Ending Poverty & Expanding Opportunity
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.
Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA), chair of the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity, released a statement today as the Budget Committee begins its markup of the House Republican budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2017.
Last month, Speaker Paul Ryan announced the formation of the House Republican Task Force on Poverty, three years after Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer and Congresswoman Barbara Lee formed the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity.
This afternoon, the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity met with Ronald Davis, Director of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) at the Department of Justice.
A gaggle of top House Democrats derided Speaker Paul Ryan's newly developed GOP task force on poverty on Wednesday, arguing that the group was a "sham."
Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA), chair of the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity, released a statement today after Speaker Paul Ryan announced the formation of a Republican task force on poverty.
Today, the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity met with Shaun Donovan, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee, chair of the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity, released the following statement today on a report by the White House Council of Economic Advisors on nutrition assistance:
Today, Dr. John King, Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, met with the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity to discuss the Department’s work to ensure students can succeed in the classroom and are college- and career-ready.
On behalf of the Democratic Whip’s Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity, we are writing to ask that you commit to working with us to address the crisis of poverty and inequality in America in a way that is serious and far-reaching.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack met with the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity to discuss USDA’s efforts to address poverty in communities across the country.