Poverty In America Awareness Month

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Ms. McCOLLUM. In the wealthiest country in the world, far too many of our citizens live in poverty, and the number is growing. Mr. McDermott and Chairman Rangel, thank you for bringing this important resolution to the floor.

Families in Minnesota and across our country are hurting. The economy may be improving on Wall Street, but on Main Street people are hurting and they're afraid. Unemployed workers are worried about where and how they will find a job and whether they can survive after their unemployment insurance runs out. Our neighbors with jobs are facing hours being cut, facing pay cuts, and they're in fear of also losing their jobs.

The housing crisis has driven families from their homes, and the homeless shelters are filled. Families are sleeping in their cars. Access to basic health care and putting food on the table are now a struggle for far too many Americans. More families are falling below the poverty line and they need our help.

In 2008, one in eight residents of Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District, which I represent, was living in poverty--over 68,000 men, women, children, and seniors. The number is certainly growing with the economic recession, and that means children are going hungry, parents lack day care and reliable transportation to get a job, seniors struggle to pay rent. And yes, many illnesses are left unattended.

Yesterday, I visited a Head Start site in St. Paul, and the staff members there are worried about food insecurity for the children in their classrooms. It is unacceptable that children would go hungry.

The role of the Federal Government is to keep our country safe and to provide an opportunity for people to improve their lives. We have much work to do. But because of the Democrats in Congress passing the Recovery Act, an estimated 60.1 million Americans did not fall below the poverty line, including 66,000 Minnesotans.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.

Mr. McDERMOTT. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 additional minute to the gentlewoman.

Ms. McCOLLUM. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, because if we're going to defeat poverty and create jobs and economic opportunity for all Americans, we need to reach out to get to know those Americans who need our help the most, those in poverty.

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