Letter - People Power United joins over 600 groups to tell Congress to reject the chaos of a government shutdown
🗽A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.
People Power United joined with over 600 local, state, and national groups to send a message to Congress: do your duty and keep government running. Shout out to Coalition on Human Needs’ for leading this efforts. Here is the letter sent on behalf of our membership:
September 12, 2023
Dear Senator/Representative:
The 680 undersigned organizations urge you to fulfill Congress’ most basic duty: to keep the government running. Congress must pass a clean bipartisan, bicameral continuing resolution (CR) including emergency funding that supports current services and addresses urgent needs and is free of poison pill policy riders that are harmful and irrelevant to the functions of government. Such a CR will ensure that federal programs continue to serve essential needs while Congress works in good faith to finish FY24 funding legislation needed to provide for a robust, stable economy and a secure nation by sufficiently supporting the vital services that help our communities thrive.
Shutdowns harm our nation’s overall economy, the financial security of individuals and families,
government efficiency, and the public’s access to needed services. A shutdown would put the nation's economy at risk, delay or interrupt services to millions, and disrupt the jobs of over a million workers, making it harder for people to put food on the table, a roof over their heads, and stay safe and healthy. A shutdown would make vulnerable communities including people of color more at risk and result in their disproportionate harm. For those concerned about government waste, shutdowns, especially protracted shutdowns, could cost taxpayers billions of dollars even while basic government functions that taxpayers need experience interruptions - whether public health services during flu season, air safety and travel needs, food for children and families or protecting our communities’ safety.
Looking ahead, it is not enough to simply stave off a shutdown. Congress must consider and address the
nation’s urgent funding needs by reaching an agreement on final FY 24 appropriations legislation. Despite the budget levels set in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which in itself presents funding challenges for many programs and services on which we all rely, the House has drafted FY24 budget bills that violate the spirit of the agreement by including draconian cuts to non-defense discretionary spending, hundreds of poison pill policy riders, and significant recissions that, for example, would
undermine our nation’s fight against climate change and the ability of the IRS to hold wealthy tax cheats accountable.
The Senate Appropriations Committee has passed 12 bipartisan appropriations bills that are consistent with the bi-partisan spirit of the agreement negotiated by Speaker McCarthy and President Biden. We thank Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray and Vice Chair Susan Collins for recognizing the need to add $13.7 billion in emergency spending, exempt from the limits set in the debt-limit deal. This is a critical first step to recognize that the funding caps are unrealistic and harmful and that in the future, the appropriations process should start from what agencies and our communities actually require, not arbitrary numbers that are untethered from the realities of what the nation needs.
While nondefense appropriations are a small part of the federal budget, less than one-sixth, they fund a wide range of important programs and services that make America run. Examples include: assistance with housing and child care for low-income families, rural development, support for education and job training, scientific and medical research, medical care, veterans’ services, aging services, environmental protections so we can breathe clean air and drink clean water, substance use disorder and mental health treatment, infrastructure investments including sewage treatment, public transportation systems and safe roads, flood control and navigation improvements, diplomacy, humanitarian aid and development,
courts and reentry programs, public safety programs, assistance for small businesses, and many other programs to strengthen our communities.
Federal investments make our states, counties, cities, and towns run efficiently and serve public needs. States rely on federal investments for more than one-third of their budgets, to ensure the availability of essential services to workers, retirees, people with disabilities, and families. State and local governments are already facing cliffs as significant pandemic aid ends this fiscal year while urgent needs persist.
Additional discretionary cuts coupled with this cliff would be deeply harmful.
In summary, our country needs Congress to push past the chaos and focus on the basics: keeping the government running and passing funding bills that place the needs of Americans and the public interest first.
Signed,
(U-CHAN)Uniting Citizens for Housing Affordability in Newton 5 C ministries
ABLE NH
About Fresh
ACA Consumer Advocacy
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Access Technologies, Inc.
