Gopal, McKnight Resolution Urging Federal Government to Raise Federal Poverty Line for Public Assistance Programs Passes Senate

Senator Vin Gopal

TRENTON – The Senate passed a resolution urging the federal government to raise the federal poverty line for public assistance programs. The resolution is a response to growing concerns that the current measurement has not kept up with the rising cost of living.

“The federal poverty line is an outdated, unfair gauge of poverty in our country,” said Senator Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth). “The economic realities of the skyrocketing cost of housing, transportation, and healthcare make the current calculation obsolete. It unfairly excludes millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet from vital assistance programs that could help them survive and thrive.”

The resolution urges the federal government to reconsider the poverty threshold developed during the 1960s, highlighting that the poverty line has only received minor adjustments, to reflect inflation, since its inception. Affordability is particularly critical for New Jersey residents, where the cost of living is significantly higher than the national average in the United States.

“An updated federal poverty line will better represent the financial hurdles our families currently face, allowing more people to receive the assistance they need to support themselves and climb out of poverty,” said Sen. Angela McKnight (D-Hudson). “It’s not just a matter of changing numbers. It is time we realistically address what people must pay to live in today’s economy, ensuring everyone can live with dignity and security.”

Revised federal poverty measures are long overdue. This resolution urges for changes that will help ensure that more Americans can access essential public assistance programs like Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).