A Path for Progress in War on Poverty

Floor Speech

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Mr. DAVIDSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, since LBJ launched the War on Poverty, the percentage of Americans living below the poverty line has remained persistently static.

As reform efforts in Congress continue to falter, American's poverty reduction efforts continue to fall short of their objectives. We need a different approach to help millions of Americans escape poverty.

Today, I am introducing the People Centered Assistance Reform Effort Act, or the People CARE Act. This legislation creates a bipartisan commission in order to empower caseworkers to treat each person holistically, rather than simply administer programs; realign the 90- plus, often duplicative, poverty programs; remove benefit cliffs; and more.

It encourages employment, marriage, and education, activities identified by the Brookings Institution and others as effective means to end poverty.

The commission cannot launch new programs, nor directly cut spending. Upon receiving the commission's recommendation, Congress would have to vote to approve or disapprove.

People CARE offers a path for progress in the War on Poverty. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to cosponsor the People CARE Act.

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