January 29, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 18 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H1253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A PATH FOR PROGRESS IN WAR ON POVERTY

  (Mr. DAVIDSON of Ohio asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DAVIDSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, since LBJ launched the War on 
Poverty, the percentage of Americans living below the poverty line has 
remained persistently static.
  As reform efforts in Congress continue to falter, American's poverty 
reduction efforts continue to fall short of their objectives. We need a 
different approach to help millions of Americans escape poverty.
  Today, I am introducing the People Centered Assistance Reform Effort 
Act, or the People CARE Act. This legislation creates a bipartisan 
commission in order to empower caseworkers to treat each person 
holistically, rather than simply administer programs; realign the 90-
plus, often duplicative, poverty programs; remove benefit cliffs; and 
more.
  It encourages employment, marriage, and education, activities 
identified by the Brookings Institution and others as effective means 
to end poverty.
  The commission cannot launch new programs, nor directly cut spending. 
Upon receiving the commission's recommendation, Congress would have to 
vote to approve or disapprove.
  People CARE offers a path for progress in the War on Poverty. Mr. 
Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to cosponsor the People CARE 
Act.

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