November 14, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7425 fight for the future of our country, for ship of this Congress to bring legisla- JAMES CLYBURN, joined with Congress- our children, and for our grand- tion to the floor that would create man RANGEL to develop the 10–20–30 children. My favorite modern-day jobs. But tonight we also want to call program, an initiative that they have President, President Reagan, said it our attention to the continuing plight taken to the White House and to the this way: Freedom is never more than of the poor in this country and how the Republican as well as the Democratic one generation away from extinction. budget and other battles that have leadership. We did not pass it to our children in been fought on the floor of this House Under this initiative, which seeks to the bloodstream. It must be fought for and over in the Senate have been hurt- help out the most chronically dis- and passed on for them to do the same; ing them and what is at stake for them tressed communities, 10 percent of all or one day, in our sunset years, we will also if the supercommittee does not funding and programs would go to com- tell our children and our children’s come to a balanced agreement that munities with 20 percent or higher pov- children what it was once like in Amer- would reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion erty levels for 30 or more years. And it ica where men were free. or more—and, I would say, hopefully may surprise everyone, but two-thirds Indeed, we will meet our deep obliga- more. of all of the jurisdictions that would tion to the next generation of Ameri- Earlier this month, nine Members of qualify for that 10 percent are in Re- cans. And as we come through this Vet- the House joined the Fighting Poverty publican districts. I think if it were erans Day, may God watch over our with Faith initiative and took the food under any other administration or if it veterans, our troops who stand watch stamp challenge. We agreed to live on were proposed by someone on the other tonight, and may God forever bless the what is the average food stamp allot- side of the aisle, perhaps this would United States of America. ment for a week, $31.50, and I can tell have been passed long ago; but today I yield back the balance of my time. you that it is not easy. those communities, not all of which f There are over 48 million Americans are racial and ethnic minority in today who are food insecure. More than makeup—many are, but not all are— CBC HOUR: POVERTY IN AMERICA 16 million children live in households would continue to suffer and, in es- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under that are food insecure in the richest sence, be denied those inalienable the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- country in the world. Millions face rights, and that’s not the country that uary 5, 2011, the gentlewoman from the hunger every day in this country, a we know and love. Virgin Islands (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN) is fact that we should all be ashamed of. At our annual legislative conference recognized for 60 minutes as the des- These numbers are only getting in September, we heard from research- ignee of the minority leader. worse, not just because of the recession ers who reported on persistent poverty Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speak- but because almost all of the growth of and its impact on health and the qual- er, I want to again thank our leader, wealth in the past decade went to the ity of life in the communities that are NANCY PELOSI, and the Democratic top 10 percent of people in this coun- chronically distressed. Their report Caucus for allowing the Congressional try. For most Americans, their in- tracked the stubborn persistence of Black Caucus to have this Special comes dropped; their incomes really concentrated poverty in U.S. metro- Order hour once again. crashed. And the gap between the rich politan areas over a period of nearly 40 Before I begin my discussion today, and the poor got wider, a dangerous years. Neighborhoods with poverty though, I want to take this oppor- trend for a country already struggling rates above 30 percent have been recog- tunity to wish a very happy birthday to maintain its leadership in the world, nized as places with few opportunities to my daughter Karida Green. I am something everyone should want to do for employment and education, high blessed to have two wonderful daugh- everything in our power to maintain. levels of disinvestment and crime, and ters and four fantastic grandchildren, For all of our 40 years of existence, meager civic participation. Living in whom I was able to spend the past the goal of the Congressional Black such neighborhoods over extended peri- weekend with as we celebrated Kobi’s, Caucus has been to close the gap that ods of time reduces the life chances of one of my grandsons, 5th birthday. leaves some communities behind or children, whether their families are I also want to extend congratulations some out altogether; to close the in- poor or not. The report also looked more deeply to the Federal team that’s now in place come gap, the job gap, the housing gap, at a subset of urban neighborhoods in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Congratula- the health gap, the education gap, and that can be characterized as the ‘‘origi- tions to our new district court judge, all of the disparities that have been so nal ghetto,’’ extensive areas whose Wilma A. Lewis, who joins Chief Judge doggedly persistent for some commu- cores were almost exclusively nonwhite Curtis Gomez and Senior Sitting Judge nities, not because those on the losing and poor in 1970. The report showed Raymond Finch in the district court of side didn’t want them to change or that the Nation continues to suffer the Virgin Islands; to congratulate didn’t work for change but because the U.S. Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe, who from racially and economically divided opportunity too often was just not cities, undercutting efforts to reach had his investiture this morning; and there. important goals for our country, for also Chief Marshal Cheryl Jacobs, who Colleagues, America is the land of health, for education, for employment was sworn in about 2 weeks ago. We opportunity and all of us, not just the and civic engagement. welcome all of them and thank Presi- 43 members of the Congressional Black More specifically, that report found dent Obama and Attorney General Caucus but all 441 or, really, all 541, that concentrated poverty has risen Holder for their nominations and the need to be working together to make substantially since 2000. About one in Senate for their timely confirmation. sure that it is for all and not just for 11 residents of American metropolitan And let me once again thank all of some. areas, or 22.3 million people, now live those men and women who have served This country was founded on the in a neighborhood where 30 percent or in our Nation’s Armed Forces and principle that all men and women are more of their neighbors live in poverty. those who serve today for their courage created equal and endowed with certain Such neighborhoods suffer from private and their sacrifice, and I also want to inalienable rights, not to be separated sector disinvestment, poor public serv- thank their families who serve and sac- from us. Inalienable rights—the right ices and schools, and unacceptable lev- rifice along with them. We in the Con- to life, liberty, and the pursuit of hap- els of exposure to crime, natural haz- gressional Black Caucus and, indeed, I piness. ards, and pollution. The number of peo- think, the entire Congress look forward Many times even when we pass pro- ple in high-poverty neighborhoods in- also to sometime in the not-too-distant grams that should have helped, they creased by nearly 5 million people future to honor the Montford Marines don’t reach communities that need since 2000, when 18.4 million metropoli- with a well-deserved and long overdue them most. Those communities in tan residents, 7.9 percent of the total, Congressional Gold Medal. some cases are not prepared to compete lived in high-poverty neighborhoods. But this evening, Madam Speaker, or they may not be priorities for the the Congressional Black Caucus con- Governors of those States who often b 2010 tinues our focus on the need for jobs get to decide where those programs go. The rise since 2000 is a significant and to reiterate the call for the leader- And that’s why our assistant leader, setback compared to the progress of

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:34 Nov 15, 2011 Jkt 019006 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14NO7.054 H14NOPT1 rfrederick on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H7426 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 14, 2011 the 1990s. The number of people in gresswoman BARBARA LEE introduced last bit of help. So the bill is still being high-poverty neighborhoods stabilized H.R. 3300, the Half in Ten Act of 2011, drafted, but some of the things that it in the 1990s and the concentrated pov- which proposes to cut poverty in half would do are, it would stipulate that erty rate fell, fueling optimism that within the next 10 years. In 2008, House the number one goal of TANF is child faith-based initiatives and rising pros- Concurrent Resolution 198 unani- poverty reduction. It would stop the perity were reversing a crisis that had mously passed Congress and committed clock during a recession. It would guar- grown dire in the 1980s. us to doing just that, cutting poverty antee child care for TANF work-eligi- Today, however, it appears that the in half. The new bill provides us with a ble recipients. It would lift all time improvement of the 1990s was just a framework for doing it, and we need to limits on work participation require- temporary respite. The increase in the honor the commitment that we made ments and the 30 percent safe cap on number of Americans living in high- in 2008 and pass the bill, H.R. 3300. The education. And it would adjust the poverty neighborhoods tracks directly Half in Ten Act would establish a Fed- Federal work participation require- with the Nation’s increasing poverty eral interagency working group on re- ments so that States could get credit rate. Between 2000 and 2009, the number ducing poverty. The working group will when individuals with disabilities par- of people in poverty grew by 10 million, develop and implement a national plan ticipate in work-related activities, from 33 million to 43 million, raising to reduce poverty by half in 10 years even if the nature of those activities or the poverty rate from 11.3 percent to while working to eliminate extreme the number of hours do not match the 14.3 percent in 2009. Today it’s over 15 poverty, which I talked about earlier, standard TANF requirements. Those percent. And we all have seen the Pew child poverty, and the historic dis- are just some of the things that we ex- report which shows that white wealth parity in poverty rates in communities pect to have going into the bill. And is 20 times more than African Amer- of color. The working group will im- again, in addition to H.R. 3300, when ican wealth, 18 times more than His- prove how we collect data on those who Congresswoman GWEN MOORE intro- panic wealth, and that more African are in poverty and near poverty, and duces her TANF reform bill, we hope Americans live in extreme poverty. If make regular reports on their progress that all of our colleagues will support this trend continues, it is a very bad so that Congress and the American it. prognosis for the economic health of people can better understand the im- There is an elephant in this hallowed our Nation. room and every room in this Congress, Also, everyone knows that I’m a fam- pact of our policies and programs and and that’s, of course, the deficit-cut- ily doctor by training, training that I make more informed decisions about ting proposal that the supercommittee received right here in the Nation’s Cap- how we as a people treat our most vul- is responsible for bringing forth in ital at George Washington University’s nerable. about 9 days. Actually, it would be School of Medicine and Howard Univer- The working group will be charged more than a proposal because we would sity Medical Center, so the health of with developing and implementing a have to vote on it as it is, just up or my fellow Americans is very important national plan on poverty with four dis- down, no amendments. We hear that to me. So I have to just point out that tinct but interrelated goals: one, to re- there will, more than likely, within poverty is a sure prescription for poor duce the national poverty rate by half those 9 days be an agreement. And if health and for premature, preventible in 10 years; two, to eliminate extreme disability and death. Just eliminating poverty, those with income under 50 there’s any hope for a fair and balanced poverty alone would improve the percent of poverty; three, to eliminate agreement, it’s because we know that health of millions and the terrible child poverty; and four, to eliminate the House Members that the Demo- health standing of our country, which the historic disparity in poverty rates cratic Caucus has placed on the com- is an embarrassment. Or let me quote in communities of color. That working mittee will work to ensure that it is. one of our Surgeon Generals, ‘‘An af- group would consult with experts And those are our assistant Demo- front both to our ideals and to the on- across all relevant Federal agencies as cratic leader JIM CLYBURN, vice chair going genius of American medicine,’’ well as outside poverty groups who of the caucus XAVIER BECERRA, and our as was said by former Surgeon General work directly with those most affected Budget Committee ranking member Margaret Heckler back in 1985, and it by those Federal programs so that we CHRIS VAN HOLLEN. continues to be true today. can develop a comprehensive, far- We’ve said over and over again that As many have said, the American reaching, sustainable plan. this plan needs to include a further ex- Dream has become a nightmare for too I really want to thank the gentle- tension of unemployment benefits, many in this country, including those woman from California, Congress- which is something that has been dem- who recently came in pursuit of it, our woman BARBARA LEE, our former chair onstrated over and over again as a immigrant community. The Rebuild of the Congressional Black Caucus, for guaranteed stimulus for the recession American Dream movement and many her work on eliminating poverty, for that we’re not yet out of. But it also, of of the Occupy Wall Street protests are her leadership of the Out of Poverty course, provides a needed bridge until all about making it a good dream Caucus, and for introducing H.R. 3300. we can get this Congress to create jobs again, and not just a dream, but an op- We have another bill that will soon again. It’s been over 300 days, and we portunity to make it a reality. As be introduced by Congresswoman GWEN still have yet to see the Republican quiet as it’s kept—and we, Democrats, MOORE which also speaks to poverty. leadership produce and enact a jobs have really been too quiet—Democrats She’s preparing a bill that would re- agenda for this country, something have always been about keeping the form TANF, and I think everyone that we all know is so badly needed. American Dream alive for everyone would agree that TANF has not really And just to talk about where we are, who lives and who comes to this coun- worked as it was intended to. As we in the third quarter of 2011, 31.8 percent try, for making opportunity available look at it, it’s created a permanent of 14 million Americans who are out of to all for a solid education, good underclass. Block grants are locked in work have been so for more than a health, a decent job, a home in a safe at 1994 levels. Many who move off of as- year. That amounts to 4.4 million peo- neighborhood, and a secure retirement. sistance after 5 years still don’t have ple. Older workers are more likely to We have never lost sight of or lost faith jobs, and they don’t have child care. remain out of work for a year or in this. And we continue to fight for it, The rise in food stamp usage shows longer; 43 percent of unemployed work- despite the big money opposition and where those pushed off of assistance ers older than 55 have been out of work the special interests who think they have gone. for at least a year. Although those with will win out in the end, but they won’t The average age of a TANF recipient more education are less likely to lose because we are on the side of the Amer- is 7.8 years of age. Twenty percent of jobs, once unemployed, long-term job- ican people, and they will always side children live in abject poverty in this lessness is distributed across all edu- with what is in their best interests and country. It has damaged the social cational levels. And we keep hearing not in the best interests of our coun- safety net that was meant to respond about employers who might have a job try. to the countercyclical nature of the opening, saying for those who are job- Before we went out over our break— economy. When there is a recession, as less, don’t apply. Now that just does one more break than we needed—Con- there is now, it’s supposed to be that not make any sense.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:34 Nov 15, 2011 Jkt 019006 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14NO7.056 H14NOPT1 rfrederick on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE November 14, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7427 b 2020 jobs at a time when we need to be cre- closely at individual responsibility. Unemployment cuts across every in- ating them. That’s what the Affordable Care Act is, dustry and occupation. More than 20 So we need to make sure that we along with preventive care and pro- percent of unemployed workers in allow our economy to grow. We need to tecting children. So I’m going to be an every industry have been out of work continue, or begin, to invest in edu- optimist, and I’m looking forward to for a year or longer. And in mining, cation and health care and renewable the Supreme Court’s decision. manufacturing, transportation, utili- energy and innovation of all kinds. The But our numbers show one of every ties, financial activities, the percent- only way we can do this is with a big six Americans is living in poverty, a age of workers who have been jobless agreement, but one that includes far total of 46.2 million people. This is the for a year or longer is over 40 percent. more revenue than the mere $300 bil- highest number in 17 years in a country We cannot get out of this recession lion that is now on the table. with so many resources. And you’ve without jobs. So we want balance and fairness from heard me say this before, our country So, again, we call on the leadership the supercommittee. We want a jobs is not broke. It can belt tighten. It can of this body to enact a jobs agenda. We, agenda enacted. We want to see the move dollars around. I’m glad that the the Democrats, have proposed and re- American Jobs Act be a part of it. We Congressional Black Caucus that is quested in the strongest way possible want to see unemployment payments talking about create, protect, and re- that the American Jobs Act be a part continued and extended beyond where build has the answers. of the supercommittee’s report. It in they are today, and we want to go fur- Let me just say that children rep- itself, because of the tax and other rev- ther to make sure that poverty is re- resent a disproportionate amount of enue it would generate, is an important duced in our country because, again, the United States’ poor population. I part of reducing our deficit. We also over 16 million children in this country chair the Congressional Children’s Cau- want other revenues to be a part of are going hungry every day and living cus. In 2008, there were 