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CDF Calls 12.8 Million Children in Poverty in America Inexcusable |
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According to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, 12.8 million children in America --- or 17.4 percent --- lived in poverty in 2006. Child poverty remained stagnant last year while poverty declined for the general population. However, today there are 1.2 million more children living in poverty than there were in 2000. "It is a moral outrage that in the wealthiest nation on earth there are still 12.8 million children living in poverty---5.5 million of them in extreme poverty," said Children's Defense Fund President Marian Wright Edelman. "We must make it a national priority to protect the most vulnerable among us by lifting these children out of poverty and ensuring they have a fair start in life. After what the Bush Administration has touted as five years of economic recovery, it is inexcusable that 12.8 million children are forced to suffer through hardship every day." Extreme poverty: In 2006, 5.5 million children lived in extreme poverty defined as annual income below $10,222 for a 4-person family with 2 children. Young children: Children under the age of 5 remain more likely to be poor than older children. For more information about child poverty in America, visit the Children's Defense Fund's website at http://www.childrensdefense.org/. The Children's Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.
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