Davis Speaks About "A Better Way' to Fight Poverty

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) today spoke about "A Better Way" to fight poverty in this country at the First Run Feeding America donation to the Central Illinois Foodbank. Land O'Lakes donated 40,000 pounds, or 33,000 meals, of macaroni and cheese to local families in need.

"The Central Illinois Foodbank distributes 9 million pounds of food each year to families in need," said Davis. "Their work would not be possible without donations from companies like Land O'Lakes. We're working in Washington to ensure foodbanks continue to see charitable donations like this by providing some certainty within our federal tax code. Foodbanks help charities give families a leg up when they need it the most. Unfortunately, poverty remains cyclical for many in this country because the system is broken. The House has outlined a plan, 'A Better Way,' to fix the system, expand opportunity, and help people get out of this cycle that has trapped too many families right here in Central Illinois."

Since President Lyndon B. Johnson declared the "war on poverty" in 1964, the federal government has spent $22 trillion to fight poverty, yet the poverty rate remains virtually unchanged and 46.7 million Americans are still impoverished. That is why Davis supports "A Better Way" which outlines the House's plan to end the cycle of poverty by:

* Encouraging work and requiring states to connect people using welfare programs with good jobs or job training programs.

* Rewarding people for working hard and helping them get ahead by tailoring benefits to people's needs so you're not punished for getting a raise or getting married.

* Demanding accountability and results by changing the way we measure success from how many programs there are or by how much money spent to how many people we help succeed and leave the system.

Source