Coalition Releases Report Detailing Counter Recession Measures to Address Rising Needs

Congressman McGovern and Human Needs Groups Representing Millions Call on Congress to Boost State Economies, Help American Families Now.

U.S. Representative James P. McGovern (D-MA)

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Representative James P. McGovern (D-MA) joined human needs advocates representing millions of Americans to urge Congress to aid families and states hit hard by the recession. As Co-Chair of the House Hunger Caucus, Rep. McGovern emphasized the urgency of Congressional action.

"It's clear that we need additional economic stimulus that is targeted at those Americans who need the most help," said Congressman McGovern.

A new report by the Coalition on Human Needs, titled "Towards Shared Recovery: Congress Must Do More to Reverse the Recession outlines a plan to restore the nation’s economic health and help low income people in need of assistance. In addition, more than 80 organizations have signed a letter urging Congress to quickly enact measures that will effectively counter the recession and stimulate the economy.

The sign-on letter is online at: http://www.chn.org/pdf/2008/ntlstimulusletter.pdf

The letter calls on Congress to enact initiatives to help families harmed by the recession and prevent cutbacks in state or local services. With 3.5 million people expected to exhaust their unemployment insurance benefits by the end of the year, expanding this relief will help these Americans stay afloat. To boost the economy, human needs advocates are urging Congress to expand unemployment insurance benefits by $12.7 billion and Food Stamps and emergency food supplies by $5.1 billion. Additionally, Congress must provide aid to states and preventing crippling cuts in Medicaid and SCHIP.

Read the full list of counter-recession recommendations online at: http://www.chn.org/pdf/2008/stimulus4142008.pdf

John T. "Tim" Donnellan , who runs the Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area described the emergence of a new group of poor Americans. He described a worrisome landscape of empty food banks, home foreclosures on the rise and Food Stamps running out, concluding that the economic safety net has failed.

"Today as millions of Americans begin to feel the impact of the Administration’s misplaced priorities and failed economic policies we continue to see more of the same: bail-outs for wall-street, billions for the war in Iraq and crumbs for main-street America," said Marvin Silver, Campaign Manager of USAction.

As health care and gas costs skyrocket, Americans are suffering from a nationwide recession. Human needs advocates warn that if Congress does not take the necessary steps, state aid programs will not be able to keep up with the increased demand.

"We are mystified that anyone would stand in the way of helping the more than 3 million unemployed who will exhaust their benefits within the year and face a jobs pool that has been shrinking month after month," said Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs.

Americans are desperate for relief and without immediate aid prolonged joblessness is far more likely. The Emergency Campaign for America’s Priorities is calling for a stimulus package that invests in America’s future.

"We need to keep focused on the rise of unemployment that will inevitably occur because of the current economic slowdown, whether it becomes a ‘technical’ recession or not," warned Lawrence Mishel, President of the Economic Policy Institute. "Ameliorating an unemployment rate of near six percent by the end of the year, despite any bump to growth from the rebates, requires additional stimulus and spending directed at infrastructure and school repairs. Programs for low-income populations not only help address important needs they are also effective ways to boost consumption spending and jobs."

Source: U.S. Representative James P. McGovern