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SENATOR KENNEDY SETS NATIONAL GOAL OF CUTTING CHILD POVERTY IN HALF WITHIN A DECADE OFFERS ANTI-POVERTY AMENDMENT TO TAX BILL


Washington, DC – Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy offered an amendment to the Tax Reconciliation bill that declares cutting child poverty in half is an attainable goal to achieve within this decade. The amendment will enact a one percent surtax to be paid by our wealthiest citizens in order to take care of the needs of our most vulnerable citizens. With the 3.5 billion dollars generated from the one percent tax, the Child Poverty Elimination Fund will be created in order to combat child poverty in America where it starts—in the homes of low-income Americans looking for a way to feed their hungry children. “Poverty is a moral issue and we have a moral obligation to address it. We are the wealthiest country on earth. We are blessed with great abundance. And in the powerful words of Luke's Gospel, "To whom much is given, much is required," Senator Kennedy said in his remarks. Today, nearly one child in six is living in poverty. Nearly 37 million men, women, and children in the United States now live below the poverty line—an increase of over 4 million since President Bush was first elected. The poverty rate for children in the United States is substantially higher – often two to three times higher – than that of most other major Western industrialized nations. And the number of Americans living in hunger and malnutrition has soared to almost 37 million. The Senate is currently debating the Tax Reconciliation bill where America’s wealthiest citizens are positioned to reap the most rewards. The House of Representatives has already slashed vital programs relied upon by our neediest citizens—food stamps, child support, and childcare budgets will see drastically reduced aid.