; Whereas 29 percent of Americans skipped refilling their prescriptions because of high costs, and 26 percent struggled to pay medical bills; Whereas more than half a million people experience poverty and homelessness on any given night, a number which has increased over the past two years; Whereas the criminal-legal system contributes to a cycle of poverty by issuing court-imposed fines and fees and threatening imprisonment for minor infractions and civil violations; Whereas according to the Prison Policy Initiative, families spend almost $2.9 billion on exorbitant commissary costs and phone calls to support their incarcerated loved ones; Whereas formerly incarcerated people face barriers to employment, housing, and social support programs after release and access to higher education, adult education, and workforce development training opportunities after release; Whereas nearly 1 in 2 United States children have at least 1 parent with a criminal record, and the barriers associated with a parent’s record can stunt a child’s cognitive development, school performance, and educational attainment; Whereas children in immigrant families make up one-quarter of all children in the United States, and are more likely to face systemic barriers to accessing economic and nutrition supports that can aid their health and development; Whereas globally, people living in areas with high concentrations of poverty will be disproportionately impacted by climate change; Whereas voter suppression and lack of access to voting, including early voting or alternative methods, leads to a disproportionate underrepresentation of low-income people; Whereas the United States should redistribute wealth and Federal assistance to reduce poverty and increase economic opportunity; Whereas an investment of $24.4 billion per year in K–12 schools and teachers could start to boost academic performance among poor and struggling children for about the same cost as a wall at the southern border of the United States