An Act to Lift Kids Out of Deep Poverty, filed by lead sponsors Representative Marjorie Decker and Senator Sal DiDomenico), sets a floor for financial assistance at 50% of the federal poverty level -- $1036 a month for a family of three in 2023.
The bills will increase financial assistance by 25% a year until grants reach 50% of the federal poverty level. The House bill is H.144 The Senate bill is S.75. To learn more, click here for our fact sheet.
Last session, a strong majority in both the House and Senate - 96 Representatives and 26 Senators - sponsored Lift Kids Out of Deep Poverty. Although the Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities reported the bills favorably, the bills did not pass. The Legislature did increase grants by 10% starting in October 2022. But grants remain too low.
The cost of living has sky-rocketed, eroding the recent increases in cash assistance. More substantial increases are needed to avoid losing ground and to reach the very modest goal of 50% of the federal poverty level.
The time to end deep poverty is now.