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Town Meetings on Poverty

Date: June 3, 2005
Issues: Health and Health Care Housing and Property


Town Meetings on Poverty
6/3/2005

Congressman Sanders Announces Congressional Town Meetings on Poverty

LET'S TALK ABOUT POVERTY AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT

At a time when the wealthiest people in America are getting richer, poverty in the United States is increasing. It is time that we in Vermont and throughout the country began talking about this issue, and finding solutions to it.

I am pleased to announce that I will be holding four Congressional Town Meetings on Poverty (see side bar for dates and times). These meetings will feature local speakers, an open discussion, a free dinner, and awards presentations honoring Vermonters who have led in the fight against poverty.

As you may know, the Census Bureau reported last year that 36 million Americans, 13 percent of our population, live in poverty. And the numbers are going up rapidly. In the last 4 years alone, 4 million more Americans slipped into poverty and we have, by far, the highest rate of childhood poverty in the industrialized world.

Some of the growing manifestations of poverty are that millions continue to work at a national minimum wage of 5.15 an hour that has not been raised in years. Many of the new jobs being created in our state and country are low paying without adequate benefits. There is also a severe crisis in terms of affordable housing. This year, over 3.5 million Americans will experience homelessness, including 1.35 million children. Of those families who are fortunate enough to have housing, 14 million of them now pay more than half of their limited incomes on housing.

Further, our health care system is disintegrating and we are the only major country on earth that does not have a national health care program. Today, 45 million Americans lack any health insurance (including over 60,000 in Vermont) and even more are underinsured.

Whether it is unemployment or inadequate educational opportunities, low wages or lack of health insurance, homelessness or high fuel prices millions of Americans are finding it very hard to keep their heads above water economically.

AMERICA CAN DO BETTER, AMERICA MUST DO BETTER, AND THAT'S WHAT THESE TOWN MEETINGS ARE ABOUT.

Feel free to invite your friends and associates and neighbors to these important meetings.

http://bernie.house.gov/documents/releases/20050603155448.asp

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