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Congressman Cohen Receives an "A+" on 2007 Poverty Scorecard

March 26, 2008


“America will never reach its potential for greatness until poverty is no longer an issue for or a threat to our citizens. Low-income families are struggling even more during this economic downturn, and it’s imperative that we in Congress do everything we can soften the blow from rising energy costs, the credit crunch and the subprime mortgage crisis,” said Congressman Cohen. “Sargent Shriver was one of the great civic activists of the 21st Century, and he left his indelible mark on many of the great social programs of our time – Head Start, the Special Olympics, the Peace Corps, the Legal Services movement, just to name a few. I am grateful for the recognition by this venerable organization, and I will continue to fight on behalf of the poor and destitute in the 9th District and across the country.”

The 2007 Poverty Scorecard assigned letter grades to each member of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives according to his or her voting records on poverty-related issues that came to a vote in 2007, including legislation on affordable housing, health care, education, labor, and tax policy. With the help of a national advisory board and other antipoverty experts, the Shriver Center identified and analyzed fourteen Senate votes and fifteen House votes.

“This Scorecard is important because it looks at a whole range of critical issues, all of which have to be addressed by the country in order to deal with millions of Americans, more than the population of California, who live in poverty every single day,” said former North Carolina Senator and 2004 Vice-Presidential nominee John Edwards during the teleconference release of the Scorecard. “We can get the congressional leadership that we need, but it’s crucial that voters be educated, that they know who’s doing the right thing and who’s not.”

For more information on the Shriver Center and the 2007 Poverty Scorecard, please visit www.povertylaw.org.

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Contact:
Marilyn Dillihay, Press Secretary, (202) 225-3265/ (202) 368-9275 (mobile)
Charlie Gerber, Communications Assistant, (202) 225-3265 / (202) 320-2817 (mobile)