Bill Overview
Title: Lifting American Children From Poverty Act
Description: This bill establishes a temporary interagency task force to develop a strategic plan to reduce child poverty, particularly in states that experience higher than average poverty rates. Members of the task force include representatives from relevant federal agencies, state and local governments, advocacy organizations, the private sector, and other experts.
Sponsors: Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
Target Audience
Population: Children living in poverty
Estimated Size: 10500000
- The bill aims to reduce child poverty in the United States, so the primary target population is children living in poverty.
- Children are defined as individuals under the age of 18.
- According to the US Census data, approximately 10.5 million children lived in poverty in the United States in 2019.
- The task force will focus on states with higher than average poverty rates, which likely include states such as Mississippi, Louisiana, and New Mexico among others.
- By decreasing child poverty, the bill will also indirectly impact families and communities where these children reside.
Reasoning
- The focus of the policy is on children living in poverty, with specific attention to states with high poverty rates like Mississippi, Louisiana, and New Mexico.
- While the immediate impact is intended for children, the policy indirectly affects their families and broader communities, as lifted children bring longer-term economic and social benefits.
- With a budgetary constraint, the policy won't immediately address all 10.5 million children in poverty, but rather target the most effective interventions for maximum impact.
- A diverse set of perspectives, including parents, caregivers, and non-affected people in the community, were simulated to understand the direct and ripple effects of the policy.
Simulated Interviews
Single Mother (Jackson, Mississippi)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I really hope this policy passes. My kids deserve better chances in life than I had.
- Sometimes it's just really hard making ends meet, and any help would be appreciated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
School Teacher (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a teacher, I see firsthand how poverty impacts learning. Supporting these kids would be beneficial for their futures.
- I'd like to see the task force include educators in their plans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Non-profit Worker (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy aligns with the work we do. Increasing financial support could really amplify our efforts.
- It's crucial to have local voices in decision-making.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Pediatrician (Dallas, Texas)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's about time we see this kind of initiative. Children's health is inseparable from social factors like poverty.
- I'd be interested in how health care providers can contribute to the task force.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Small Business Owner (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Helping families and children strengthens our whole community.
- Any support that increases customer purchasing power is good for local business.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
College Student (New York, New York)
Age: 18 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As someone who grew up in poverty, I know the difference that supportive policies can make.
- This bill seems like a proactive step toward breaking cycles of poverty.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Finance Analyst (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Good to see prioritization of children. They are our future.
- I am interested in the details, especially fiscal responsibility and implementation measures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Social Worker (Detroit, Michigan)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The need here is urgent. This policy might be a stepping stone toward more comprehensive measures.
- Children's conditions at home dictate much of their development, which makes this kind of policy super important.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
High School Counselor (Boise, Idaho)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Rural areas often get overlooked in policies like this, hope they consider geographic diversity.
- Interventions should be data-driven to ensure the most efficient allocation of resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Unemployed (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I really need this kind of support. Things have been tough since losing my job.
- Hope this isn't just talk and actually brings about change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 2: $18000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $22000000)
Year 3: $17000000 (Low: $14000000, High: $21000000)
Year 5: $15000000 (Low: $13000000, High: $18000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The bill does not directly provide services or monetary assistance to reduce child poverty, rather it focuses on planning and strategy development.
- Success of the task force is contingent on collaboration across multiple sectors and levels of government.
- Implementation of resulting strategies from the task force recommendations may lead to additional future expenditures or savings.