15.45 million that agreement. This is not in any way in poverty; and that is something that impoverished children in the Nation, class warfare. The poor and the middle any country worth its salt should not 20.7 percent of America’s youth. The class have already given up much, have tolerate. Kaiser Family Foundation estimates made major concessions and sacrifices. I would now like to yield to my col- that there are currently 5.6 million And in the interest of saving our coun- league from Texas, Congresswoman Texans living in poverty; 2.2 million of try, they would likely do more up to a SHEILA JACKSON LEE. them are children; and 17.4 percent of point. But now it’s time for everyone Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. I thank households in the State struggle with else to give. It’s the patriotic thing to the gentlelady from the Virgin Islands food insecurity. do. for her leadership, and I’m delighted to In my district alone, the 18th Con- Unless some, or even all, of the Bush join her in what I think is an enor- gressional District, a very historic dis- tax cuts, which were meant to be tem- mously important discussion. Often- trict, there are 190,000 people living porary and should have expired al- times, Congresswoman, we don’t get a below the poverty line, the highest ready, are allowed to expire, the major- chance to have this kind of discussion number of people living in poverty in 17 ity of the deficit will come out of pro- when we are debating bills on the floor years; and then we are thinking about grams that would help the middle class of the House. So let me, first of all, add cutting vital social services such as the and the poor. The country I pledge alle- again to your statistics. The more we supplemental excess, SNAP program, giance to is a fair country. Congress can recite for people what the problem that fed 3.9 million residents of Texas has a sacred responsibility to keep it is, the better off we are. in April 2011; the WIC program; and the Census Bureau also reported that there fair, and with liberty and justice for So you will see us standing over the are 49.9 million people in the country all. next couple of days and weeks, and If no agreement is reached or if the isn’t it interesting as we approach without health insurance. We’ve al- House and Senate fail to pass whatever Thanksgiving and then the Christmas ready discussed that. And Texas hap- agreement is reached, mandatory holiday for many of us, and holidays in pens to be the State with the highest across-the-board cuts will be imposed. different names, Chanukah for many, number count. All of that, and you’re literally tak- And the President has already said he and many other kinds of celebratory ing the front door, if there is one, open- will prevent any attempts to stop the holidays that call upon fellowship and ing the door and kicking people to the mandatory cuts from taking place, and food to realize how many are impover- street. I hope that threat extends to manda- ished in this Nation. So I’m delighted I just want to deviate for a moment tory defense cuts, because what we to stand with the Congressional Black as I go over some very important as- keep hearing is that those defense cuts Caucus, our friend, Congresswoman pects that I think, joining with the will just not ever happen. And if de- BARBARA LEE, our chairperson, Chair- Congressional Black Caucus, that if fense is spared, the mandatory discre- man CLEAVER, and yourself to firmly they would only listen, if you would tionary cuts would further come out of stand committed to combating pov- only listen, I believe would move us on programs that would help the poor and erty, eliminating hunger, and pro- a pathway of creating jobs, just as we the middle class and would hurt them viding health insurance for all citizens. spoke about in the jobs tour that we even more than some of the budget Let me just say in light of that, the participated in this summer. agreements we have already reached. Supreme Court indicated that they will But I want to be very clear, the Sec- Some of the cuts that this Congress take up the health care bill. But I’m ond Mile in Pennsylvania was labeled has already made would hurt the poor going to join some pundits and take a as an organization that dealt with at- and hurt jobs. risk and say it’s going to be upheld. I risk children. Those are poor children. Just in 2011, 250 programs were cut know there is a lot of rubbing of the Some might ask: Where is she going that probably eliminated about 370,000 hands and excitement because they see here? They are the most vulnerable. jobs. Those are just some of the things in the eyesight the death knell for the They are the most needy. And because that we have already lost. There are al- Affordable Care Act. those children were vulnerable, be- most 60,000 jobs lost from the spring But the good news is that one of the cause those parents were vulnerable, budget cuts of the Federal Government judges that upheld the Affordable Care because they were looking for relief, in three areas, with secondary impact Act was a conservative judge who ana- looking for a child to have some sort on a wide array of businesses, ranging lyzed our right to require individuals of, if you will, activity and comfort, from automobile producers to local res- to have insurance for the greater maybe even food—I’m sure those pro- taurants and dry cleaning establish- good—that’s not the legal interpreta- grams and trips out of town might ments. Federal support for law enforce- tion. And I believe there is sufficient have also had resources that children ment, environmental cleanup of nu- numbers on the court that will look be- do not have—when a child is vulner- clear weapons production facilities, yond politics and realize that the able, they become a target for the most and General Services Administration heavy burden of health care is a heavy heinous of acts. Federal buildings fund, those are some burden on the economy. And if you are If I might deviate and indicate that I of the cuts that have just wiped out a conservative, you will look more intend to introduce legislation on two