Action NC
ADAP Advocacy Association Advocacy Institute
African American Health Alliance AFSCME Council 5
AFSCME Council 57
AFSCME Council 61
AFSCME Council 65
AFSCME Council 91
AFSCME Council 93
AFSCME Local 1497
AFSCME Local 1600
AFSCME Local 1659
AFSCME Local 1668
AFSCME Local 312
AFSCME Ohio Council 8, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
After the Harvest Ahri Center
AIDS Foundation Chicago
Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program Alaska Multiple Chemical Association Alaska Wilderness League
Alchemist CDC All Our Kin
All4Ed
Alliance for a Just Society
Alliance for Community Transformations Alliance for Period Supplies
Alliance for Retired Americans Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools ALMA Chicago
Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency American Association of Colleges of Nursing American Association of People with Disabilities American Association of University Women American Bird Conservancy
American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) American Federation of Teachers
American Friends Service Committee American Geriatrics Society
American Indian Higher Education Consortium American Library Association
American Psychological Association Services, Inc. Americans for Democratic Action (ADA)
Amherst Survival Center
Ann Arbor Housing Commission Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition APIAHF
Area Agencies on Aging Association of MI Area Agency on Aging of Northwest MI Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan
Arizona Association of County School Superintendents Arizona Center for Disability Law
Arizona Center for Economic Progress
Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Arizona Council of Human Service Providers
Arizona Food Bank Network Arizona Students' Association
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families Arkansas Community Organizations
Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence Asian Resources, Inc
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology Association of American Cancer Institutes
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP)
Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS)
Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Association of Population Centers
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) Association of State And Territorial Health Officials Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Autism Society of America Autistic Self Advocacy Network Battle Born Progress
BCTGM International Union Bekhita center
Bethel Area Food Shelf Big Cities Health Coalition
Blue Ridge Community Action, Inc Branches Long Island
Bread for the World Breaking the Cycle drop corp Brightpoint
Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen
Bucks County Women's Advocacy Coalition California Association of Food Banks California Council of the Blind
Camden Mission SDA Church Candler County Schools CAPPA Children's Foundation Caring Across Generations CCWRO
CDR
Center for Community Progress CENTER FOR EMPLOYMENT TRAINING
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) Center for Responsible Lending
Center for Science in the Public Interest Central California Food Bank
CESA 2
Champlain Islands Food Shelf Chester County Food Bank Child & Family Resources, Inc Child Care Law Center
Child Welfare League of America Children's Action Alliance Children's Defense Fund
Children's HealthWatch Children's Institute, Inc. Children's Service Society of Utah Children's Trust Fund Alliance
Church of Scientology National Affairs Office Church of St Francis Xavier
Church World Service Citizen Action of New York Citizen Action/Illinois Clean Water Action
Clearinghouse on Women's Issues Clover (formerly Kingsley House) COAD
Coalition for Juvenile Justice Coalition on Human Needs
Coastal Bend Ctr for Independent Living
Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning Colorado Consumer Health Initiative
Committee for Children Common Sense Media
Community Access National Network Community Action Partnership Community Action Southold Town Community Catalyst
Community Change Action
Community Food Warehouse of Mercer County Community ser sda
ComPostPylonAmerica
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces Connecticut Alliance of Foster and Adoptive Families
Connecticut Citizen Action Group Consortium of Social Science Associations Consumer Action
Cornerstone Community Action Agency Council of Administrators of Special Education Council of the Great City Schools
Council on Social Work Education Creating Opportunities
Crest Collaborative
DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence DC Office of the Tenant Advov
Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Desire Community Housing corp
Disability Law Center
Disability Law Center of Alaska Disability Law Center of Utah Disability Law Colorado Disability Rights Arkansas Disability Rights California Disability Rights Center - NH Disability Rights Iowa Disability Rights Michigan Disability Rights Nebraska Disability Rights New Mexico Disability Rights New York
Disability Rights North Carolina Disability Rights Oregon Disability Rights Pennsylvania Disability Rights South Carolina Disability Rights South Dakota Disability Rights Vermont Disability Rights Wisconsin Drug Policy Alliance
East Bay Housing Organizations East Bay Sanctuary Covenant (EBSC) Economic Policy Institute
EDGE Consulting Partners Educare Learning Network Educate. Advocate.
Education Reform Now El Refugio, Inc.
Embrace Services, Inc. Empire Justice Center
Employment & Employer Services (E&ES) Empower Next Generations
End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin End Hunger Connecticut!
Endangered Species Coalition Equal Rights Advocates Equality California
Esperanza United
Fair and Just Prosecution Faith Mission Inc.
