Prioritize constituents' needs over corporate interests, address income inequality

Soaring inflation reached a staggering 9.1% annual rate in June 2022, the highest in over 40 years, severely diminishing the purchasing power of wages. Real average hourly earnings tumbled 3.6% over the past year while corporate profits soared 25%. Over 37 million Americans lived in poverty in 2021, including nearly 12 million children, and 16 million households struggled with food insecurity. Unlike peer nations ensuring basic standards of living, the US lacks universal healthcare, paid family leave, affordable housing initiatives, and robust social safety nets. The current spending proposal allocates a paltry 6% to crucial anti-poverty programs despite over 580,000 experiencing homelessness on any given night. We implore Congress to reprioritize a revamped bill centering urgent relief for the nation's struggling working families through measures curbing corporate price-gouging, bolstering affordable housing, strengthening food and healthcare access, and creating a national paid leave program. Preserving a thriving middle class and restoring economic dignity demands putting people over profits.