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:34 Nov 15, 2011 Jkt 019006 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14NO7.058 H14NOPT1 rfrederick on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H7428 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 14, 2011 counts, one to suspend any Federal Stabilization Program has been touted turing makes things, we’ve got to buy funding to any entity, academic, non- all over America. What it does is it things. How do you buy things? You profit, State and local government, brings dollars into depressed areas have money to buy it. And I’ve been prosecutors’ office that has covered up where these vulnerable children live, supporting this for a very long time. and not prosecuted or not reported the and it provides stabilization dollars, I’m part of the Manufacturing Caucus. sexual abuse of a child, excluding if it making good on 100,000 properties with In addition, it’s very important that is an academic institution, funding for $7 billion, and it allows these prop- we do as the WPA did during the time scholarships and Pell Grants; and to erties to be restored for families. In the of the horrible aftermath of the De- also indicate funding, ramping up fund- course of doing that, you create jobs pression, and the Workforce Invest- ing, for the Department of Justice for and you don’t have these big signs that ment Act would be assisting 8 million anyone who carries a child over State say, ‘‘Foreclosure.’’ people and give all of these people a lines for the intent of sexually abusing And then, of course, the National chance to fix the infrastructure all a child. Housing Trust, if Congress can provide across America. Cars will stop going at least a billion dollars to fund the b 2030 into potholes, bridges will stop having National Housing Trust, which is a cracks in them, and we will be able to What an untoward national image mechanism for affordable housing. put people to work. and international image we have just When a child has a room, a light, a TANF, if it were fully funded and if it gotten. I don’t worry about football. desk, and a bed and that family feels had an emergency contingency fund I’m not interested in the State. I’m not comfortable, they are less vulnerable that many of us have been speaking interested in the particular academic to sexual predators, to not having re- about, this would make available—cre- institution. I’m not pointing fingers, sources, to being thrown to the wolves, ate temporary jobs for adults and sum- and I don’t know the coach’s name. I if you will. And it will create 15,000 mer jobs, but, more importantly, it just know that in the course of the ac- jobs. would create 240,000 jobs. tivity of this alleged perpetrator, there Unemployment insurance that many And the same thing with the infra- may be many more vulnerable, poor of us have worked on and joined Con- structure. Again, how many people children which we’re talking about to- gresswoman LEE and Congressman have traveled with a limited amount of night, the most impoverished; and that SCOTT to extend to the 99ers and to gas but traveled over bridges and free- one person, among others, saw a phys- make sure that they can put bread on ways and found them in disrepair? This ical sexual act and did nothing about their table, pay their light bill and get is a simple process. it. gas to go look for a job, it will save Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Absolutely. And so poverty is not only a family 500,000 jobs—500,000 jobs. Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. And I not having enough to eat, maybe not Why is no one listening? It’s a simple would argue vigorously that it is dis- having clothing, maybe not having a process. And has anyone heard of a appointing that we have not been lis- place to live, but it also means it puts country moving forward without in- tened to and members of the Congres- a child in the most horrible, horrific of vestment in its people? And that’s sional Black Caucus and the Demo- conditions; almost to the extent, even what we are arguing. Very quickly, we cratic Caucus, and even today the though you would say that the pred- have supported this for so long. No one supercommittee is speaking about not ator is sick, but it puts that vulnerable will listen. Everybody that is outsourc- fulfilling the promise of putting the child—because that parent may be vul- ing is taxed, and that will generate re- revenue on the table necessary to nerable, that parent may not be home. sources that will allow us to invest counter the cuts. I, frankly, don’t want They may be a loving parent. They back into the Treasury. Then we can sequestration. The vulnerable will be may be struggling with three jobs, and invest in the National Housing Trust. hit the hardest with all of the cuts that they need a place for their child. The We can invest in the Neighborhood Sta- are pointed toward Medicare, Medicaid, child may need the comfort and nur- bilization Program. We can invest in Social Security, food stamps, and oth- turing of an adult, and that child then the 99ers, and we can provide money to ers that they allege that are protected, becomes a victim. So don’t think that those who are in need. but I would argue that aspects of it are we’re standing here and arguing Give a tax holiday for the first $20,000 not. I made a public commitment to against poverty just to be arguing. It is on payroll tax, which will provide the my veterans last Friday that I would a systemic atmosphere and condition opportunity for small businesses and not allow for my vote and my support that will allow you to be victimized. put income in, if you will, the pockets one iota of veterans’ benefits to be cut. Let me go to the supercommittee as of many who are in need, who week to I’m so tired of people talking about I talk about what the CBC, Congres- week make ends meet and are very that we’re not willing to look at Medi- sional Black Caucus, is looking at. I much in need of that. As well, to help care, Medicaid, and Social Security. will follow the quotes of some I have those who have been chronically unem- No, I am not willing to look at it as it heard who testified before the com- ployed, to not discriminate against has been proposed by my Republican mittee. I had the privilege of sitting in them but to give a payroll tax holiday friends. They know full well how they on one meeting, not very long, and I in order to hire the chronically unem- can cut this. They can follow the Af- think they are dedicated Members of ployed; so when they see ‘‘Help want- fordable Care Act and close the dough- Congress. But we must know that this ed,’’ they will be excited about hiring nut hole on Medicare part D, the most is not in the regular order. This was someone because they have that ben- expensive, heinous, insulting affront to out of the order, and it came about efit. spending money in the United States of through the forced need to lift the debt By the way, can we make an an- America that was voted on in the Re- ceiling. In essence, we were taken hos- nouncement here? We are not broke. publican majority, Medicare part D tage. So, frankly, I’m going to suggest Companies have trillions of dollars in that all seniors hate. that the