Government funding runs out on April 28th. Without an agreement to fund the government by then, the federal government will shut down, disrupting economic growth, increasing uncertainty for businesses and people who rely on public services or are awaiting a tax refund, and potentially triggering job losses across the economy–just as the nation experienced during the October 2013 shutdown.

This report focuses on POE staffing. While estimates vary on the exact cost of border delays to the U.S. economy, research indicates a clear link between additional POE staff, reduced wait times, and economic benefits. Staffing an additional one to three booths or lanes can reduce maximum wait times by up to 25 minutes at some of the busiest POEs. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) estimates an additional 1,000 POE officers would increase economic activity by $2 billion and add 33,148 new U.S. jobs per year.

For nearly six years, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has held financial companies accountable and protected consumers from unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent practices, returning billions of dollars to millions of consumers, including students and service members.

This week, the Joint Economic Committee held its first hearing of this Congress entitled, “The Decline of Economic Opportunity in the United States: Causes and Consequences.” Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Committee Members heard from several witnesses on how to improve the U.S. economy so more American families that feel left behind can succeed. An overview with highlights from the hearing, including a discussion of immigrant workers’ role in the economy, equal pay for women, and student opportunity barriers can be found here.