P1 1WHEREAS, August 20, 2014, marks the 50th anniversary of
2the signing of the federal Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, and
3it is appropriate at this time to draw special public attention to this
4significant milestone in the history of our nation's war on poverty;
5and
6WHEREAS, In his State of the Union Address on January 8,
71964, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared an “unconditional
8war on poverty in America,” and working together, the President
9and Congress passed the Economic Opportunity Act, which was
10signed into law on August 20, 1964; and
11WHEREAS, Directly regulated by the federal government, the
12agencies created by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 were
13established with the purpose of strengthening, supplementing, and
14coordinating efforts in furtherance of that policy; and
15WHEREAS, Fifty years later, poverty is still a major challenge
16across the nation, as evidenced by the socioeconomic data
17presented at the 2013 Southern California Economic Recovery &
18 Job Creation Summit; the data indicated that the southern
19California region has a much lower than average educational
20attainment level that, in turn, results in alarmingly low median and
21average household income levels and extremely high poverty rates,
22as well as one-in-four children living below the poverty line; and
P2 1WHEREAS, While our great state and nation have worked to
2raise people out of poverty and into secure jobs, we still have a
3long way to go in winning the “unconditional war on poverty in
4America”; and
5WHEREAS, To build a stronger and better state and nation, we
6must continue to help advance the cause of economic justice for
7all people; now, therefore be it
8Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the
9Assembly recognizes August 20, 2014, as the 50th anniversary of
10the signing of the federal Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, and
11honors those who are working to raise awareness of the numerous
12adults and children in California who are currently living in
13poverty, working to develop a solution, identifying the needs of
14low-income communities, and working to ensure the future
15prosperity for California’s economy and residents; and be it further
16Resolved, That the Assembly urges the federal government and
17other states to recognize this fight as well, and to continue working
18for a more prosperous future and increased awareness of the
19difficulties facing low-income individuals; and be it further
20Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
21of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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