Virginia's Economy Isn't Working for Everyone: Congress Must Act

Today the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and the Coalition on Human Needs released a new report on poverty, hunger and income inequality in the Commonwealth. The report draws on new information released by the Census Bureau last week and indicates that poverty rates in Virginia were higher in 2012 (at 11.7 percent) than they were in 2008 (at 10.3 percent), the first full year of the recession. Not surprisingly, in the same time frame median incomes in Virginia dropped below levels from the year 2000; and food insecurity has climbed, with one in ten Virginians lacking enough food. The report calls on Congress to act quickly to stop the implementation of another year of sequester cuts and invest in proven programs to reverse these alarming trends.

"The report paints a dismal picture of a stagnant economy, growing inequality and stubborn poverty and hunger throughout Virginia," said Marco Grimaldo, CEO and President of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. "But these numbers and statistics represent the everyday struggles of our neighbors, parents, grandparents and children. The choices at hand are about our priorities as a society. Will we let our neighbors continue to go hungry? Or will Congress stop making short-sighted cuts, and start investing in our future?"

There are a number of policies and program investments outlined in the report, which would reduce poverty, hunger and income inequality while making crucial investments in the future. The timing is critical, as Congress is headed towards yet another self-inflicted crisis: they must approve a spending bill by September 30th or else much of the federal government will shut down. House leaders have proposed a temporary spending bill through December 15 which includes another year's sequester cuts, while the Senate has proposed ending the sequester but still cutting domestic spending programs by 12 percent compared to fiscal 2010. Unless congressional action is taken, another year of sequester cuts will continue to hurt working families and cost the economy 900,000 new jobs - which would be created if the sequester were reversed.  

"The great recession officially ended over four years ago, but the economy still isn't working for many Virginia families," said Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs. "Congress must act quickly to prioritize the needs of working families and implement policies and budget measures that protect SNAP, Medicaid and Social Security while making smart investments in the education of our children, America's infrastructure and our shared prosperity."

The report was created with the assistance of The Hatcher Group and is available online here. It draws on new information from the 2012 American Community Survey, a September report from the US Department of Agriculture, and other sources.
 
The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy is the Commonwealth's oldest faith-based advocacy group and works to unite faith communities throughout the state to reduce poverty rates in Virginia by advocating for proven and effective public policies at the state and federal level.

The Coalition on Human Needs is an alliance of national organizations work to promote public policies which address the needs of low-income and other vulnerable populations. The Coalition's members include civil rights, religious, labor and professional organizations and those concerned with the well-being on women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities.