Catholic Lobby Responds to 2019 Poverty Statistics Release

For Immediate Release: September 15, 2020
Contact: Lee Morrow, lmorrow@networklobby.org, 202-601-7871

Catholic Lobby Responds to 2019 Poverty Statistics Release
Sr. Simone: “Until we end the chaos that President Trump has wrought and the inaction that plagues the Republican-led Senate, the true poverty rate will remain at an historic high.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the release of the 2019 Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage statistics by the U.S. Census Bureau, Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice issued the following statement:

“This year-old poverty data does not reflect the current reality of our nation dealing with an historic recession. All it proves is that President Trump has squandered any advances that the Obama administration built. Millions of Americans have fallen into poverty as a consequence of the inaction of President Trump and Senate Republicans.

“President Trump lied to the public about the seriousness of COVID-19, worked against states trying to get the virus under control, and spread misinformation about masks and treatments. Instead of working to fix what President Trump has broken, Senate Republicans now refuse to pass new stimulus that would increase unemployment insurance for the millions of Americans out of a job and support the states’ provision of health care to low income families.

“Newer Household Pulse Survey data shows the true toll of these failures. COVID-19 has been devastating for women, especially for Black, non-Hispanic women and Latinas. More than 1 in 5 women of color have reported not having enough food in the past week, and more than half have reported a loss of income since March. Until we end the chaos that President Trump has wrought and the inaction that plagues the Republican-led Senate, the true poverty rate will remain at an historic high. The American people deserve better.”

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NETWORK Lobby – advocates for justice inspired by Catholic Sisters – educates, organizes, and lobbies for economic and social transformation. They have a nearly 50-year track record of lobbying for critical federal programs that support those at the margins and prioritize the common good. www.networklobby.org