H. Res. 1024 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

January 27, 2010. 

Whereas, in 2008, the Census Bureau found that the number 

of people living in poverty has jumped by nearly 

2,600,000 to 39,800,000, the highest number since 1960; 

Whereas that same report found that the percentage of people living in poverty, 13.2 percent, rose to the highest 

level since 1997; 

Whereas, in 2008, the number of children who lived in poverty increased by 744,000 to 14,000,000; 

Whereas the share of people in the United States who have 

incomes that fall below half of the Federal poverty line 

reached 5.7 percent, or 17,100,000 people, its highest 

level since 1994; 

Whereas the next Census report on poverty will likely illustrate higher levels of poverty as the report will reflect 

data from 2009, a year in which the economy experienced 

substantial job loss and historic levels of long-term unemployment, leading some experts to project that the overall 

poverty rate may increase by 1.5 percentage points and 

the percentage of children living in poverty may increase 

by 6 percentage points in the next report; 

Whereas, between 1989 and 2000, the overall poverty rate 

declined by 1.5 percentage points and child poverty de-
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creased by 3.4 percentage points, those achievements 

have been nearly reversed as the overall poverty rate increased by 1.9 percentage points and child poverty increased by 2.8 percentage points from 2000 to 2008; 

Whereas there is broad consensus among researchers and policy experts that the Federal poverty measure is outdated 

and inadequate in determining the depth and extent of 

poverty in the United States; 

Whereas rising levels of poverty and economic hardship have 

a severe impact on the overall well-being of children in 

the Nation; 

Whereas the U.S. Census Bureau and other organizations 

have highlighted the unmet needs that existed for some 

of the most vulnerable families prior to the recession; 

Whereas while the Federal Government has provided critical 

assistance to needy individuals and families in their time 

of need, more can and should be done to strengthen the 

Nation’s safety-net programs, and other programs investing in communities and families to ensure that all needy 

people in the United States have access to the support 

services for which they are eligible; 

Whereas, during the present economic downturn, Congress 

should do more to help individuals and families rise out 

of poverty and maintain economic stability through the 

use of a variety of programs promoting education and 

training, childcare assistance, housing security, and related services; and 

Whereas it would be appropriate to designate the month of 

January 2010 as Poverty in America Awareness Month: 

Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That— 
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(1) the House of Representatives— 

(A) supports the designation of Poverty in 

America Awareness Month; and 

(B) recognizes the important contributions of 

those individuals and organizations that have made 

a commitment to providing critical support and 

services to needy individuals and families; and 

(2) it is the sense of the House of Representatives 

that— 

(A) eradicating poverty in the United States 

should be the goal for all people in the United 

States, including all levels of government; 

(B) the severe economic downturn has highlighted the need to ensure that the Nation’s most 

vulnerable individuals and families are able to meet 

their most fundamental needs during a time of financial crisis; and 

(C) Congress should recommit itself to helping 

individuals and families facing economic hardship 

receive the assistance they need and deserve in moving towards greater economic security through pro-
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grams under Title IV of the Social Security Act and 

other related programs. 

Attest: 

Clerk.