Congressman Cleaver Marks 50th Anniversary of the War on Poverty

Kansas City - Comments from Congressman Cleaver, U.S. Representative from Missouri's Fifth District, regarding the 50th Anniversary of the War on Poverty, declared by President Lyndon Johnson during the State of the Union address in 1964:

"It was 50 years ago today that President Lyndon Johnson declared war on poverty in this country," said Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II. "President Johnson told Congress the richest nation on earth could not afford to leave millions of its citizens trapped in squalor, misery, and unemployment. Those words are still just as true today."

"We have come so very far, to be sure, but this battle is no where close to being over. We have seen great progress in the last five decades with Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, and a food stamp program. Those programs have already, and will continue to, assist millions of Americans each day. But there are thousands of hardworking people in Missouri's Fifth District, and throughout the country, who are working longer hours for less pay, watching the number of opportunities to better themselves shrink."

"We have within our power the ability to stamp out poverty in this country - in this generation. It is a matter of priorities. It is ironic that the 50th Anniversary of the War on Poverty comes as we fight to restore emergency unemployment insurance for the more than 1.3 million Americans still searching for work. This is a lifeline so critical that allows people to look for work while still being able to feed their families. We must pledge anew our commitment to create jobs, raise the minimum wage, and end poverty in this great nation."

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and also serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus.