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A Plan to Address Deep Poverty in America
Directly Combat Poverty
Pay people more and let them keep what they earn.
- Move to raise the minimum wage to $15/hour and expand the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit. Increasing workers income and letting people keep the money they have earned fights poverty through promoting work.
- End the ineffective block granting of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Returning direct cash assistance to federal control would restore oversight and allow funding to be based on actual need.
Empower People to Move up the Ladder
People need meaningful tools to succeed and stay out of poverty.
- Pass legislation guaranteeing sick leave. Requiring businesses to provide basic sick leave is good for the economy and ensures no one loses their job due to illness or to care for a loved one.
- Support the Federal Communications Commission as it works to ensure that internet service providers do more to make high-speed internet affordable and accessible to low income people.
Lift Children and Families Out of Poverty
Too many children live in poverty.
- Increase funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, which supports those who need to work the most.
- Increase funding to Section 8 Housing Assistance, ensuring a stable home environment, which helps children perform better in school.
Stop Nickel and Diming the Poor
Millions of Americans pay too much for the use of their own money.
- Require banks to provide reasonable basic banking services and create innovative solutions like allowing the Post Office to offer basic financial services, which will help millions of poor people to save their own money.
