In Case You Missed It…

This week at CBPP, we focused on poverty and inequality, housing, the federal budget, federal taxes, state budgets and taxes, health, Social Security, and the economy.

• On poverty and inequality, we affirmed the importance of policymakers crafting a compromise Build Back Better bill.
• On housing, Ann Oliva testified before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development and Insurance and offered guidance on how to address local challenges in housing the most vulnerable and ending homelessness.
• On the federal budget, Jabari Cook, Sarah Calame, David Reich, and Katie Windham maintained that funding increases to House appropriations bills can be used as a tool to support antiracist policies. Reich explained that non-defense funding increases would help undo a decade of cuts and invest in important national needs. Kathleen Romig pointed out that the latest COVID surge illustrates an urgent need for paid leave.
• On federal taxes, Chuck Marr, Samantha Jacoby, Jabari Cook, and David Reich highlighted the actions Congress should take to fund the IRS for the short and long term.
• On state budgets and taxes, Iris Hinh explained that states have many opportunities to support an equitable recovery with the remaining billions of federal pandemic aid. Eric Figueroa stressed the need for states to thoughtfully implement grocery tax reforms to help families and improve equity.
• On health, Laura Harker emphasized that after eight years it’s past time to close the Medicaid coverage gap.
• On Social Security, Kathleen Romig noted that the Social Security Administration needs large funding boosts following the pandemic and years of underinvestment.
• On the economy, we updated our backgrounder on how many weeks of unemployment compensation are available. We also updated our chart book tracking the post-Great Recession economy.

Chart of the Week – 1 in 3 Households With Children Could Not Afford Adequate Food, Housing, or Utilities at Least Once in 2014-2016 Period

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A variety of news outlets featured CBPP’s work and experts this past week. Here are some of the highlights:

Would proposed grocery, gas and property tax breaks be big enough to help Illinoisans?
Belleville News-Democrat
February 4, 2022

15 million people could lose Medicaid when pandemic ends and states aren’t sure they can help them all
Politico
February 2, 2022

Millions of low-income Americans eligible for tax refund boost this year
CBS News
February 2, 2022

COVID-19 widows struggle to get benefits as Social Security offices remain closed
The 19^th
February 1, 2022

Omicron may be mild, but it's still adding to many Americans' financial stress
CNN
February 1, 2022

'A cruel joke': Families are missing the child tax credit. What future does it have?
NBC News
January 30, 2022

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