The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law provides national leadership in advancing laws and policies that secure justice to improve the lives and opportunities of people living in poverty. Through our advocacy, communication and training, we expand access to justice and opportunity for people of low income through our own advocacy agenda and by enhancing the capacity of other public interest lawyers who serve them.
The Center engages in direct advocacy campaigns in Illinois and around the country to improve policies and programs on specific issues, such as housing, health care, asset building, job training, and public benefits. The Shriver Center’s advocacy niche is the nexus between federal policy and state implementation, a key position in this era of devolution of power to the states in many areas of social policy and law. The Center’s communication and training programs are premier resources for those who represent people living in poverty.
Reflecting its original national mission as a leader in the law-based effort to achieve justice and opportunity for all, the Center’s advocacy has an intentionally national aspect in addition to its Illinois base. An important component of our national work is the annual publication of the Congressional Poverty Scorecard, which evaluates the record of each United States Senator and Representative on poverty-related legislation. We consider votes on a wide range of issues, including health care, housing, federal tax and budget, legal services, asset building, rural poverty, immigrants and foreign aid. The Scorecard measures our elected officials’ commitment to achieving justice and opportunity for low-income Americans.
The Poverty Scorecard allows you to evaluate whether or not your elected representatives are working to alleviate the income inequality that is so prevalent today. Look at the scores of your Congressional representatives and pass along either your congratulations or your disapproval of their votes. Hold them accountable.
For more information about the Shriver Center, please visit www.povertylaw.org.