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Child Poverty Reduction Act

Act to Reduce Child Poverty Rates

Co-Sponsor the Child Poverty Reduction Act

Supported by over 250 Organizations

 

Today, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that one-fifth of children lived in poverty in 2014.

 

Current co-sponsors:  D. Davis; Lee; Cummings; Connolly; Blumenauer; and Lawrence.

 

Dear Colleague:

 

We write to urge you to act to halve child poverty within 10 years and eliminate child poverty within 20 years by co-sponsoring H.R. 2408, the Child Poverty Reduction Act of 2015.  Today, the U.S. Census Bureau reported national poverty data for 2014, finding that about one-fifth (21.1%) of children lived in poverty last year.  The child poverty remained well above the overall poverty rate of 14.8 percent and much higher than before the recession, and double the 10% poverty rate for senior citizens. The agency reported even higher poverty rates for children of color, including 37.1% percent for African American children and 31.9% for Latino children.

 

The Child Poverty Reduction Actdraws on a successful effort in the United Kingdom that set measureable, national benchmarks for child poverty reduction. Within the first decade of enactment, Britain’s child poverty rate decreased by 50%; in contrast, child poverty in the U.S. has continued to rise. A key element of the British approach involved tasking experts to recommend the most effective policies to reduce poverty. This act similarly relies on science rather than politics to guide policy by charging the National Academy of Sciences to examine empirical evidence and recommend a policy agenda to halve child poverty within 10 years and eliminate it within 20 years.  Further, the bill establishes a Federal Interagency Working Group on Reducing Child Poverty implement the recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences, improve coordination and efficiency of existing initiatives,  and monitor progress toward the poverty-reduction benchmarks.

 

Eliminating child poverty should be a national priority.  Child poverty exacts a tremendous toll from our youngest citizens, their families, and our nation.  Child poverty costs the U.S. more than $672 billion a year, or 4% of Gross Domestic Product.  By eliminating child poverty, we dramatically strengthen our nation and improve our economic well-being.  We hope that you will join us and over 250 organizations (see attached letter of support) in working to eliminate child poverty by co-sponsoring the Child Poverty Reduction Act of 2015.  To co-sponsor or ask questions, please contact Jill Hunter-Williams (Davis; 5-5006; Jill.Hunter-Williams@mail.house.gov).

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Danny K. Davis                     Barbara Lee                            Elijah E. Cummings

Member of Congress             Member of Congress             Member of Congress

 

 

July 6, 2015


The Honorable Danny Davis                       The Honorable Gerry Connolly                     The Honorable Barbara Lee
U.S. House of Representatives                   U.S. House of Representatives                    U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515                               Washington, DC 20515                                Washington, DC 20515


The Honorable Elijah Cummings
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515


Dear Congressman Davis, Congressman Connolly, Congresswoman Lee and Congressman Cummings:

On behalf of 250 organizations, we thank you for your leadership in introducing the Child Poverty Reduction
Act of 2015 (HR 2408).

One in five children in the US are living in poverty, and children continue to experience higher rates of poverty
than any other age group in the US. Of all the people living in poverty in this country in 2013, 32 percent of
them were children, yet children only comprise 23 percent of the total population. Black and Hispanic children
experience higher rates of poverty than white children, with rates of 38 percent and 30 percent respectively
compared to 11 percent for white children.


Poverty is a particularly serious problem for children, who are exposed to toxic stress and suffer negative
effects for the rest of their lives after living in poverty for even a short time. Children in poverty experience
increased rates of infant mortality, higher rates of low birth weight and subsequent health and developmental
problems such as chronic disease. They also have worse educational outcomes with poor academic
achievement and lower rates of high school graduation.


The Child Poverty Reduction Act would establish a national child poverty target with the goal of cutting child
poverty in half in ten years and eliminating it within 20 years. To meet these goals, it charges a Federal
Interagency Working Group on Reducing Child Poverty with developing a plan, including recommendations to
improve the coordination and efficiency of existing initiatives as well as recommendations for new legislation
required to reach the target. It tasks the working group with monitoring progress toward the target at the
federal and state levels.


Establishing a child poverty target is not unprecedented. In 1999, the United Kingdom established a national
child poverty target, which united the Conservative and Labour parties behind a goal of halving child poverty in
ten years. Through a mixture of investments for children, measures to make work pay, and efforts to increase
financial support for families, the British government halved child poverty between 1999 and 2009. While the
UK has been struggling more recently to maintain this reduction in child poverty, the target remains legally
enforceable and a point of focus.


