look at Our House shelter in Little Rock, which teaches 
families who are struggling with homelessness how to make and sustain 
positive change.
  Mr. Speaker, by prioritizing innovation and success in our community 
engagement, organizations like these--private, faith-based, and 
public--working hand in hand can offer our families hope, aspiration, 
and a roadmap toward the pursuit of happiness.

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