Emma Hardy: “I thank my friend from Arkansas for coming and hosting this serious discussion on the serious issues in this country.…”

“I thank my friend from Arkansas for coming and hosting this serious discussion on the serious issues in this country. According to the Census Bureau, 15 percent of the population is living below the poverty level. For States that were hit hardest in the 2008 economic downturn, like Nevada, the recession is not just a memory for too many, it is still a reality. At the lowest point, Nevada's unemployment rate was an astronomical 13.7 percent, and the poverty rate was at 16.2 percent. The only thing that is more stark than that number is the fact that, despite the improvement of the national unemployment rate, the national poverty rate has not budged in the last 4 years. But there is a silver lining here, and it is in the Silver State. Unlike national figures on poverty, Nevada has seen poverty rates drop as the unemployment rate has dropped also. One of the most effective ways that my State has been able to improve the lives of the most impoverished is through smart community involvement on the local level. Unlike so many Federal approaches that operate on a one-size-fits-all solution, local, community-based solutions are tailored and are specific to community and, in many cases, conditions of each individual's needs. These approaches work best because they are closest to the situation and usually have the best understanding of the factors on the ground. The impoverished aren't always just a statistic to their community.…”