Issue Position: Poverty

Issue Position

Poverty is a deeply personal issue for me. When I was growing up, my father lost his job and my family suffered through years of unemployment. I know the toll poverty takes on an individual and I know how hard people who are poor must work to survive. It's a priority of mine to make sure that we provide basic assistance so those in need can get back on their feet. I continue to support the initiatives of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, especially their summer meals programs for our district's children and their food pantries at both Jesse Brown and Hines VA. I believe hunger is a problem we can work toward solving together.

I believe that programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are crucial to supporting these families. I will never forget how critical food stamps and other hunger relief programs were to my family and I will make sure that those benefits are there for others when they need them.

When unemployment insurance expired for millions of Americans, including our Veterans, I sent a letter to Speaker Boehner demanding that we take action. I also took to the House floor and told the stories of my neighbors that were struggling.

I also believe that we should increase the federal minimum wage. Raising the minimum wage to $10.10 will increase the pay of at least 25 million hard working men and women across the country, generating at least $22 billion in increased economic activity and 85,000 additional jobs. Our workers deserve better; no one who works a full time job should have to live in poverty.

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