Shes fought and i know because i fought alongside her for part of that time for raising the minimum wage, giving employees access to sick days and allowing workers to take family and medical leave. Shes been passionate on issues of equal pay for equal work. Shes been fighting recently tooth and nail to protect the aca for fair trade. I will tell you some of you may not know about rosa is if she has your cell phone number, shell call you. Nutrition and ge getting to the point to have days conversation, shes been working on this issue of child allowance or at least fully refundable tax credit which is pretty equivalent for many years. She is not a newcomer to this debate. And, in fact, people may not know this. Its a great little trivia point for those in the child allowance world is that thanks to rosa the Congress Actually voted on an amendment in 2003. Im old enough to remember on a fully refundable Child Tax Credit and the amendment failed. But that was the only time to my knowledge that our Congress Even voted on a child allowance. And she currently has legislation that i recall that creates a fully refundable plan with a speed limit for kids and all children under three with incomes up to the Child Tax Credit. And there is analysis at the center on budget. That would lift eight Million People including two million kids under age three above or closer to the poverty line shechlt walks the walk and talks the talk. Thank you very much, jarrod. What you didnt say is that when i do ring the number, you answer the phone. And youre always there. So i much appreciative of that. And i often have to say im not stalking you but please, i need your help in this effort. I think what i want to say is, maybe i shouldnt say this to start out with is that i voted 1996. On the welfare bill. And i will just tell that you i voted against it and it is one of the proudest votes i cast in the house of representatives. Thats record is out. There jarrod, i thank you again for moderating this discussion. And i want to thank you for the great work that you do. And really one of the foremost thoughts and leaders on Economic Policy that in fact do improve the lives of working americans. I also want to recognize ron haskin and jane. It is Ground Breaking work on this topic. And paved the way for so many of the xlen excellent conversation thats were held today. They provide a constructive frame for members of congress. To approach the issue of universal child allowance or the expansion of Child Tax Credit. And im sure that it has been a productive and a thought provoking day. And im grateful to have the opportunity to be able to speak with you. I believe jane mentioned that todays conference is a sitting book end to a similar conference that was held 50 years ago. In 1967, the Colombia University school of social work held a childrens allowances conference. It convened experts and social welfare and economic with policymakers to ensure the issue of child allowances were given and i quote, serious review at this time. This should drive the point home. That is not a new or a novel idea. Far from it. Weve been having this conversation in some form or another for 50 years at least. In 1991, senator Jay Rockefeller chaired a Bipartisan Commission on child and family policy. Which explored a fully refundable tax credit. In fact, it was on may 1st in 1991, exactly 26 years ago that the commission unanimously approved a proposal which included a fully refundable Child Tax Credit of 1,000 in 1991. And we have folks in the audience here today, people who work as staff on both sides of the aisle on that commission. So the goal of this conference are not new. But we do have the benefits the day of drawing from new and Compelling Research from our credentials on both the economic and health side of this crisis. Their work makes clear we need to invest in our youngest citizens. This is the key to reducing Child Poverty. Which is a critical commitment to working families and to our values. Our economy is more competitive when every child is empowered to meet his or her full potential. Other countries are doing far more to help working families. And the results speak for themselves. Among the 35 industrialized nations, the u. S. Ranks 34th in relative Child Poverty. This betrays our social priorities and values. Universal child allowances are a reality in all other industrialized nations. But not in the United States. Around the world, the benefits are delivered monthly to families to help cover recurring costs. Austria, canada, france, germany. Fox wrote that a murderer row of poverty experts including many people in this room had proposed a child allowance as an ynt a poverty measure. Murderers row, of course, some baseball fans will know this the new york yankees. The starting lineup in the 1920s, particularly 1927. They had star players. It is a fitting analogy for the scholars and the experts that we have working on this issue. I apologize to you said rochl fans for this. But seriously, we have a moral obligation. We is a moral obligation to elevate this issue. And to fight Child Poverty. En that brings to mind a quote from robert kennedy. Which i think is very fitting. I believe that as long as there is plenty, poverty is evil. Government belongs wherever evil needs an adversary. And there are people in distress who cannot help themselves. According to research at columbia University School of social work, 56 of children are low income as compared to 43 of adults 18 through 64. Families with Young Children bear the heaviest burden, infants and toddlers are among the poorest members of American Society with almost half living in low income families. And while families across the board have been facing a financial squeeze, child related