Congresswoman Lee Introduces Measure to Strengthen and Expand Anti-Poverty Programs in America
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced legislation to take measurable action to lift Americans out of poverty and create opportunities into the middle class.
“My Pathways Out of Poverty Act starts with creating good paying jobs that will lift families out of poverty and into the middle class while strengthening our social safety net for those still struggling,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. “When we create good paying jobs and lift people into the middle class, we grow our economy and allow more jobs to be created.”
Congresswoman Barbara Lee is the chair of the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality and Opportunity; Co-Chair of the Out of Poverty Caucus; Co-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Poverty and Economy Task Force and a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees.
The Pathways Out of Poverty Act was introduced with thirty-five co-sponsors.
“As a nation, we need to commit to the goal of ending poverty in America. This bill establishes a national goal to cut poverty in half over the next decade while providing the resources, infrastructure and good paying jobs to achieve that goal,” added Congresswoman Lee.
The Pathways Out of Poverty Act strengthens and expands proven anti-poverty programs and initiatives.
This bill expands early childhood education; extends the emergency unemployment compensation program; expands EITC as proposed in the President’s FY 2015 budget; improves the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program; restores the SNAP cuts made in the recent Farm Bill; adds critical investments in job training for youth and adults and addresses discrimination against the long term unemployed.