Congresswoman Barbara Lee Recognizes California Statewide Convening on Poverty
Lee called 20 Million in California Living in Poverty a “Moral Disgrace”
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Chair of the Majority Leader’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity, today recognized the Poor People’s Campaign California Statewide Convening on Poverty on the House Floor.
Congresswoman Lee, alongside Bishop William Barber of the Poor People’s Campaign, called the 20 million people living in Poverty in California a “moral disgrace,” and uplifted the launch of an initiative called “Close the Gap California.”
“Extreme poverty affects over 20 million people in California, this is a moral disgrace. We need the moral resolve to pass laws and policies that fully address interlocking injustices that have only deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This country was founded on the moral commitment to ensure domestic tranquility, promote general welfare, and secure liberty and justice for all. It’s time we realize a Third Reconstruction to build an equitable, thriving, and resilient economy from the bottom up. That’s why I’m calling on my colleagues to have the political will to extend the Child Tax Credit and enact other domestic policies focused on addressing poverty in communities in California and across the country.
“I thank Bishop Barber and the Poor People’s Campaign for their consistent moral clarity and commitment to ensuring every community can live a life of dignity and prosperity. As Chair of the Majority Leader’s Poverty Task Force, I won’t stop fighting until we pass our legislation for a Third Reconstruction in Congress to tackle poverty, economic inequality, and racial injustice. This is a moral imperative.”
Congresswoman Lee is a sponsor of, H. Res. 438, the Third Reconstruction Resolution, which demands the U.S. fully address poverty and low wages from the bottom up.?The proposal was introduced with Rep. Pramila Jayapal and co-chairs of the Poor People’s Campaign, Bishop Dr. William J. Barber II and Rev. Dr. Liz? Theoharis.
This resolution?is?a historic omnibus vision to summon the moral and political resolve of the nation to center the needs of the 140 million people who are poor, low-wealth and/or living one emergency away from economic ruin – and millions more since the pandemic – with moral laws and policies.??
To read the full text of the resolution, click here.
To watch Congresswoman Lee’s floor speech, click here.
