NJ AR131

Urges the federal government to raise the federal poverty line used to determine eligibility for public assistance programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

Notes the current federal poverty line was developed in the 1960s based only on food costs and has not been updated to reflect modern expenses such as housing, transportation, child care, and health care

Highlights that approximately 53 million households cannot afford basic necessities, yet only 37.9 million are officially classified as living in poverty as of 2022

Addresses the "benefits cliff" created when minimum wage increases cause low-wage workers to lose public assistance eligibility in exchange for insufficient pay increases

Directs copies of the resolution to be sent to the President, congressional leadership, and all New Jersey members of Congress