Political Quotes

“Thank you so very, very much for yielding. And I, as always, want to thank Congressmen Horsford and Jeffries for leading the Congressional Black Caucus hour. Today's topic is critically important. The rapid rise of poverty and, particularly, the rapid growth of poverty in minority communities, is troubling. The latest Census Bureau numbers report that 15 percent of Americans live in poverty. The poverty rate among African Americans is nearly double the national rate, 27 percent. And almost 1 in 4 African American children lives in poverty. I'm not sure how many children you come in contact with each day, but this statistic means that every fourth African American child you see lives a life of struggle. Food is scarce in their home. Their neighborhoods are riddled with crime. There is no guarantee that the lights and heat will be on when they come home from school each day. As our economy sputters and more Americans slip below the poverty line, Federal anti-poverty programs are essential. Yet, over the last year, conservatives on and off the Hill have begun to spin a story of how anti-poverty programs have done nothing but foster a culture of dependency. On Capitol Hill, lawmakers have used this narrative over and over again, giving them license to place social safety net programs on the chopping block. While the Republican budget retains tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, it places Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block.…”