Children, Women, and Families
Poverty in Metro Atlanta is all too real; nearly one-quarter of our community struggles just to feed their families, educate their children, and just make ends meet. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, almost 50 million Americans are living in poverty; of this number, almost 16 million are children.
As a member of the Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee, I fight to protect programs serving women, children in foster care, and struggling families. Now, more than ever we must ensure that the programs serving the disenfranchised, the forgotten, and the backbones of our community do not end up on the chopping block.
I champion legislation and initiatives which not only help families survive hard times and emerge from poverty, but become self-sufficient in the long-term. In addition to introducing the Look-Back Elimination Act, the National Parents Corps Act, and the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Assets for Independence Act, I also cosponsor
- The Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill to eliminate pay disparities between men and women;
- The Healthy Families Act, a bill to establish a national paid sick days standard; and
- The Family and Medical Leave Act, a bill to expand and improve FMLA benefits.
We cannot cut the programs which provide a key social net to struggling families. There must be adequate funding for domestic and global programs like Women Infants and Children, Child Survival and Health, Legal Services Corporation, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Community Development Block Grants, Economic Development Assistance programs, Adult Employment and Training Services, Title X Family Planning, International Family Planning, and Community Service Block Grants.
I am also a member of the following Caucuses:
- The Congressional Out of Poverty Caucus
- The Human Trafficking Caucus
- The Victim’s Rights Caucus
- The Missing and Exploited Children Caucus
- The Congressional Coalition on Adoption
- The Foster Care Caucus
More on Children, Women, and Families
WASHINGTON—Today President Obama visited College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center in Decatur, Georgia. Rep. Lewis was glad the President chose a school within the state to highlight his early childhood learning initiatives. Congressman John Lewis made these comments about the President’s visit.
“I was very pleased that President Obama used an early childhood education center in Georgia as a model for what an early investment in education can do.
Rep. John Lewis made this statement about the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida:
“This shooting is a tragedy. It reminds me too much of what happened in the 1930s, 40s and 50s in this country when thousands of people of color were murdered without impunity simply because their lives were thought to be cheap. The death of Trayvon Martin has a chilling effect on black parents and their children, especially their sons.
WASHINGTON—Today marks the 100th anniversary of an American iconic institution, Girl Scouts of America. Juliette Gordon Low, 100 years ago today gathered 18 girls together to form the first local Girl Scout meeting in Savannah, Georgia. The organization has since become a meaningful part of the development of more than 50 million girls across America and throughout contemporary history.
Yesterday Rep. John Lewis attended a ceremony at the White House where President Barack Obama introduced his new initiative, My Brother's Keeper, a White House program serving young African American men and boys. Rep. Lewis made these comments:
“President Barack Obama presented an inspiring vision of the future to the Congress and the American people tonight. An America built to last should certainly be the hope of every member of Congress and every citizen of this nation.