WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) highlighted a new report that shows the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Restoration Act would lift approximately 3.3 million people out of poverty, including 1.2 million people over age 65, 1.2 million adults with disabilities, 558,000 adults who live with an SSI recipient, and 402,000 children and cut the poverty rate among SSI recipients by more than half.
Roughly 120,000 Arizonans and 8 million Americans, all of them over the age of 65 or with significant disabilities, rely on SSI benefits to meet their basic needs. Currently, SSI benefits provide a maximum monthly income that is far below the poverty line.
“Through the reconciliation process, we have a historic opportunity to create a budget framework that addresses the deep economic inequalities in this country. Simple updates to SSI will help so many across this nation and in Arizona who are struggling with serious economic hardship and poverty. As Democrats we have dedicated ourselves to breaking the cycle of poverty. We cannot squander the chance to lift 3.3 million fellow Americans out of poverty. Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Neal and Leader Schumer have been staunch advocates for SSI recipients and the care of our senior and vulnerable populations, and I urge them now to act before it is too late.”
Rep. Grijalva and House Members previously called on Congress to hold firm and make good on President Biden’s commitment to bring the SSI program into the 21st Century. Rep. Grijalva first introduced the Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act in 2013.
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