A hearing before the Joint Economic Committee, "Expanding Opportunity by Strengthening Families, Communities, and Civil Society,’’ will take place Tuesday, April 30, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., in 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building. A live stream of the hearing will be available at this link. 

Witnesses:

Dr. Nathaniel Hendren, Professor of Economics and Founding Co-Director of Opportunity Insights
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Dr. Ryan Streeter, Director of Domestic Policy Studies
American Enterprise Institute
Washington, DC

Mr. José A. Quiñonez, Founder and CEO
Mission Asset Fund
San Francisco, CA

Dr. Patrick Sharkey, Professor and Chair of the Sociology Department
New York University
New York, NY

Chairman Mike Lee presiding.

Background:

The hearing will focus on how family relationships and community networks can impact poverty and financial instability in America. Democrats believe the federal government can help families and communities address persistent inequality by supporting programs that offer critical services ranging from paid family leave to high-quality schooling.

The Democratic witnesses are José Quiñonez and Patrick Sharkey. Mr. Quiñonez founded the nonprofit Mission Asset Fund, which has pioneered a model that offers people with limited or no access to credit a pathway to mainstream financial services. He will demonstrate that government support plays a key role in helping low-income people improve their financial situation. Dr. Sharkey is a sociologist who has studied urban poverty and inequality, finding that one’s neighborhood plays a key role in determining economic well-being. His research shows how persistently disadvantaged communities have been subject to a lack of social investment, punitive policies and high levels of violence.

 

Press Contact (Democrats):

Randy Woods
Randy_Woods@jec.senate.gov
202-503-5943