Steny Hoyer – RI Future

Congressman David Cicilline (D- RI) announced historic legislation to expand upon the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and provide protections for the LGBT community in several areas, including public accommodations, housing, employment, federal funding, education, credit, and jury service. Announced in Washington, D.C., the bill, known as the Equality Act, has been introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. There are 157 original cosponsors to the bill in the House, and 40 in the Senate.

“In most states, you can get married on Saturday, post your wedding photos to Facebook on Sunday, and then get fired on Monday just because of who you are. This is completely wrong,” Cicilline said in a press conference. “Fairness and equality are core American values. No American citizen should ever have to live their lives in fear of discrimination.”

Currently, there are 31 states where it is legal to discriminate against someone based on their sexual orientation, and deny them services, employment, or housing.

Cicilline, who is one of seven openly gay members of Congress, added that the Equality Act is common sense legislation that will help to resolve the current patchwork of anti-discrimination laws all over the country.

“Partial equality is not acceptable. It’s time for a comprehensive bill that protects LGBT Americans,” he said.

The Human Rights Campaign, a non-partisan LGBT advocacy group, found that 63 percent of LGBT individuals have been the targets of discrimination in their personal lives. LGBT students have also been made to feel unsafe at school- 82 percent have been verbally harassed, while 38 percent have been physically harassed.

Other members of Congress spoke on the bill as well. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D- WI) said that she believes America is ready for such a comprehensive step.

“No American should be at risk of being fired, evicted from their home, or denied services because of who they are, or who they love,” she said. “We also need to make sure that every American has a fair chance to earn a living and provide for their families.”

Senator Cory Booker (D- NJ), said the act is based on purely American values, even if the reason for its existence isn’t very American at all.

“This legislation that we are introducing is something that resonates with the best of who we are as a nation,” he said. “But the need for this legislation reflects the worst of who we are.”

Representative John Lewis (D-GA) said the act is long overdue, and provides justice for LGBT Americans. He said it will provide them dignity and respect, without fear of being denied things they need for being who they are. Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) echoed these sentiments, saying that he hopes that Congress will take immediate action to pass the bill.

Many outside of government were invited to come share their stories about how they have been denied services just for being gay or transgender. One couple’s pediatrician would not treat their daughter just because they were lesbians, while a transgender man from Texas was fired from his job after being “outed.” Many advocacy groups showed their support as well, including the Human Rights Campaign, the Center for American Progress, and the National Center for Transgender Equality.

“This is a national problem that needs a national solution, and the Equality Act is that solution,” said Winnie Satchelberg, the Executive Vice President of the Center for American Progress.

Only 19 states provide employment and housing protections for LGBT Americans. 17 states prohibit public accommodation discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and four prohibit it based solely upon sexual orientation. Prohibitions for education discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity exist in 14 states.

I seem to remember a time when people actually cared about poverty, when poverty was something that society actually wanted to alleviate, when poverty was the social ill and not poor people. That unfortunately was a long time ago.

Almost 15% of Rhode Islanders live in poverty, close to 155,000 of our mothers and fathers, our sisters and brothers, our daughters and sons. According to the 2013 RI Kids Count Factbook, “[t]here are 39,900 poor children in Rhode Island, 17.9% of all children.” One out of ten RI seniors lives in poverty. In a civilized society that is supposed to take care of the less fortunate among us, this should be totally unacceptable. In today’s America, this is just another day in paradise…

There is a lot of discussion about the “middle class,” and about how to “strengthen” it. But there is generally little discussion about poverty, its causes, consequences, and solutions (yes… solutions). When there is discussion about the plight of the poor, it is generally to blame them, either indirectly or directly, for their circumstances. This is not only offensive to the many, many folks who live their lives every day struggling to make ends meet, it completely ignores the economic realities facing the country and the social bases that perpetuate inequality and inter-generational poverty.

A Google News search for “poverty” yields 149,000 results. The same search for “deficit” brings back over 1.2 million results. I’m not sure why this is the case, but I feel the lack of discussion about poverty in the public realm perpetuates the problem, making poverty less visible and therefore “ignorable.” The closest thing to a full public debate on poverty in recent years was John Edward’s campaign theme of “Two Americas” leading up to the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections. And while that was particularly striking to me given the state of electoral politics, it was no Lyndon Johnson’s “War on Poverty” ad.

To this point, I am glad that Dem Whip Steny Hoyer recently announced the Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity, if for no other reason than to bring additional attention to a persistent and growing problem. Equally, I am glad that Rep. David Cicilline has been appointed to it as he is one of the most vocal in Congress about poverty and has been working on his plan for two years to further boost American manufacturing.

These manufacturing jobs would be in sharp contrast to the low-wage work, particularly part-time work, that has been the norm during America’s economic malaise that many people call a “recovery.” When almost 60% of the total number of jobs created after the recession officially ended is low wage occupations, should we even call it a recovery? Moreover, the recession’s effects on employment highlight the need for non-employment based programs to reduce poverty. Focusing only on programs to enhance the income of those who are working, while important, does nothing to help those who are unemployed. And the longer folks lack a job, the harder it is for them to find another.

Empirical research shows that the loss of a good job during a severe downturn—the job-loss pattern of this downturn—leads to a 20 percent earnings loss lasting 15 to 20 years. Earnings losses are more severe for long-term unemployed workers who run a greater risk of dropping out of the labor force and falling into poverty.

It’s important to understand that the policies and programs focused on reducing poverty actually work…, you know, when they’re allowed to work. There are things that can (and should) be done to alleviate poverty in this country, especially in times like these. When the economy was destroyed by those who have everything but wanted more, forcing misery and destitution on millions of Americans through no fault of their own, the most important thing to do is help ensure people can improve their lives.

I hope this task force will help find more creative solutions to reducing poverty, showing the same sense of seriousness and urgency that prompted Lyndon Johnson to push the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 through Congress. They could start by raising the minimum wage, increasing the EITC benefit, prosecuting wage theft, making it easier to join a union, and truly helping the unemployed with job training, entrepreneurship assistance, long-term unemployment benefits, stimulus spending, and even subsidized work. Maybe then we’ll see another significant decline in poverty as was seen throughout the 1960s.

Tag: Steny Hoyer

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