Actions | Poverty in America

Tell Congress To Update the 1960s-Era Poverty Measure!

To: The U.S. Senate and The U.S. House

Two bills have been introduced in Congress to update our federal poverty measure that is based on an extremely antiquated estimated proportion of a family's budget spent on food. Both the House (H2909)and Senate (S1625) bills rely on National Academy of Science recommendations in which "the cost of food, clothing, housing, utilities and medical expenses be considered. Income from non-cash benefits, such as food stamps and government tax credits, should also be counted" in an updated poverty measure (right now, these social supports can tip people over the poverty line and deny them much needed assistance).

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Sign the Letter

Please Support The Bill to Update the Federal Poverty Measure!

Dear Representative,

At the heart of my work as an anti-poverty activist is relying on sound data to design and champion social service and human and community development programs. I applaud Rep. McDermott's and Sen. Dodd's new bills to update the federal poverty measure, which has failed to keep pace with today's high costs of survival. I hope you will sign on to support HR2909 and S1615 and speak out in Congress on the need for a modernized, humane poverty measure in the US.

[Your name here]

Sorry, the time period for signing this petition has ended.

Cecelia LaPointe Traverse City, MI

Sent letter to Dave Camp , Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow

Nov 06
Thomas Jackson Mooresville, NC

Sent letter to Pat McHenry , Richard Burr and Kay Hagan

Nov 06
neokuji . Tucson, AZ

Sent letter to Gabrielle Giffords , John McCain and Jon Kyl

Nov 06
Vic Karimov Fox River Grove, IL

Sent letter to Melissa Bean , Don Manzullo , Dick Durbin and Roland Burris

Nov 05
tasha reed killeen, TX

Sent letter to Kay Hutchison , John Cornyn and John Carter

Nov 02
Deanna McGaughey Summers Louisville, KY

Sent letter to John Yarmuth , Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning

Nov 01
avra cohen new york, NY

Sent letter to Jerry Nadler , Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand

Nov 01
Melissa Buchanan West Hollywood, CA

Sent letter to Henry Waxman , Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer

Oct 29
Teresa Vest Kalamazoo, MI

Sent letter to Fred Upton , Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow

Oct 29
Caitlin Schmedlin Monroe, CT

Sent letter to Chris Dodd , Joe Lieberman and Jim Himes

Oct 28