supercommittee yield. They their bank accounts, and so do the can go through the 23rd, but, in es- banks, but they keep saying to us b 2040 sence, accept the inevitable that there they’re afraid to invest and let the Our Affordable Care Act, if allowed will be no agreement and that this money go because it’s not a stable to be implemented, would close the Congress come back in 2012, because we economy. How much louder do I have doughnut hole—that’s one way of doing have until 2013 for the sequestration, to say it’s a chicken and egg? Hire peo- it—and seniors would jump for joy. In come back in 2012 and do our business ple. That’s a stable economy. They in- addition, if you start talking about and respond to the suggestions of the vest back into the economy, they begin provider benefits, I’m going to publicly Congressional Black Caucus and legis- to buy things, and then you begin to say I oppose it. Why? Because I cannot lation that many of us have introduced manufacture. It’s a chicken and egg. trust the knife. What does the knife to create jobs, to balance the revenue, It’s the cart and the horse. do? It goes in and slashes hospitals and and do our work. Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Absolutely. home care and others possibly. And And so I want to suggest that there Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Rees- when you slash it, you do jeopardize are many programs. The Neighborhood tablish manufacturing. If manufac- seniors who are in hospitals.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:34 Nov 15, 2011 Jkt 019006 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14NO7.059 H14NOPT1 rfrederick on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE November 14, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7429 We have to find a way to cut the dren, and that 17.4% of households in the facing huge cuts in education. Again, waste, fraud and abuse; and we’ve de- state struggle with food insecurity. who does it hit? The vulnerable chil- termined that waste, fraud and abuse In my district, the Texas 18th, more than dren in public schools. And I just have can save us billions of dollars. So out 190,000 people live below the poverty line. to, before I leave the microphone, men- of my lips, I will not support cutting We must not, we cannot, at a time when the tion the North Forest Independent Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Secu- Census Bureau places the number of Amer- School District, the only majority mi- rity, or discretionary funding. I will ican living in poverty at the highest rate in nority school district left in the State support the creation of 8 million jobs. I over 17 years, cut vital social services. Not in of Texas, targeted for closing, not be- will support investing in America’s the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and per- cause it’s not welcomed by parents, people. I will support getting rid of at- sistent unemployment, when so many rely on teachers, and others, but because the risk children, meaning not getting rid federal benefits to survive, like the Supple- State simply wants to be on a budget- of them but their condition, so that we mental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP) that cutting trip, if you will. And I leave don’t have to find at-risk children. fed 3.9 million residents of Texas in April the podium by saying to my Governor, What a disgrace that we take that in 2011, or the Women, Infant, and Children Governor Perry, as I’ve talked about such a way that we categorize. These (WIC) Program that provides nutritious food to impoverished children, don’t close, and are at-risk children, these are poor more than 990,000 mothers and children in don’t condemn our children who are children, and we just accept it. They’re my home state. trying to learn in North Forest Inde- numbers. Well, at-risk children are im- The Census Bureau also reported there are pendent School District. And to my poverished, malnourished, don’t have 49.9 million people in this country without colleagues: Education creates jobs— good health care, and are victims. And health insurance. This is an absolute injustice and I mentioned the teachers—but they can be victims of the most hei- that must be addressed. We can no longer ig- also, it invests in our children. nous sexual predator story, act, of our nore the fact that nearly 50 million Americans, I thank the gentlelady for yielding to recent times. Even we’ve heard of the many of them children, have no health insur- me. faith institution that has been under ance. Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you. such siege that has made changes—the Texas has the largest uninsured population And thank you for the optimism about Catholic Church spoke out today—be- in the country; 24.6% of Texans do not have the outcome of the Affordable Care Act cause it is a disease, it is an epidemic, health care coverage. This includes 1.3 million at the Supreme Court. I wish I shared and it comes out of poverty and vulner- children in the state of Texas alone who do your optimism, but we’ll take that as a ability. And if we don’t cut out the vul- not have health insurance, or access to the very positive outlook on the outcome, nerability of our children and fami- healthcare they need. and I hope that indeed your predictions lies—and in this great country, even It is unconscionable that, despite egre- are correct. the Bible says the poor will always be giously high poverty rates, Republicans seek GENERAL LEAVE with us, but they also say be busy until to reduce spending by cutting social programs Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speak- He comes. And that means we should that provide food and healthcare instead of er, I ask unanimous consent that all be busy until the Lord comes, for those raising taxes on the wealthiest in the nation, or Members may have 5 legislative days of us who believe, should be busy until closing corporate tax loopholes. in which to revise and extend their re- He comes, making the corrections that Perhaps my friends on the other side of the marks and include extraneous material we have to make. aisle are content to conclude that life simply is on the subject of the Special Order this So I want to thank the gentlelady for not fair, equality is not accessible to everyone, evening. allowing me to join her and to express, and the less advantaged among us are con- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there as the chairwoman of the Congres- demned to remain as they are, but I do not objection to the request of the gentle- sional Children’s Caucus, the work that accept that. That kind of complacency is not woman from the Virgin