Reducing Poverty Across the Nation

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce we are one step closer to reducing poverty across the Nation.

In March, the House Committee on Education and Labor passed H.R. 5129, the Community Services Block Grant Modernization Act, on a bipartisan vote.

I was proud to introduce this bill with the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici). The bill would fund the community action agencies that help address the root causes of poverty in our communities.

These agencies are largely comprised of business and industry leaders. They provide a safety net for low-income families and individuals, but even more importantly, they help create opportunities for people to move from poverty to independence.

Despite the good these agencies do for our communities, the Community Services Block Grant program has not been reauthorized for 25 years. My bill will modernize CSBG to provide agencies the ability to tap their full potential.

Madam Speaker, this program has a long history of bipartisan support due to the great work it enables. It is my hope that this righteous bill is brought to the floor in a timely manner.

It is time for Congress to renew our Nation's commitment and further reduce poverty by reauthorizing CSBG.

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