Today, Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) was elected as Speaker of the House. Catholic Charities USA and its members have been actively engaged with Congressman Ryan in the past few years as he has examined poverty in depth, including opportunities for our agencies and for our clients to share their experiences on Capitol Hill. CCUSA appreciates Congressman Ryan’s good-faith efforts to tackle the complex issue of poverty and his inclusive, evidenced-based approach. While we may not agree with all of the recommendations Congressman Ryan has formulated in his White Paper and other legislative proposals, we appreciate his efforts to engage directly with social service practitioners and clients to inform his anti-poverty policy ideas, as well as his focus and leadership on advancing evidenced-based policy.
We urge Speaker Ryan to embrace Pope Francis’s call in his address to Congress: “We must move forward together, as one, in a renewed spirit of fraternity and solidarity, cooperating generously for the common good.”