Self Sufficiency Standards

Help build the momentum in Washington to get a new poverty line! Below you can:

1. Help our DC-partner organization, WOW, show how many organizations have used or endorsed the Self-Sufficiency Standard or the Elder Economic Security Standard Index, which we believe can serve as a model for the proposed new decent living standard that McDermott’s bill calls for. Send the name of your organization and contact information to Smarsh@wowonline. org Subject: Endorsement;
2. Call your Representatives and Senators, especially moderate Republicans, to urge them to co-sponsor H.R. 6941 or the Dodd proposal which does not yet have a bill number. Cite your interest in the legislation and any suggestions you may have for strengthening it (the WOW analysis includes suggestions) ; and
3. Let us know what response you get from Congress, including names and possible co-sponsors. Contact Susan Rees, srees@wowonline. org, or Ramsey Alwin, ralwin@wowonline. org.

See more details below and join the movement!

Susie Smith
Director, Californians For Economic Security (CFES)
Insight Center for Community Economic Development (formerly NEDLC)
Phone: (510) 251-2600x108; Fax: (510) 251-0600
2201 Broadway, Suite 815
Oakland, CA 94612

Help secure Cosponsors for the Measuring American Poverty Act of 2008!
Collect and share with WOW names of orgs supporting/using the Self Sufficiency Standard and/or the Elder Economic Security Standard Index!

Background

Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA) introduced the Measuring American Poverty Act of 2008 (H.R. 6941) on Sept. 18, 2008. The bill would create a new “Modern Poverty Measure” using updated methodology and statistics. In a slight change from his earlier discussion draft, the bill “obligates” the National Academy of Sciences to develop a “method of calculating a decent living standard threshold” that would be higher than a level of deprivation and impoverishment and more accurately reflect what it costs to make ends meet. A companion measure in the Senate is anticipated to be introduced by Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT). WOW’s detailed critique of the legislation can be found online.

The offices of Representative McDermott and Senator Dodd are actively seeking co-sponsors, especially Republicans, to ensure this a bipartisan bill.

Act Today!!

To support these efforts, we encourage you to:

1. Review WOW’s full analysis of the bill;
2. Help WOW show how many organizations have used or endorsed the Self-Sufficiency Standard or the Elder Economic Security Standard Index, which we believe can serve as a model for the proposed new decent living standard that McDermott’s bill calls for. Send the name of your organization and contact information to Smarsh@wowonline. org Subject: Endorsement;
3. Call your Representatives and Senators, especially moderate Republicans, to urge them to co-sponsor H.R. 6941 or the Dodd proposal which does not yet have a bill number. Cite your interest in the legislation and any suggestions you may have for strengthening it (the WOW analysis includes suggestions) ; and
4. Let us know what response you get from Congress, including names and possible co-sponsors. Contact Susan Rees, srees@wowonline. org, or Ramsey Alwin, ralwin@wowonline. org.