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Ending Poverty & Expanding Opportunity

House Democrats strongly support policies that lift Americans out of poverty and provide them with opportunities to join the middle class.

By raising the minimum wage, supporting affordable housing, preserving critical nutritional assistance programs, increasing access to high-quality health care and education, protecting Social Security, and continuing efforts to create well-paying jobs here at home, Democratic policies ensure more American families will have the resources and opportunities they need to attain the American Dream. Through the Inflation Reduction Act, landmark legislation to reduce health care costs for millions, Democrats are working to expand access to quality, affordable health care coverage and put money back in the pockets of working Americans. In 2013, Leader Hoyer launched the Majority Leader Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity, which works to raise awareness among Members of Congress and the American people about the ongoing crisis of poverty, the positive human and economic impacts of effective poverty alleviation programs, and the need for a comprehensive national effort to eradicate poverty. The Task Force, which is chaired by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, meets frequently with key stakeholders, advocates, and Administration officials to identify root causes of poverty and support strategies and initiatives aimed at eliminating poverty. As our nation continues to confront the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, House Democrats will continue to work with President Biden to ensure that our public health and economic policies promote equity in access to economic relief and that our recovery addresses long-standing challenges in the fight against poverty.


Related

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) and Co-Chair of the Majority Leader Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) applauded the recently released proposal from House Democrats to provide $3,000 per child to tens of millions of American families, with the goal of addressing child poverty as part of President Biden’s $1.9 trillion economic relief package.
Today's report by the U.S. Census Bureau makes one thing abundantly clear: anti-poverty programs work. While we are pleased the report shows that the poverty rate has fallen slightly to 11.8 percent, with 1.4 million Americans rising above the poverty line in 2019, we continue to be concerned by Republican attempts to undermine proven programs that lift Americans out of poverty.  
The Department of Agriculture’s announcement today that it will impose new restrictions on eligibility for nutrition assistance could result in more than 3 million Americans being put at risk of going hungry. 
Today, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) and Chair Barbara Lee (CA-13) announced the selection of five freshman Members to serve as Vice Chairs of the Majority Leader Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity for the 116thCongress. 
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.
In spite of positive topline economic indicators, too many families are struggling just to make ends meet in an economy with deep structural challenges.
President Trump’s Administration is flat wrong, and this statement displays its utter ignorance of the poverty challenges our country faces. 
Today, Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) and Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity Chair, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), visited Milwaukee, Wisconsin as part of their Pathways Out of Poverty Listening Tour.
Once again, President Trump is working to pull the rug out from under working families.
The assessment by the United Nations official monitoring global poverty that the Trump Administration’s actions are exacerbating the wealth and income gap in America ought to alarm Americans.