Five days ago, President Obama outlined The American Jobs Act,  an economic recovery plan that addresses the jobs crisis that many low and middle income families are facing. Today, the Census Bureau released its most recent data on national poverty. The crisis, it appears, is not just about jobs. It is also about the record number of Americans living in poverty. To date, 46.2 million people now live in poverty, which is defined as a $22,113 annually for a family of four. This includes 22% of all children, and a shocking one in four children under the age of 5.

The President’s plan is a step in the right direction. It acknowledges that unemployment challenges      disproportionately impact low-income youth and adults. Addressing this issue, the plan outlines components like job training programs, support for summer and year-round jobs for low-income youth, and subsidized job opportunities. The President’s plan also includes investments in education that would modernize schools and prevent teacher lay-offs.

It is imperative that Congress pass the American Jobs Act. Investing in job creation for those most in need is an important move in the fight against poverty. Furthermore, enriching our education system is an essential component in preparing low-income children for success. But lawmakers needs to go further. While poor Americans need jobs, they also need a strong and effective safety net to help them get back on their feet. Programs like Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Food Stamps, and the Earned Income Tax Credit are vital supports for those Americans struggling to get out of poverty. These programs must be protected from cuts in the upcoming deficit debates and strengthened to better meet the needs of America’s poor .

As Obama articulated in his speech, American is “a nation with responsibilities to ourselves and with responsibilities to one another.” In a time when corporations are yielding record profits thanks to generous tax breaks and one in four young children are living in poverty, it is time that lawmakers take this responsibility seriously, address the injustice, and fight for the millions of Americans in need.

For further reading:

• Details of the American Jobs Act;
• Comments on the President’s Plan from Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition for Human Needs;
• Comments on new poverty data from the Center for Law and Social Policy.