costs have skyrocketed in recent years. The cost of childcare, the cost of education, the cost of housing, the cost of health care. For numerous reasons, for lack of government funding to insufficient daycare staffing, in fact, child related cause represents 70 of the rising costs associated with the pillars of middle class economic security. We have an obligation to help households cope with the rising costs, especially as wages fail to rise with them. Economists found families with Young Children receive the smallest tax credit. Poor, Young Children are nearly 50 more likely to be ineligible for the full Child Tax Credit than older children. Because their families are too little. This was countered to what we know from child develop ment experts and economists. On the importance of cash in the early years. A mountage of literature that supports the notion that these families are the ones who would reap the most benefits. The council of economic advisors estimate thats kbinld local state and federal and annual expenditure in 2015 was 63 higher per child for children between the ages of 6 and 11. Versus those who are ages 3 to 5. Our existing policies leave significant gaps during the first years of a childs life. We need to focus our efforts on supporting families and children in the first years of life. Study after study has shown the dire consequence thats poverty can have on a childs future. Children grow up who are more likely to drop out of school. Experience health problems. Become involved in the criminal Justice System and live their adulthoods in poverty. When we invest in Early Childhood develop ment, we can turn those trends around. The Child Tax Credit was created in 1997 to help working families avoid the expenses related to children. Together the tax credit and the earned income tax credit left more children out of poverty than any other federal policy. The child kachl credit is responsible for lifting 2. 8 Million People out of poverty including 1. 6 million children. Their analysis of the supplemental poverty measure. We made Great Strides recently with the expansion of the eitc and the Child Tax Credit. But if we index the credit to inflation, we could support more families. We could support more children. You know, we have managed at the federal level to end the estate tax for the wealthiest americans in this country. But we have left out our children. And because the benefits of the Child Tax Credit are based on earnings, we leave behind many of our youngest children who are the most likely to be living in families that are too poor to receive the full credit. We have the evidence. Now we need to align the science with the need and enact the appropriate Public Policy initiative and have the will to do it. Which is why i have proposed the Child Tax Credit improvement act. I dont know what this number is on the act. For families are Young Children under the age of six. The 3600. It would look to distribute the credit in regular monthly payments. It has earnings requirement and no phase in and its fully refundable. The bill would improve the Child Tax Credit for older children as well. By allowing every dollar of earnings to count towards the credit, to triple the fate in rate to allow low income working families to be able to receive full credit. The bill would finally index the value of the Child Tax Credit legislation, keeping the credit value from continuing to erode over time. This is a universal credit which is critical for the families with the most needs. Where a parent may be staying home or maybe out of work. You know, there are proposals on the other side of the aisle as well. But with some of them, they only apply to working parents. This credit would give more parents an economic boost during the childs Critical Development years, a time when parental incomes tend to be lower. Cost of child bearing tends to be higher. And Family Income matters most for kids for their long term outcomes. Giving families with younger chrn a larger credit would be more Cost Effective and lift a larger percentage of children out of poverty than simply expanding the Child Tax Credit. And americans pediatricians call the idea a dose of economic protection for children and said that healthy economics may be one of best remedies of all for children and babies across our country. These changes have a profound effect on families living in deep poverty. In 2011, 4 of u. S. Households were living on 2 in cash income per day. You heard in kathy this afternoon. Her book was lou shaver is here today as well as one of the proposers offer. Living on almost nothing in america should be required reading for all policymakers. For these families, living in deep poverty, the current tax system does little to assist them because of income special. The Child Tax Credit improvement agent would benefit these families enormously. In fact, it would end 2 a day poverty among families with Young Children. If were serious about reducing the poverty, and giving every child an opportunity to succeed, we need a child allowance or the tax credit that is fully refundable and larger than the existing tax credit. That is why the Child Tax Credit improvement act focuses on the investment of families with the youngest children, children under age 6. Because they have the greatest need. These benefits are particularly critical to rural families according to the United States department of agriculture. Theyre paid for on federal tax policies and low income rural households. This is because children are rural areas are poorer on average. And they are further away from other services. The panel you held today on why Money Matters highlighted why cash has an outside positive impact on these families. The proposal that i