Islands? should be done, the work that we’ve fitting for America. There was no objection. done on the issues of bullying and obe- I firmly believe that all Americans can come Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, sity and on nutrition. And areas like together to protect the most vulnerable citi- Madam Speaker, after more than 300 days in that are added to this work that has zens in the nation, to provide relief for the the majority, Republicans have failed to enact been done by the Congressional Black poor and the hungry, because 46 million of a much needed jobs agenda that will strength- Caucus. our fellow countrymen living in poverty, 15 mil- en America’s weakened economy. While fail- And I just simply say: Is anybody lis- lion of them children, is simply unacceptable. ing to put forth a solid jobs agenda, they have tening? Because we have the solution. I urge my colleagues in Congress, and peo- simultaneously said no to President Obama’s And if they would only listen, 8 million ple across the nation, to look at what unites us American Jobs Act. Sadly students, teachers, jobs, children who are protected, and rather than what divides us. We are linked by first responders, and America’s families are families who can get back on their feet our compassion, and bound by the funda- paying the price. and begin to invest back in this coun- mental edict of the American dream that says The clock is running out as the deadline for try. we will strive to provide our children with a a deficit plan from Joint Select Committee on With that, I thank the gentlelady for better life than we had. We can, and we must Deficit reduction looms ahead. In these last yielding. reach a compromise that will not cut valuable few days, I challenge the Joint Select Com- Madam Speaker, I stand today with my col- services from those who need government the mittee to put politics aside and to work to- leagues from the Congressional Black Caucus most. gether to create jobs and protect America’s to discuss the recent on poverty and Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, most vulnerable citizens. healthcare. Together, we stand, firmly com- Congresswoman JACKSON LEE, for join- As the unemployment rate remains high, mitted to combating poverty, eliminating hun- ing us. Thank you for the work that millions of Americans continue to live at or ger, and providing health insurance for all our you do on the Judiciary Committee, below the poverty line. Texas has the second citizens. and especially for your strong defense highest rate of food insecure children in the I am, as we all are, deeply troubled by the of children and the rights of children nation. Last year 4.2 million Texans either ex- report issued by the U.S. Census Bureau. 1 of and the protection of children in this perienced hunger outright or altered their con- every 6 Americans are living in poverty, total- country. We look forward to the intro- sumption to avoid going hungry. I urge the ing 46.2 million people, this highest number in duction of your bills as well, and we Joint Select Committee to reject any policies 17 years. In a country with so many re- ask for the support of our colleagues that will increase hunger and poverty in Amer- sources, there is no excuse for this staggering for them, both as cosponsors and when ica. level of poverty. they get to the floor. We must ensure that the Joint Committee Children represent a disproportionate Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Will the on Deficit Reduction focuses on economic amount of the United States poor population. gentlelady yield? growth and job creation to stop the spread of In 2008, there were 15.45 million impover- Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I yield to the hunger and poverty in our country. Lastly, I ished children in the nation, 20.7% of Amer- gentlewoman. ’urge the Committee to do whatever it takes to ica’s youth. The Kaiser Family Foundation es- Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. If I prioritize steady growth of our investments in timates that there are currently 5.6 million Tex- might, as I close, I did mention edu- science, technology, and STEM education. It ans living in poverty, 2.2 million of them chil- cation. Many of us know that we are is when our economy is hurting the most that

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:34 Nov 15, 2011 Jkt 019006 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K14NO7.062 H14NOPT1 rfrederick on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H7430 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 14, 2011 we should be redoubling our efforts to inno- ISSUES FACING AMERICA to Medicare. And that will mean, from vate our way into a brighter future of new jobs, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a political standpoint, that those same new technologies, and untold societal benefits. the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- people that rammed through Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, uary 5, 2011, the gentleman from Texas ObamaCare against the country’s will again, I rise to bring attention to the Crisis of (Mr. GOHMERT) is recognized for 30 min- will then be able to say before next Poverty in America. utes. year’s election, look what happened. As a founder and Co-Chair of the Congres- Mr. GOHMERT. It is interesting to b 2050 sional Out of Poverty Caucus, in 2008, I was see the way the negotiations with the Republicans caused a massive cut to proud to introduce H. Con. Res. 198, which supercommittee are playing out. Some Medicare. They’re the ones to blame. committed the House of Representatives to of us didn’t vote for the debt ceiling They’ll be able to take people’s minds setting a goal of cutting poverty in half in ten bill. I know in my own case I didn’t off the fact that ObamaCare was a $500 years. I was proud that the House passed my vote for it because I read it, and I was billion cut to Medicare to our seniors resolution unanimously. concerned it was not a good idea. Our country should not put its na- that will result in them having ra- I hope that together this Congress can take tioned care, getting on long lists before the first steps toward that goal. tional security as a bargaining chip on the table. National security is impor- they can get treated, like happens in The Crisis of Poverty in America is nothing tant to everyone on both sides of the England, like happens in Canada. You short of a national emergency and we must aisle; it should never be used as a bar- get on a list to get your mammogram, begin to act like it. gaining chip, whether or not we’re get on a list if there’s cancer there to The U.S. Census recently