Blog: Alleviating Poverty

Statement

Dear Friend,

Hoosiers work hard to provide for their families. Unfortunately, it is becoming harder and harder to make ends meet. Today, millions of Americans are living below the poverty line as the gap between the wealthy and the poor continues to grow. This situation is one we must address immediately which is why Congress must make raising the minimum wage and extending unemployment benefits top priorities in 2014.

Since 2009, our minimum wage has remained at $7.25 an hour. Unfortunately, this is far too low for many minimum wage workers to cover the basic necessities of life. By raising the minimum wage, families may finally get the opportunity to pay their bills, put food on the table, and start saving to send a child to college or buy a home. Raising the minimum wage would reduce our poverty rate and help to stabilize our economy for the future.

Another important step in alleviating poverty is to extend unemployment benefits. Many of our friends and neighbors rely on this safety net to make ends meet while looking for work. Sadly, 19,000 Hoosiers lost this critical support when Republican House leaders allowed the program to expire at the end of December--a number that is growing every week. This is shameful and unacceptable. Rest assured, I will be working tirelessly to see that unemployment insurance benefits are extended as soon as possible.

In the coming months, the debates over the minimum wage and unemployment benefits will be at the forefront in Washington. I look forward to working with my colleagues to come to a bipartisan resolution on these and other issues that are so important to Hoosiers who need help providing for their families.

If I can be of any assistance to you please feel free to contact my office.

Regards,

André

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