introduce wod also help parents who stay at home, those with erratic Work Schedules and parents who need flexibility most. Who are left out of some of the republican plan that excludes the poorest families. Our childrens future is our collective responsibility. But providing children with the resources they need to succeed is not just a moral obligation. It is an economic imperative. This is a rare moment where we have a real opportunity to translate scientific and economic evidence into policy that positively impacts the lives of people that are actually living today. There is a bipartisan interest in this policy in the congress today. There are republican poe posals to expand the Child Tax Credit. Marco rubio, mike lee and there is a history of bipartisan support for these kind of credits. The Child Tax Credit would introduce in the republican contract with america in 1994. And first became law under a democratic president bill clinton. And a gop congress in 1997. If you look at the history of is is the earned income tax credit, did it have support from democrats and republicans . And now there are many conversations taking place about taxes, surely, surely there can be and should be room for our youngest and most Vulnerable Children and families to be included. Last week the Trump Administration rolled out an outline of their tax proposals. And while it is not fully flushed out, it is clear okay. That his proposal will not help families with the most need. The biggest challenge that faces our country is that people are in jobs that just dont pay enough money. Families do not make enough money to live on. All of our policies should share the goal of reducing the burden on working families. And investing in the future. Again, the policies have bipartisan interest and the path when this country has faced serious issues, we have come together in a bipartisan fashion. And we now have the evidence to make our case. This fight is different than others. Because the biggest obstacle has not been lies or obstructionism but it has been different for the tn of children. And particularly poor children. And its enough. The time has come for tax credits that helped families with Young Children. Because it is long overdue. We need to do it. Your engagement, everyone in this room and the policy making and in the legislative process is imperative. Dont stop at the door of the policy. Understand that it goes nowhere unless there is a legislative process that makes it operational. So i look forward to your participation. I look forward to our discussion. And thank you for allowing me to be here. Okay. While youre getting miked up, by the way, im sorry im not appropriately dressed. I had a car incident this morning. Severing okay. But i drive an american car, by the way. I want to focus on politics for a while. We talk a lot about policy. We talk about elasticity and parameters. I dont want to be sitting here and i know you dont either 26 years from now and having a similar discussion. What needs to happen for us to get this child allowance idea out of the think tanks, out of the conferences and into legislation that has real legs . Let me just say, before you answer, it feels to me like the politics and you tlif every day, but i am a visitor of this town, it feels to me the politics are going the wrong way. It is. It is political will to turn this around. I go back to something i said. Someone got up and talked about they were a American Group that is represented here. You take a look at some of the policies that weve had of today. When people like George Mcgovern and bob dole got together and kennedy and leahy and jabbot, et cetera, these are folks who understood that we had a national problem. And this was related to nutrition and hunger in the United States. So they came together and they said what direction will this nation take . As we move forward . Because it is a singular critical issue for us to focus on. And we do have school lunch programs. We do have a whip program. We have i continue to learn about programs. But nevertheless there were people who believe that the problem was so grave that we had to do something and they understood the reason why they came to the congress which was to be able to put partisan clicks aside but to focus on the issue. Okay. That being said, i mentioned in my remarks the earned income tax credit. It if you take a look at the years in which the eitc when it began, i guess it was in 75. It was expanded over the years, if you look at that under what administration they occurred, they were democrat and they were republican. Who felt that this was a way to get people out of poverty. Let me interjekt here. I dont want to stop you. But let me interject. The connection between eitc and work, is of course, at the core of the political success that youre stressing. By taking that connection out on the child allowance, do we cut political legs november that respect . I dont think so. I think that someone said it earlier. You know, look, my focus is on the Child Tax Credit as well. I talk about it. Newt gingrich proposed it in the contract for america and bill clinton signed it. But children should not have to be penalized for once their circumstances are are of their household. And the critical issue is Child Poverty in this country which is a crisis. It is grinding. And you cant walk away from it. Which as i said, there has been an indifference to it. So that what are the ways tlaen is so Much Research that is out there, there is data that comes from overseas as well where the programs are working. They are lifting people out of poverty overseas. They could do that here. And it doesnt have to have we want to encourage people to work. I take issue. I have to say, i find it i find it