Getting enough money and resources to people so they can meet their basic needs
Policies Combating Poverty in the USA
Massive gains have been made to reduce poverty in the US since the 1960s. However, millions of people still live in poverty or food insecurity in the USA. It has to be mentioned that poverty levels would have been twice as high if there weren’t significant investments and low-income anti-poverty policies and assistance programs previously made by the government.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic almost obliterated all those decades of gains made in the past and more than ever, families and individuals in certain demographic groups have been pushed to the limits, and they’ve got a considerable risk of being pushed below the poverty line.
US policymakers implemented measures to provide economic relief to focus on economic transformation to strengthen the US economy and ensure it remains resilient in the long run. Below are some of the tools and policies in place to alleviate poverty which have been successful to date.
Job Creation For All
The American Jobs Plan is the most considerable investment made domestically since the Space Race. It focuses on the US investing $2.3 trillion to create new jobs, reduce poverty, increase employment, and allow families to save for the future and build financial security. The plan involves creating jobs to rebuild bridges and infrastructure, addressing the need for more health and caregivers, improving the electrical grid, providing affordable housing, and much more.
Raising Minimum Wages
The Raise the Wage Act of 2021 will slowly increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by the year 2025. After that, it will be indexed to the median wage so that it’ll increase automatically as the wages rise nationally within the US.
Additional changes include phasing out subminimum wages for employees who get tips and teenagers who are employed for 90 days or less, including disabled persons. These changes are expected to lift over 3.5 million Americans out of poverty. The Act is particularly relevant to women, people of color, and disabled persons.
Supporting Families
The American Families Plan is an investment in our children. It also aims to create a more productive, healthier, and a more sustainable workforce to drive the economy. It assists low-income families in many aspects. It prioritizes and addresses education, medical insurance, paid family and medical leave, and extended tax cuts. Parents or individuals can now take paid leave from work to recover from a medical condition, care for a family member or child, or grieve the loss of a family member or a loved one.
In education, the American Families Plan will make investments to transform educational institutes so that children can receive early childhood and post-secondary education, giving them a better chance to succeed by giving them the necessary skills and knowledge. Education will be provided to all three and four-year-old preschool children. All young Americans will get two years of a free college education.
The Future
These Acts and plans have accelerated and are still boosting the US economy and combating poverty. More than four million jobs have been created, almost doubling the US GDP growth. It’s now up to us to take advantage of these policies and initiatives.
Sources:
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Raise-the-Wage-Act-of-2021-Fact-Sheet-FINAL.pdf
