The above grade is based on votes by on 18 bills from 2009 that were important to fighting poverty. Click on any bill to learn more.
= vote to fight poverty
= vote against fighting poverty
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| 1. | Paycheck Fairness Act of 2009
Helps close the gender wage gap by strengthening the Equal Pay Act, which prohibits employers from paying unequal wages to men and women who perform substantially equal work. | N |
| 2. | Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009
Extends and increases the funding to the Children's Health Insurance Program, enabling states to enroll an additional 4 million children. February 4, 2009: Became Public Law No. 111-3 | Y |
| 3. | Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009
Reverses the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and restores long-standing protections for individuals filing pay discrimination claims. January 29, 2009: Became Public Law No. 111-2 | N |
| 4. | American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)
Increases funding to and expands eligibility for a variety of programs, including SNAP (food stamps), Unemployment Insurance, housing programs, and tax credits. February 17, 2009: Became Public Law No. 111-5 | N |
| 5. | Serve America Act
Reauthorizes and expands the National and Community Service Act and Domestic Volunteer Service Act. November 13, 2009: Became Public Law No. 111-13 | Y |
| 6. | Vision Care for Kids Act of 2009
Awards matching grants to states to improve vision care for low-income children who are uninsured or insured but without coverage for vision care. | Y |
| 7. | Amendment to Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2009
Eliminates consumer protections that would regulate high cost mortgages. | N |
| 8. | Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2009
Protects mortgage borrowers from abusive, predatory lending practices. | Y |
| 9. | 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act
Provides grants to public schools for modernization, renovation or repair to make them safe, healthy and more energy efficient. | N |
| 10. | Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009
Reauthorizes the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, increases the availability of mortgage credit, and provides strong protections for tenants living in foreclosed properties. May 20, 2009: Became Public Law No. 111-22 | Y |
| 11. | Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009
Protects consumers by prohibiting practices that unfairly harm credit cardholders. May 22, 2009: Became Public Law No. 111-24 | Y |
| 12. | Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2009
Provides federal employees with four weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, or the taking in of a foster child. | N |
| 13. | American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
Stems the tide of climate change, protects low-income consumers, and ensures low-income individuals are given the opportunity to participate in the green economy. | N |
| 14. | Amendment to Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Makes a five percent cut to discretionary spending in the bill, negatively impacting food assistance programs including SNAP (food stamps) and child nutrition programs. | N |
| 15. | Frank Melville Supported Housing Investment Act of 2009
Makes improvements to the Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program by adding funding and authorizing a new demonstration program. | Y |
| 16. | Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009
Assists low-income students through grants, simplification of financial aid applications, improvement of education facilities, and increased funding for minority colleges and education initiatives. | N |
| 17. | Affordable Health Care for America Act
Comprehensively reforms the health insurance system by expanding health insurance coverage to more Americans and regulating health insurance industries (House version). | N |
| 18. | Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Provides significant funding increases for several housing programs that serve low-income families. December 16, 2009: Became Public Law No. 111-117 | N |