offensive when people tell me that folks do not want to work. We are defined by our jobs. I agree. And people want to work whether youre a single mom or a single dad or so forth, you know, maybe a small percentage somewhere. But people want a job to take care of their families and they have fallen on difficult times. And that is what the problem is. I have worked with rich people and poor people and i cant say that the lazy people i have met have all been poor. Ill leave it at that. So but this is a very cold kind of calculated political question. If we have you know, a policy of the type were talking about here and you have to get a majority in the house to vote for it, it would seem to me that disconnecting it from work would make that a heavier lift, is that wrong . Well, you know, look, i think that its not wrong. But i think you can make you can have a discussion about it. And what they you know, the value of it is. And that could you know, be a discussion to have around it. Sure. Your proposal as its has it been costed out . No, but these programs are expensive, we know that. And im looking at an increase of 84 billion, for a Defense Budget in the 2018 budget. I think we need to take a look at the nature, and the nature of the problem and get families back on track economically and do something about reducing Child Poverty. So youre just ticking through some of the places well, we have it costed out and look at it. But it depends on what your priorities are. And if we do not look at this issue and we dont look at what is happening with families today and look at ways in which we can assist the process, whether were dealing with the social safety net, or issues by the way, there is a great article, i think it was neil irwin who just put it on, talked about some of the social safety net programs of encouraging work. These are programs that helped to encourage people to go to work. And it is in fact the case. But we also and i guess it was robert who mentioned ill take a look at the budget. And for 2018 or at least the skinny budget and look at it, where what we have done is they are going to cut job training. Worker opportunity. We cut back dramatically on the apprentice programs, were up in the billions of dollars. Now there is 92 billion in the United States to engage in the apprentice program. Its a large number but in terms of our budget its not a large number. Yeah, and that is a program that has been shown to have really impressive effects when it has been done right. And i think there are probably some Bipartisan Energy behind that. Lets talk a little bit about jobs and wages because i do think that there is a problem in some of this debate where conservatives kind of assume that the reason poor people are not working is because they dont want jobs and ignore the demand side of the equation. So lets talk a little bit about that. What do you think we need to do you argued very powerfully, and to me, its persuasive, most people want to work in small part because they cant get by on the numbers we talk about today. So what do we need to do to increase the availability and the opportunity of good remunerative gainful employment . There are two sides of the equation, the biggest economic challenge, we have people in jobs that just dont pay them enough money. So how do we address the issue . In a longer term effort youre looking at education, job training. Ways in which you help by looking at the articles and the industry, i think there are job s in 1997, we looked at rebuilding our infrastructure, and i was actually waiting to see what is happening with the new administration on infrastructure of where that will carry us. But i introduced the National Infrastructure bank back in 1997. And its just not transportation. Its environmental, infrastructure, energy, telecommunications. There are all manner of jobs there to look at. A few along with the Marco Foundation just issued a report talking about jobs in the digital economy, about how we can help people gain the training that they can use. There are any manner of ideas out there that can move us to creating jobs. As a matter of fact, as you know we are going to have a panel in the house of representatives. I and the democrats are going to a panel on jobs, i mentioned infrastructure. You know those i believe that our trade agreements have in many instances resulted in a loss of jobs. And a loss of wages. So i think we need to look at those agreements and how we try to make create jobs and then increase wages, good paying jobs. But let me give you two ideas here and get your take on them. One is a subsidized job program, i get more encouragement that some republicans are open to this idea. You know this, you were part of the idea. We had under the taniff emergency fund, the allowable expenditure, which subsidized employment up to 80 of the entire wage, it may be three or six months. My impression of those evaluations was that it worked well. So talk about whether you think subsidized employment is a solution here, in terms of demand, and also increases in minimum wage. There is new proposals were about to hear about. I think bobby scott and Keith Ellison in the senate, patty murray and Bernie Sanders have a new minimum wage proposal, 15 an hour phased in by 2024. So that is pretty bold, i think. Talk about those ideas and how they fit into this picture. I think the increase in the minimum wage, a couple of things which i think fit into the equation as well, is increasing the minimum wage. And you know im signed on to the Scott Ellison legislation. I think we have to move in that direction. Ive always been a proponent of increasing the minimum wage, and with regard to women were looking at twothirds of minimum wage workers are women. I believe