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In 2003, More Americans In Poverty, Lack Health Insurance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, August 26, 2004
WASHINGTON D.C. - Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD) today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Census' annual report on poverty and annual income rates in America. The study shows that 1.3 million Americans sank into poverty last year, while median household income remained stagnant, and the number of people without health insurance coverage rose by 1.4 million to 45 million.
"This is the first time in over a decade that the number of poor increased for three years in a row, and the second year in a row that average income did not rise.
"This report has a tremendous impact on the approximately 400,000 Marylanders living in families with income less than the poverty thresholds. According to estimates from the Census Bureau, an average of 7.3 percent of Marylanders were poor between 2001 and 2002 and that number increased to 8 percent between 2002 and 2003. Today's discouraging report indicates that it will be even more difficult for families to get out of poverty, or for struggling Maryland families to stay above the margin.
"These numbers should weigh heavily on the Republican Administration and Congress. This report represents more than a million people who cannot buy food for their children, afford to go to college, or pay for their prescription medications.
"Since President Bush took office, the number of uninsured Americans has increased by 5 million. Increasingly, working families are losing insurance coverage through their employers, leaving Americans who are already struggling with weak wage growth and decreasing income to pay for the shortfall. In fact, Families USA, a non-profit, non-partisan organization focusing on health policy reported in June that over 80 percent of the 1 million people who are without health insurance in Maryland are members of working families. Furthermore, the Census Bureau reports that the percentage of people in Maryland without health insurance coverage increased from 12.8 percent between 2001 and 2002 to 13.6 percent between 2002 and 2003.
"We can add today's report to the growing list of examples that the failed policies pursued by the Bush Administration have not improved life in Maryland for working families. These new numbers make a powerful statement: America needs new leadership."
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