Famicos Foundation
Family Centered Treatment Foundation Family Values @ Work
Feeding New York State
Fellowship Baptist Church of Wyandanch
FIND Food Bank
First Focus Campaign for Children
Florida Alliance for Retired Americans (FLARA) Florida Policy Institute
Florida Rising Fontana USD
Food Bank for the Heartland Food Bank of Central New York
Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Food Bank of the Southern Tier
Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Food for People
Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) Food Share of Ventura County
Forest Park District 91
Foster Care Alumni of America Foster Care to Success
Found House IHN Franciscan Action Network Franciscan Peace Center
Franklin Primary Health Center, Inc Free Community Meal
Freedom from the street
Friends Committee on National Legislation Friends of the Earth
Full Plates Full Potential Futures Without Violence
GA Coalition Against Domestic Violence Gaithersburg HELP
GenZOregonizers Georgia Advocacy Office
Georgia Budget and Policy Institute GRACE/End Child Poverty California Granite State Independent Living Greater Boston Legal Services
Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Habitat for Humanity Chicago
HANDS (Helping and Nurturing Diverse Seniors) Harmony Helping Hands Food Pantry
Hawai'i Coalition for Immigrant Rights Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks! Head Start
Health Care for America Now (HCAN)
Health Care Voices Health Imperatives Inc
Healthcare Alternative Systems (HAS) Healthy Teen Network
HIGH IMPACT Mission-Based Consulting & Training His Pantry at Sacred Heart St Francis
HIV Medicine Association Home Grown
Homeless Action Center Homeless Advocacy for All Honest Arizona
Housing Action Illinois Housing Assistance Council
Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative Human Rights Campaign
Human Service Chamber of Franklin County Human Services Center Mon Valley
Hunger Action Los Angeles Hunger Free Colorado Hunger Free Vermont
Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force IL Hunger Coalition
Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence Impact Fund
Income Movement
Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking (ICESAHT) Indiana Disability Rights
Indivisible Georgia Coalition Indy Hunger Network
Inland Equity Community Land Trust Innocence Project
Interfaith Power & Light
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots
International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Iowa Citizen Action Network
Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence Iowa Hunger Coalition
IRBC Food Pantry ISAIAH
Islamic Relief USA
Island Harvest Food Bank
Japanese American Citizens League
Jeremiah's Inn
Jewish Family & Children's Service of Greater Boston Jewish Family Service of Colorado
Jewish Women International (JWI) John Graham Housing & Services John Griffiths
Johnson Park Center (JPC) Just Harvest
Justice in Aging
Kansas School Superintendent Asso. Kentucky Center for Economic Policy Kentucky Protection and Advocacy Kids Above All
Kids and Car Safety Kitchen Soup Project Knowledge Alliance Knowledgepanel
L.I. Against Domestic Violence Ladles of Hope
Lakeside Community Committee Latino Action Network Foundation LeadingAge
League of Conservation Voters
League of Women Voters of St. Lawrence County, New York Little Lobbyists
LiveAbility LLC
Livingston County Senior Nutrition/ Meals on Wheels Long Beach Gray Panthers
Long Island Council of Churches Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Low Income Investment Fund
Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development Main Street Alliance
Maine Center for Economic Policy Maine Children's Alliance
Maine People's Alliance March On / Future Coalition Mary House, Inc
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives Massachusetts Peace Action
Maternal and Child Health Access
Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger McGraw community food pantry
Mendocino Food & Nutrition Program INC, dba Fort Bragg Food Bank MENTOR
Mercy Housing
Methodist Action Program
Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing Mexico (NY) Food Pantry
MICAH
Michigan AFSCME Council 25
Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness Michigan Disability Rights Coalition
Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman Program MIDDLE ISLAND COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY
Minneapolis Highrise Representative Council
Minnesota Disability Law Center at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Mohawk Valley CAA Mommieactivist and Sons MomsRising
Mono County Office of Education
Monsoon Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity Montana Conservation Corps
Morris and New Berlin First UMC's Mountainland Head Start, Inc.
