Hoyer, Lee Statement on New Report to End Child Poverty in U.S.
For Immediate Release:
March 4, 2019
Contact Info:
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) and Majority Leader Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity Chair Barbara Lee released the following statement on a report on child poverty in the United States. The report, titled Roadmap for Reducing Child Poverty, was commissioned by Congresswoman Lee and Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) in a Fiscal Year 2016 House Appropriations Committee markup with bipartisan support. It identifies evidence-based, non-partisan programs and policies for reducing the number of children living in poverty in half within 10 years.
“It’s a tragedy that millions of children go hungry in the richest nation on earth. The reality is that there are systemic barriers keeping families and children – especially families and children of color – in poverty. That shouldn’t be the case in 2019.
“The findings of this report help us better understand the root causes and devastating consequences of child poverty, which costs the country almost $1 trillion annually. It also provides us with clear, evidence-based, non-partisan solutions to cut child poverty in half over the next decade, including expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) as well as nutrition and housing assistance.
“It is now up to Congress to ensure these policies and programs are implemented, and we look forward to working with our colleagues in the Task Force to do so and ensure the health, safety, and well-being of all children in this country.”
“It’s a tragedy that millions of children go hungry in the richest nation on earth. The reality is that there are systemic barriers keeping families and children – especially families and children of color – in poverty. That shouldn’t be the case in 2019.
“The findings of this report help us better understand the root causes and devastating consequences of child poverty, which costs the country almost $1 trillion annually. It also provides us with clear, evidence-based, non-partisan solutions to cut child poverty in half over the next decade, including expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) as well as nutrition and housing assistance.
“It is now up to Congress to ensure these policies and programs are implemented, and we look forward to working with our colleagues in the Task Force to do so and ensure the health, safety, and well-being of all children in this country.”