On the recordMarch 25, 2021
I rise today to join my colleagues-- Senator Brown; Senator Booker; the Presiding Officer, Senator Bennet-- in shining a bright spotlight on the tragedy of child poverty and what the Senate needs to do and can do to eliminate poverty permanently-- child poverty across our country. Someone has said that children are the casualties of every age, and while this is a longstanding problem, the fight could not be more urgent as countless families work to pull themselves out of the economic misery caused by a once-in-a-century pandemic. This pain is felt all across our country. But as we talk about the issue of child poverty, this is not theoretical. For me, it is personal. I grew up in public housing. I am one of 12 children in my family. I am No. 11 and the first college graduate. I stand here today as a U.S. Senator, but I am the product of good Federal public policy and good public schools. I know that what we do in this Chamber makes a difference in the lives of families and in the lives of all of our children. My life's journey is a testament to the promise of our country, the greatest country on Earth, when we make the necessary investments in our youth and enable them to thrive. As a pastor, I speak to young people all the time, and I often go back to my hometown of Savannah, GA, and communities all across Georgia like the neighborhood I grew up in.…