released their going to devastate it. have it biopsied or if there’s a lump, supplemental poverty estimates which con- On the other side, the defense would having it biopsied, get on a list, have firms what every other survey and report has be devastated at the same time Medi- therapy of some kind, whether it’s sur- shown, that communities of color continue to care would be devastated. If the super- gery, whether it’s radiation, chemo, face tragically higher rates of poverty than committee’s recommendations are not whatever kind of cancer it is. You get their white counterparts. approved by at least seven of the 12 and on a list. 27.4 and 26.5 percent of Black and Hispanic then Congress does not pass them into I mentioned before a man originally communities suffer under poverty respectively law, Medicare gets cut and so does the from Canada who said his father died when compared to the 9.9 percent rate of their national security get devastated. because he was on a list to have a by- white counterparts. This is no accident, rather So who stands to win and who stands pass surgery for 2 years. If he’d been in the direct result of a long history of disparity to lose in that scenario? Well, we know the U.S., the son said he’d still be and a lack of economic, educational and en- that when what is commonly referred alive. But he was in Canada, and be- trepreneurial opportunity in our communities. to as ObamaCare—I don’t even remem- cause they have the socialized medi- We know that this disparity is reflected in ber the real name—when that got cine program basically embraced by the rates of unemployment, in the ranks of the passed, AARP indicated, hey, that’s a ObamaCare, then you are going to, you uninsured, in the impact of health care dispari- good idea, even though it had $500 bil- know, end up on a list. That’s what ties, in education, in income and in the already lion in cuts to Medicare. I couldn’t be- happens when the government’s com- vast and expanding wealth gap. lieve that some of the groups that en- pletely in charge of health care. It Doing everything that we can to reduce pov- dorsed that bill did endorse it because, doesn’t have to be like that. erty and to end this terrible racial disparity is for one, it had $500 billion in cuts to When you look at the amount that not only the morally right thing to do, but it is Medicare. You know, we’ve got AARP the Federal Government, State govern- the best way to jump start the economy as stirring up seniors right now—send in a ments spend on Medicare and Medicaid, well. petition, tell them you don’t want any divided by the number of households in There is simply no way forward for our cuts to Medicare, that you’re a member the country, we’ve gotten a bunch of economy that leaves communities of color and of AARP. And I appreciated those peti- different numbers, but it appears that the poor behind. tions very much. Those people that felt it may be around $25,000 for every As I said, it is time to take the first step on Medicare shouldn’t have been cut household on Medicare or Medicaid. the road to cutting poverty in half in America. should have been telling that to AARP Between $20,000 and $30,000 just to pay I have introduced H.R. 3300, the Half in Ten back when they were thinking that for health insurance? Act of 2011, which 55 of our colleagues have ObamaCare was a good idea. It wasn’t We’d be far better off buying them a co-sponsored. then, it’s not now, and it won’t be if it high-deductible policy and giving them cash money in an HSA, a health sav- My bill would establish the Federal Inter- kicks into effect fully and people start ings account, with a debit card they agency Working Group on Reducing Poverty. having rationed care. So, what would take people’s minds control. They decide what doctor they The Working Group will develop and imple- off the fact that the President’s pride go to; they decide what hospital they ment a national plan to reduce poverty in half and joy, his health care bill, cut $500 go to. They decide whether they want in ten years. billion from Medicare and Republicans this medicine or that medicine. And They would also work to eliminate child pov- didn’t support it? didn’t think it was a when they go through, if they go erty, extreme poverty, and finally bring an end good idea? That’s 100 percent a Demo- through the amount of the high de- to the historic and on-going disparity in pov- cratic bill that was ramrodded through ductible, that’s all the money to cover erty rates in communities of color. with most of the country against it. So that’s in their health savings account, The Half in Ten Act would dramatically im- the President has to carry that mantle, then their insurance kicks in, and we prove how the federal government responds to as do the leaders in charge at that finally get the insurance companies the needs of families in poverty. time, the people that were in the ma- out of the health management business It is time to work together to dramatically im- jority in the House at that time under and back into the health insurance prove access to opportunity for low income Speaker PELOSI as she pushed it business. Because right now we don’t Americans so that they can climb up the eco- through, commenting that we needed really have any health insurance com- nomic ladder and reignite the fire of every to pass it so we could find out what was panies. We’ve got health management American Dream. in it. Well, I had read it. I knew what companies. It is clear that our policies and programs ad- was in it, and knew it was a disaster I want to go back to having health dressing poverty have not kept pace with the waiting to happen. I knew that it hurt insurance companies. Insurance is growing needs of millions of Americans. It is seniors badly. when someone pays a small amount time we make the commitment to confront So we come back again to this super- monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, an- poverty head-on, create pathways out of pov- committee. What do Leader REID and nually to ensure against some unfore- erty and provide opportunities for all. the Senate Democrats—even House seen event, either a catastrophic dis- I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. Democrats—have to gain if the super- ease or accident. It’s unforeseen. Don’t 3300. committee’s proposals are not adopted? know if it’s going to happen. Don’t Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speak- Well, there will be massive cuts to se- know if you’re going to run up health er, I yield back the balance of my time. curity, and there will be massive cuts expenses to that kind of high mark so

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