A national child poverty target will serve as a rallying cry for the government and other stakeholders to take
concrete steps to meet this target. It institutionalizes the goal of reducing child poverty, and serves as an
impetus for bipartisan public debate around the most effective interventions needed to achieve this target.
Cutting child poverty should be a top priority for our country. It is not only the right thing to do, but it makes
smart economic sense. Child poverty costs the US more than $500 billion a year, or almost 4 percent of gross
domestic product.


We are grateful for your leadership and we look forward to working with you on this and other proposals to
improve the well-being of America’s children and youth.


Sincerely,


NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
First Focus Campaign for Children
9to5
Alliance for a Just Society
American Academy of Nursing
American Association of Public Health Dentistry
American Federation of Teachers
American Orthopsychiatric Association
Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare
Association for Community Affiliated Plans
Campaign for American’s Future
Center for Community Change Action
Center for Rural Affairs
Child’s World America
Children’s Advocacy Institute
Children’s Health Fund
Children’s HealthWatch
Children’s Home Society of America
CLASP
Docs for Tots
Elev8
Every Child Matters
Family Promise
First Star
Foster Family-based Treatment Association
Green & Healthy Homes Initiative
HEAR US, Inc.
Institute for Science and Human Values, Inc.
Islamic Relief USA
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
LEAnet
Lutheran Services in America
MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership
National Alliance of Children’s Trust and
Prevention Funds
National Association for Bilingual Education
National Association of School Nurses
National Association of Social Workers
National Campaign to Prevent Teen and
Unplanned Pregnancy
National Center on Adoption and Permanency
National Child Abuse Coalition
National Council of Jewish Women
National Crittenton Foundation
National Foster Parent Association
National Organization for Women
National WIC Association
Network for Environmental & Economic
Responsibility of United Church of Christ
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice
Lobby
Nurse-Family Partnership
Oral Health America
Parents Anonymous, Inc.
PICO Center for Health Organizing
Provincial Council of the Clerics of St. Viator
(Viatorians)
Public Advocacy for Kids
Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Coalition
RESULTS
School-Based Health Alliance
Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
Sisters of Mercy of the American’s Institute Justice
Team
The Arc of Multnomah/Clackamas
The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent
Health
The Salvation Army National Headquarters
Treatment Communities of America
STATE, TERRITORY AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
ALABAMA
Alabama Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics
Alabama Food Bank Association
VOICES for Alabama’s Children
ALASKA
AK Child & Family
Juneau Youth Services
AMERICAN SAMOA
American Samoa Department of Health
ARIZONA
Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of
Pediatrics
Arizona State Dental Hygienists’ Association
Child and Family Resources, Inc.
ARKANSAS
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
KidSPOT
The Living Affected Corporation
United Way of Garland County, Inc.
CALIFORNIA
Assoc. of CA School Administrators
California Association of Food Banks
California School Boards Association
California School-Based Health Alliance
Clinica Sierra Vista
Family Voices of California
First 5 Santa Cruz County
Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC)
Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach
Proteus, Inc.
Service Center for Independent Life
St. Joseph Health
The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health
Western Center on Law and Poverty
COLORADO
Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and
Reproductive Rights
Posada
The Early Childhood Council of Boulder County
CONNECTICUT
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
Jewish Community Relations Council of New
Haven
DELAWARE
Delaware Center for Justice, Inc.
Delaware Ecumenical Council on Children and
Families
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
RESULTS DC
We Are Family Senior Outreach Network
FLORIDA
Democratic Women’s Club of Florida
Farmworker Association of Florida
Florida’s Children’s First
SF Voices for Working Families
GEORGIA
Kicklighter Resource Center
HAWAII
Waimanalo Health Center
ILLINOIS
Chicago Women’s AIDS Project
Children’s Home and Aid
EverThrive Illinois
Kewanee Area United Way
Logan Square Neighborhood Association
National Council of Jewish Women Illinois State
Policy Advocacy Network
National Council of Jewish Women South Cook
Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Chicago North
Shore Section
United Way of Kankakee & Iroquois Counties
INDIANA
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Gary
