(Video above: Rep. Bradley Byrne delivers the Weekly Republican Address)
WASHINGTON — While the 2016 presidential campaign has soaked up most of the media attention, Republicans in the United States House of Representatives have been laying the groundwork for their 2017 legislative agenda, with the strong likelihood that the GOP will maintain control of the lower chamber going into next year. Immigration, trade and national security issues have garnered most of the headlines this year, but Alabama Congressman Bradley Byrne is working with Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and other House Republican leaders to push poverty alleviation to the forefront.
“Over the past few months, I have been on a tour of my district—talking not only with the people helping those in need, but also many of those trapped in poverty,” said Rep. Byrne. “Some are struggling with addiction. Some have no homes. Some have jobs that simply don’t pay enough. They come from all kinds of backgrounds. And none of them want to stay in poverty… Every person struggling wants to get a job and make enough money to live a good life.”
Rep. Byrne said the most successful poverty alleviation efforts he has seen have come from private sector organizations, rather than the government.
“They treat those in need as human beings with real worth and openly prove to people that they are loved,” he said. “It’s clear to me that one thing government sure can’t do is love someone—only another person can do that. But the government can learn from these groups what really works and make sure what the government does actually supports their efforts.
“The problem is, the many federal programs that are supposed to help people in need are leaving far too many of them in poverty,” he continued. “We’ve spent trillions of dollars over the last 50 years on the so-called ‘War on Poverty’— $800 billion this year alone. And yet during that time the percentage of our people living in poverty has hardly changed. There is a better way.”
The GOP’s “Better Way” agenda starts with the principle that “everyone in America deserves a real opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty—once and for all,” and includes five steps:
First, reward work. If you are capable, we will expect you to work or prepare for work in exchange for benefits.
Second, tailor those benefits to people’s needs. If we allow states to customize benefits, then they’ll be able to work with groups like Feeding the Gulf Coast and get people the help they need.
Third, improve education and job training.
Fourth, help people plan and save for the future.
And fifth, demand results. Keep track of what we’re doing, so that we can see which ideas actually work.
“The way I see it, if we succeed here, we get a ‘three-fer,’” Byrne explained. “First, we lift people out of poverty. Second, the economy will grow as more of us start working. And finally, as people leave the welfare rolls, we will spend less taxpayer money.”
In addition to poverty alleviation, other planks in the House GOP’s “Better Way” agenda include national security, the economy, the Constitution, health care and tax reform.
