Reed Combats Poverty

Press Release

Tom Reed continued his efforts to combat poverty by visiting Waverly to hold a community listening tour with anti-poverty leaders and local officials. "We care about those struggling in poverty, knowing many of those challenges firsthand, as the youngest of 12 kids, raised by a single mother after my father passed when I was two years old," said Reed. "It's only right that we make every effort to ensure every American has the best opportunity to succeed and break the cycle of poverty."

Reed's community listening tour was led by Lori Beth Cole from the Red Door Thrift Store and Community Center and was joined by Assemblyman Chris Friend and Mayor Leary.

The tour also provided an opportunity to visit numerous Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects being undertaken in the village. Congress authorized $3 billion for the program through Fiscal Year 2016 to provide certain communities with the opportunity to revitalize neighborhoods. The program focuses on affordable housing initiatives and economic development projects, both aiming to prevent blight and protect against threats to public health and safety.

Reed is an advocate of the Better Way proposal, offered by House Republicans, which contains numerous policies to help combat poverty. The plan places an emphasis on celebrating work, not penalizing it, and creating a hand up for those in need. "We stand with the American work ethic and realize the dignity that comes with an honest day's work. That's why we need to change our welfare programs to encourage rejoining the workforce, and provide the bridges that can help make that a reality for so many. We are confident that we can come together to strengthen our social nets and help every American achieve more," Reed concluded.

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