[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8375]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                POVERTY

  (Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, nearly 47 million 
people are living in poverty in the United States. That is about 10 
times the total population of Los Angeles. And, Mr. Speaker, no matter 
how hard these families work and no matter how much these families 
save, they are still not able to get ahead.
  These families struggle to feed themselves and their children. They 
struggle to save for a home. They struggle to live the American Dream 
that we all yearn for, and that is unacceptable.
  That is why I support expanding programs, which I believe help and 
provide a social safety net. Essential programs like the Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy 
Families, and the Free and Reduced Lunch Program serve specific 
community needs.
  Mr. Speaker, we need to bring legislation to the floor that will help 
families, help families to help themselves get ahead, proven programs. 
Let's not condense or cut them. Let's work on legislation to help these 
families.

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