United Way of LaPorte County
IOWA
Child and Family Policy Center
Iowa Mental Health Planning Council
Iowa Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC)
Kingston Therapy Services
NAMI Greater Des Moines
NAMI Iowa
Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa
KANSAS
Kansas Action for Children
Kansas Children’s Service League
United Way of the Flint Hills
KENTUCKY
Covering Kentucky Kids and Families
Kentucky Youth Advocates
NAMI Bowling Green
The Center for Women and Families
LOUISIANA
Childhood & Family Learning Foundation
United Way of Northwest Louisiana
MAINE
Bucksport Regional Health Center
Families and Children Together
Maine Children’s Alliance
United Way of York County
MARYLAND
Advocates for Children and Youth
PeterCares House
Public Justice Center
The Family Tree/Prevent Child Abuse MD
MASSACHUSETTS
Community Action Agency of Somerville, Inc.
Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the
Environment
Western Massachusetts Chapter of Bend the Arc
MICHIGAN
Detroit RESULTS
Leelanau Children’s Center
MI Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics
Michigan League for Public Policy
Michigan’s Children
Servants of Jesus
Transition to Independence Program (TIP Wayne
State)
MINNESOTA
Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare
National Council of Jewish Women, Minnesota
State Policy Advocacy Network
State Policy Advocate Chair
Sherburne County Area United Way
MISSISSIPPI
Sisters of Mercy
MISSOURI
God’s Will In Action
Heart of the Ozarks United Way
Lutheran Family & Children’s Services of Missouri
National Organization for Women, Missouri
Peace Economy Project
Vision for Children at Risk
MONTANA
Montana Chapter of the American Academy of
Pediatrics
Musikanten, Inc.
NEBRASKA
Food4Thought
Nebraska Appleseed
Panhandle Independent Living Services
Voices for Children in Nebraska
NEVADA
Acting in Community Together in Organizing
Northern Nevada
Baby’s Bounty
Children’s Advocacy Alliance
Community Chest, Inc.
Former First Lady of Nevada, Dawn Gibbons
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NH Kids Count
NEW JERSEY
Advocates for Children of New Jersey
Central Jersey Family Health Consortium
Displaced Homemakers Network of NJ
New Jersey Association of Mental Health and
Addiction Agencies, Inc.
United Way of Gloucester County
NEW MEXICO
All Faiths
La Familia-Namaste
New Mexico Pediatric Society
New Mexico Voices for Children
NM Comunidades en Accion y de Fe
RESULTS Albuquerque
RESULTS- Santa Fe
NEW YORK
Claire Heureuse Community Center, Inc.
Directions in Independent Living, Inc.
Early Care & Learning Council
Monroe Plan
NYS Council of Churches
Schuyler Center for Analysis & Advocacy
The Children’s Agenda
The Children’s Aid Society
United Way of Buffalo & Erie County
United Way of Greater Niagara
NORTH CAROLINA
Disability Rights NC
Eagles Wings Food Pantry
Goldsboro Pediatrics, PA
NC Child
United Way of Greater Greensboro
United Way of Lincoln County
NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota Chapter American Academy of
Pediatrics
OHIO
Juvenile Justice Coalition
Ohio Association of Foodbanks
Ohio Children’s Foundation
ProgressOhio
RESULTS Columbus
SEM Food Pantry
Single Payer Action Network of Ohio
St. Jude Helping Hands of Elyria
United Way of Hardin County
Voices for Ohio’s Children
Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM)
Westland Ecumenical Community Food Pantry
OKLAHOMA
Northwest Family Services
OREGON
Children’s Trust Fund of Oregon
Oregon Pediatric Society
Oregon School-Based Health Alliance
ROSE Community Development
PENNSYLVANIA
Family Services of Western Pennsylvania
Humanitarianism First
Keystone Progress
PathWays PA
Pennsylvania Council of Churches
RHD HEART Services
St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
United Way of Adams County
United Way of Wyoming Valley
Upper Darby Learning Academy
West Chester Food Cupboard
RHODE ISLAND
RI Parent Information Network
SOUTH CAROLINA
Hilton Head for Peace
TENNESSEE
Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth
TEXAS
Embrace Texas
Greater Longview United Way
Lesbian Health Initiative (LHI)
National Association of Social Networks- Texas
Chapter
Texans Care for Children
Voices for Children of San Antonio
UTAH
Children’s Service Society
Utah Chapter of the American Academy of
Pediatrics
VERMONT
Voices for Vermont’s Children
VIRGINIA
Social Action Linking Together (SALT)
Voices for Virginia’s Children
WASHINGTON
Kitsap County Domestic RESULTS Group
Partners for Our Children
Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
WEST VIRGINIA
Children’s Home Society of West Virginia
WISCONSIN
Board of Church & Society of the United
Methodist Church, Wisconsin
Howe Community Resource Center
Still Point Zen Center
Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice

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    repName Danny K. Davis  
    helpWithFedAgencyAddress Chicago District Office
    2746 West Madison Street
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    district 7th District of Illinois  
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