A hearing before the Joint Economic Committee, “Making It More Affordable to Raise a Family,” will take place Tuesday, September 10, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., in 216 Hart Senate Office Building. A live stream of the hearing will be available on the Committee website: https://www.jec.senate.gov/.
Witnesses:
Mr. Lyman Stone, Adjunct Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
Research Fellow, Institute for Family Studies
Wilmore, KY
Mr. Ryan Bourne, R. Evan Scharf Chair for the Public Understanding of Economics
Cato Institute
Washington, DC
Dr. Jane Waldfogel, Compton Foundation Centennial Professor for the Prevention of Children’s and Youth Problems
Columbia University School of Social Work
New York, NY
Ms. Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, CEO/Executive Director and Co-Founder
MomsRising
Kirkland, WA
Committee Chairman Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) will preside. Vice Chair Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) invited two of the witnesses, Dr. Waldfogel and Dr. Rowe-Finkbeiner. Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid or service should contact Amalia Halikias at (202) 577-9447 or hearing@jec.senate.gov.
Background:
The witnesses invited by Vice Chair Maloney will focus on public policies that can help American families overcome economic insecurity and counter child poverty. The testimony occurs as many Americans still struggle to make ends meet amid rising costs and relatively stagnant wage growth. For example, nearly 40 percent of adults report they or their families have trouble paying for at least one basic need like food, housing or health care. And four in 10 Americans say that if they were faced with an unexpected $400 expense, they would be forced to borrow or sell something, or would not be able to pay for it at all, according to a recent Federal Reserve report. Dr. Waldfogel argues that public policies haven’t kept pace with new demographic realities and ignore the challenges that programs like paid family leave would address. And through her grassroots organization, Ms. Rowe-Finkbeiner leads campaigns to support workplace and maternal justice, including gender pay equality, affordable early care and nutrition programs including SNAP.
Press Contact (Democrats): Randy Woods; Randy_Woods@jec.senate.gov; 202-503-5943
