Poverty Discussion features Rep. Mia Love and Democrat Rep. Emanuel Cleaver

Press Release

Rep. Mia Love R-Utah, and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver D-Missouri joined more than a dozen community advocates and leaders in a bipartisan discussion on poverty at Salt Lake Community College's South City campus Monday.

"People have to feel like they are in charge of their success," Congresswoman Love said. "What we can do as members of Congress is to put aside the divisiveness and really work together to find solutions. It starts here."

Rep. Cleaver added: "We have become so polarized. You don't see Democrats and Republican chatting anywhere except in situations where there's a contentious atmosphere, like in committee hearings."

"It's going to require men and women of good will, working together, to solve these poblems," Rep. Cleaver said.

The hour-long meeting included Salt Lake county Mayor Ben McAdams, community advocate Pamela Atkinson, members of the United Way, Workforce Services, Catholic Community Services the Sutherland Institute, Crossroads Urban Center, representatives from Weber County and more.

All agreed that programs need to focus on creating solutions that lift people out of poverty, not provided just enough to continue the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

After the meeting, Rep. Love took Rep. Cleaver on a tour of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' Welfare Square, where thousands are provided food and clothing every year regardless of religious affiliation.

Rep. Cleaver says he doesn't expect Washington to just "lie down and listen to us" when it comes to this discussion.

However, he said: "We were able to really talk and propose solutions without the verbal vomit that always seems to creep into our conversations now, based on partisan politics."

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