MS Human Services Coalition Musikanten Inc
Mustard Seed Food Pantry NACEDA
NAPE
Natchez Housing Authority
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research
National Alliance to End Sexual Violence National Association for Family Child Care National Association for Music Education National Association for Pupil Transportation
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities National Association of County and City Health Officials National Association of Federal Veterinarians
National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners National Association of School Psychologists
National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) National Association of Social Workers
National Association of Workforce Boards National Center for Healthy Housing National Center for Learning Disabilities
National Center for Parent Leadership, Advocacy, and Community Empowerment (National PLACE) National Child Care Association
National Coalition for the Homeless National Coalition of STD Directors
National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare National Community Action Partnership
National Community Development Association
National Council for Community and Education Partnerships National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of Jewish Women, PA
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
National Education Association (NEA) National Employment Law Project
National Energy Assistance Directors Association National Head Start Association
National Health Law Program National Homelessness Law Center National Housing Law Project National Housing Resource Center National Immigration Law Center
NATIONAL INDIAN COUNCIL ON AGING
National Juvenile Justice Network National Leased Housing Association National Low Income Housing Coalition
National Network to End Domestic Violence National Organization for Women
National Partnership for Women & Families National Resource Center on Domestic Violence National Respite Coalition
National Rural Education Advocacy Consortium National Rural Education Association
National Skills Coalition
National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) National WIC Association
National Women's Health Network National Women's Law Center
Native American Disability Law Center Natural Resources Defense Council
NC WAT NCH
NCNW- National Council of Negro Women Inc. Nebraska Appleseed
Neighbor to family, INC
Neighborhood Improvement Association NEK-CAP, Inc.
NEKTI Consulting
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice Nevada Association of School Superintendents Nevada Public Health Association
New Hampshire Hunger Solutions New Hampshire Legal Assistance New Jersey Association on Correction
New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence New York State Public Health Association
Niagara Community Action Program, Inc Nonprofit Finance Fund
Norfolk Raymondville Food Pantry/ Community Lunch Program for Kids North Dakota Protection & Advocacy Project
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont Northland Community Services Coalition
Northwell Health Northwest Harvest Nourish California NYSSBA NSBA OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4
OC Food Bank
OC Food Bank - Community Action Partnership of Orange County OCEAN FUTURES SOCIETY
Office of Protection & Advocacy Ohio Association of Foodbanks Ohio Domestic Violence Network Ohio Head Start Association, Inc.
Oklahoma Disability Law Center, Inc. Omni Center for Peace Justice Ecology OpenSky Policy Institute
Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence Oregon Women's Rights Coalition
Our Children Oregon Our Daily Bread Outward Bound USA
P.O.S.T protect our stolen treasures
PA Council of Children, Youth & Family Services PAI
Parents as Teachers ParentsTogether Action
Partners For a Hunger-Free Oregon Partners in Care Foundation
Path to Progress Pathfinders Milwaukee, Inc.
Peace, Justice, Sustainability NOW People First Wisconsin
People Power United
People's Action PFLAG National
Philadelphia Solar Energy Association Piedmont Habitat
Pittsburgh Food Policy Council
Planned Parenthood Federation of America Plymouth Church Food Pantry
Poverty Project at the Institute for Policy Studies PrEP4All
Prepare + Prosper Prevent Blindness
Prism Health North Texas Private citizen
Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO Progress Iowa
Prosperity Indiana Prosperity Now PSI Alaska
Public Advocacy for Kids (PAK) Public Citizen
Public Health Solutions Public Justice Center Rachel Carson Council Rebuild America's Schools
Red Jen Ford Health & Wellness Redfield Food Pantry
Region IV Area Agency on Aging Rehoboth Fellowship Center Reproductive Health Impact Resource Connection Food Bank RESULTS
RESULTS DC/MD RESULTS Iowa
RESULTS Kitsap RESULTS Ohio
Resurrection House, Inc.
Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence Rise Up WV
Roosevelt Freeport Church of Christ RootsAction.org
Ruth's Harvest Pantry
Ryan White Medical Providers Coalition Safe & Sound
Safe States Alliance Safer Foundation
Safety Net Project of the WilmerHale Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School San Diego for Every Child
San Francisco AIDS Foundation San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Sanctuary of Hope LA
Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts School Administrators of South Dakota
School Social Work Association of America SchoolHouse Connection
SEASCAT
Seaway Valley Prevention Council/Horizons Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County (CA) Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
SERRC
Service Employees International Union SEWA-AIFW
Share The Wealth Productions Sheldon Methodist Church Food Shelf
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Western Province Leadership Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill
Sisters of Charity, BVM
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Justice Team Sisters of St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation Social Security Works
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Society for Public Health Education Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Leo Conf. Sojourners
Soup to Nuts Soup Kitchen
South Carolina Program for Infant/Toddler Care South Central Community Action Programs
Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund Southwest Fair Housing Council
SRC Food Pantry
ST BONIFACE CHURCH
St Boniface Martyr Church Sea Cliff St Martin of Tours Parish Outreach St. Bernard Parish Social Ministry St. Kilian PSM Outreach
St. Lawrence County Community Development Program, Inc. St. Martin of Tours Parish Outreach
St. Nicholas Food Pantry
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, New Hartford, NY Start Early
Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future Stop ? No More Streets
Strategies for Youth
Sunnyside Community Services Susan G. Komen
Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children Tennessee Disability Coalition - WorkABLE TN
Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education The Affordable Homes Group, Inc.
The AIDS Institute The Arc Michigan
The Arc Minnesota Chapter/Certified Partner's in Policymaking Class 31 The Collaborative
The Economic Progress Institute The Education Trust
The Episcopal Church
The Family Place Parent Child Center The Food Trust
the Forum for Youth Investment The Greater Boston Food Bank The Gubbio Project
The Journey Forward The Kelsey
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights The National Domestic Violence Hotline
The Skyline Charitable Foundation
The United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society The Vermont Foodbank
The Women's Building The Womxn Project The Workers Circle
Think Babies NC Alliance TOOTRiS
Transport Workers Union of America Transportation Trades Department Tri-County Office on Aging
Trinity County Office of Education Trinity Youth Services
UnidosUS
Union for Reform Judaism
Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice UNITE HERE
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries United Steelworkers
Unity Church of San Leandro
University of California Student Association URGE: Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity USAging
Utahns Against Hunger VALOR
Vermont Care Partners
VI Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Council Violence Free Minnesota
Virginia Hunger Solutions a project of Virginia Poverty Law Center Virginia Organizing
Vision for Equality
VOICES for Alabama's Children Voices of Hope, Inc. - Maryland Washington Defender Association
Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP Washington State Budget and Policy Center Washington State Parent Ambassadors
Washington State School Directors' Association Waterville Area Food Pantry
Waterville NY Food Pantry WAVE Educational Fund We All Rise
Wesley Pantry
West Central Initiative
West Virginia Citizen Action Group Wisconsin Early Childhood Association Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice Witnesses To Hunger NH
Women's Initiative for Self Empowerment Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement
Women's Media Center WomenRising, Inc.
Worcester County Food Bank, Inc. Workforce Development Board HMO, NY Wurzbacher and Associates
Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault WZA Consultant
Yoga For Peace, Justice, Harmony With the Planet - Amazing Amy: Eccentric Yoga Entertainer Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.
Youth First Justice Collaborative YWCA Alliance
YWCA Cambridge YWCA Central Carolinas
YWCA Champaign County YWCA Clark County YWCA Dayton
YWCA Delaware
YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley YWCA Great Falls
YWCA La Crosse
YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts YWCA of NWO
YWCA of Van Wert County YWCA Pierce County YWCA San Diego County
YWCA South Hampton Roads YWCA Ulster County
YWCA USA
YWCA Yakima
YWCA's of New York State ZERO TO THREE
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Background
Plunging Millions Back Into Poverty
After Historic Poverty Reduction in 2021, Some in Congress Forced a Painful Reversal
In 2021, poverty and child poverty declined to historic lows. There were 3.37 million fewer poor children in 2021 than in 2020, a drop from 9.7 percent to 5.2 percent of children in poverty in just that one year. But in 2022, this unprecedented progress was painfully reversed. The number of poor children rose by a stunning 5.15 million children over the previous year, increasing to 12.4 percent of all children.
Poverty for all age groups also rose dramatically, from nearly 25.6 million people in poverty in 2021 to 40.9 million in 2022, an increase of 15.3 million people. These increases are shown in the Census Bureau’s Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), which is a more accurate assessment of sources of income and expenses than the Official Poverty Measure (OPM). The SPM takes into account the Child Tax Credit, other low-income tax credits, pandemic stimulus payments, and other benefits such as SNAP or housing assistance. In large part because the Child Tax Credit’s 2021 expansion was allowed to expire in 2022, historic reductions in poverty and child poverty in 2021 were reversed in 2022.
