FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 28, 2007

CONTACT: Stephanie Niedringhaus, 202-347-9797 x224, sniedringhaus@networklobby.org

CATHOLIC LOBBY CALLS ON WASHINGTON TO ADDRESS POVERTY AND HEALTHCARE CRISES

Washington , DC : In response to this morning’s release of new government data on poverty rates and access to healthcare in the U.S., NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice lobby, today called on Congress and President Bush to immediately address the crises of people mired in poverty and children without health insurance.

Today’s U.S. Census Bureau report revealed that, in 2006:

• 36.5 million people lived in poverty
• 12.8 million of these were children

• 47 million people lacked health insurance (up from 44.8 million in 2005)
• 8.7 million of these were children (up from 8 million in 2005)

These statistics are especially troubling because the Bush Administration and Congress are currently engaged in a battle over SCHIP, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, and government funding of programs that address the needs of people in poverty. The president has repeatedly threatened to veto legislation that includes desperately needed new funding for these programs.

Responding to the report and the threatened vetoes, Sister Catherine Pinkerton, CSJ, a NETWORK lobbyist for social justice, stated, “This nation, which often characterizes itself as the world’s economic giant with a standard of living admired by others, received its annual shock today when the latest U.S. poverty statistics were released. How could 36.5 million people be living in poverty in this country, and to what can we attribute the fact that the top 20% of U.S. households received over half of our nation’s income, while the bottom 20% gleaned just a little over 3%? One must wonder how an administration that names its education program “No Child Left Behind” can, in conscience, threaten to veto legislation that would give more children access to healthcare and fund programs that help meet their most basic needs.”

NETWORK Communications Coordinator Stephanie Niedringhaus added, “It is particularly compelling that these poverty and healthcare statistics are being released as we mark the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which highlighted the devastating effects of poverty. If there were ever a time for our government to address the twin scandals of poverty and lack of access to healthcare in our nation, this is it.”

XXX

NETWORK—a Catholic leader in the global movement for justice and peace—educates, organizes and lobbies for economic and social transformation. Founded in 1971 by 47 Catholic sisters, NETWORK is supported by thousands of groups and individuals committed to working for social and economic justice. For more information, see www.networklobby.org.