“In 2021, 2.9 million children were lifted out of poverty by the expanded Child Tax Credit alone, but because there were not sufficient votes in Congress to continue the expansion, in 2022 the CTC prevented only 1.4 million children from being poor,” said Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, an independent nonpartisan advocacy group. “This was a stunning self-inflicted wound, leaving 1.5 million newly impoverished children more likely to go without enough nutritious food, to fall behind in school, and to earn less in adulthood. Restoring the expanded Child Tax Credit should be an urgent priority for every member of Congress,” said Weinstein. The most vulnerable population groups saw big increases in poverty, taking the losses in benefits into account. People of working age with disabilities saw their poverty rate rise from 15.8 percent in 2021 to 23 percent in 2022.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s annual release of poverty, income and health insurance data showed important gains in full-time workers, including record-breaking gains in women working full-time. But the 7.8 percent inflation increase reduced incomes at all income levels. Here too, taking the impact of tax policy into account, inequality rose in 2022. Post-tax income in 2022 declined by a startling 14 percent below 2021 levels for the poorest 10 percent, while the wealthiest 10 percent lost 7 percent of their post-tax income. The loss of low-income tax credits and pandemic stimulus aid hit the poorest far more than those with the most income, leading to a 3.2 percent increase in inequality from 2021 to 2022.
Black and Hispanic/Latino people remain far more likely to be poor than non-Hispanic Whites. Using the Supplemental Poverty Measure, 9.1 percent of non-Hispanic Whites were poor in 2022, compared with 17.2 percent of Blacks and 19.3 percent of Hispanics (of any race). Poverty rose steeply for all groups from 2021 to 2022 because of the loss of low-income tax credits and pandemic stimulus payments, but the percentage point differences for Blacks (up from 11.3 percent in 2021) and Hispanics (up from 11.2 percent in 2021) were especially large. The percentage of Black children living in poverty rose dramatically from 2021 to 2022, from 8.1 percent to 17.8 percent; similarly, the increase for Hispanic/Latino children (may be of any race) rose from 8.4 percent to 19.5 percent. For non-Hispanic White children, the increase was from 2.7 percent to 7.2 percent; for Asian children, from 5.1 percent to 9.9 percent. Historic gains by Black and Hispanic children because of the Child Tax Credit and other benefits have been wiped out.
Median income is also lower for Black and Hispanic/Latino households. In 2022, median income was $81,060 for non-Hispanic White households; it was $52,860 for Black households; $62,800 for Hispanic households (who may be of any race); $108,700 for Asian households.
While the 2022 data show the painful impact of the lost Child Tax Credit and other pandemic aid, it does not include further losses that are taking effect in 2023. SNAP benefits lifted 3.67 million people out of poverty in 2022, 865,000 more than in 2021. But states eliminated a significant pandemic SNAP increase by March of this year, so families with low incomes have less help from SNAP now. “We know households are hungrier now,” said Weinstein. “In survey data from this summer, 12.1 percent of people said that in the previous 7 days their households sometimes or often did not have enough to eat, up from 8 percent two years before. It’s worse for households with children.” Similarly, although the 2022 data show a decline in the proportion people without health insurance (from 8.3 percent to 7.9 percent), in 2023 and ongoing, states have returned to eligibility determinations for Medicaid, and close to 6 million people have lost Medicaid so far. Many of those terminated have lost Medicaid because of paperwork problems; high proportions are likely to remain eligible despite losing coverage. Further adding to the harm for families, the large gains in full-time employment for women will likely be eroded if an imminent loss in federal child care funds is allowed to occur. It has been estimated that one in three child care programs could close, with 3.2 million children expected to lose care. “Reversing women’s 2022 work gains will hurt future family income and the whole economy,” said Weinstein.
“Although the Biden Administration has taken steps to protect people with low incomes, the actions by Congress have resulted in a wholesale disinvestment in proven means of reducing poverty and hardship. The poverty and income data for 2022 show conclusively that more than 15 million people, including more than 5 million children, have been needlessly plunged into poverty as a result,” said Weinstein. “Congress must recognize the harm it has inflicted, and restore investments like the expanded Child Tax Credit now.”
Data cited have been compiled in the Coalition on Human Needs’ First Look at Poverty, Hardship, and Health Insurance 2023, available here.