that part of our equation is equal pay for equal work. Men and women in the same job deserve the same pay. I think that is an effort. So im four square down that road. I think that program was successful coming out of the recovery program, im not sure we used it to the fullest extent possible. Sooner than many of us would like including some republicans. So you know i think that those are the kinds of efforts that we ought to pursue. It should not create a divide, but rather an opportunity the way the conversations have been held in the past about trying to come to a conclusion about how we do this. But there are also and in terms of that economic i talked shortterm education and infrastructure. On the other side of it there are some short term ways in which we can help with the families. And that is with minimum wage. It is with pay equity. It is with the cost of child care. Its paid sick days. Its paid family leave. And you know what, the interesting time people are saying oh, my gosh they were oh my god, were off in the fringes, no, they were part of the debate in the president ial election. And theyre still part of the debate. But the the tax credit idea, marco rubio, mike lee, these are people who have are looking at these efforts as potential reality. I did notice that it looked like again, trumps outline is hardly a plan, but it did seem the ivanka care proposal kind of morphed a little bit into something that was, maybe not quite so favorable to those at the top by extending a childcare dependent tax credit, but thats not refundable. So it lacks some of the sal yensy that were talking about today. I think we should move to the audience for some questions, is that okay . Sure. I would just say on that program and im waiting to see what the details are on the ivanka trump program. But it only applies to mothers, and not fathers. So theres some work that has to get done. Im with the center for american progress. Thanks so much for your leadership and work on these issues. My question is sort of about building the political and public will. You have noted in your remarks that you know 70 of the middle class squeeze is attributed to child related costs. Weve seen the economic populism in this country in the past couple of months and years, im wondering given that your proposal phases out the regular Child Tax Credit, is there a way to in addition to i think were all in favor of the cutting poverty components of the young Child Tax Credit. But given that there is so much income volatility, people are moving in and out and in and out and may not identify as poor, per se, are there ways to help people including you know, trump voters or people in rural area or people who are not as familiar with this to educate them on the benefits of this kind of allowance, particularly if it helps people in Rural Counties disproportionately. I think youve hit on something. I think people are really there is desperation out there. We talk about people who feel invisible. People who they dont look to washington, because they feel a sense that nothing is happening here that will affect their lives. And i will speak as a democrat. I think its imperative for us to to reconnect, to engage. To look at what is going on in the lives of working americans. And to talk about because the overwhelming numbers of support for paid sick days, for paid family leave. For child care. In my state of connecticut its 15 to 18,000 a year for child care. People just cannot afford it. But its tough to get through to people because they havent heard us talking about it. And there is no sense that we walk in their shoes and the lives that they are leading. And what we need to do. So i think there is great possibility for us to engage in that kind of a conversation. All over the country, with people who you know, they may not be the diehard Trump Supporters but there are certainly enough of those folks who voted because they were looking for change or because they heard an economic message. That remains to be seen whether that will materialize. But i will speak from my point of view, i think we have to be out there talking to them about that. Not here in washington talking to each other or fighting one another. Let me just hitch hike on that for a second. One could imagine taking what you just said, melissas question, and building a platform for democrats to run on with child allowance, ive heard medicare for all, job guarantee, big ideas that really deliver, you know, on this populist promise in a way that certainly tax cuts for rich people and getting rid of the aca doesnt. Is that the way we ought to be thinking about this . Yes. We ought be thinking big, we ought on make proposals that have a very big impact on peoples lives. Thats why i i mean, Child Tax Credit, you know, is a big let me ask you a critical question. So would moderate democrats get on that yes, i believe we will. I believe they will. I believe they will up. I do. Other questions . What about any of the authors of the papers . Anything you want to ask about . Ill say a couple of comments. It was mentioned earlier i think in roberts remarks that republicans may support something if you can construe it as a form of tax relief. And that is how the Child Tax Credit came about. Even in hillarys expansion, which she proposed on the campaign was as a form of tax relief. I want to know your opinion as a congresswoman about that framing and if its problematic in your eyes, or if the compromise it takes to get something passed, is worth it, or if its meant we sacrifice doing something that actually reaches the lowest of the distribution. Well, you know it really is not what you call it, but what it is. We could figure out you know, how to define it. So that youre looking at how you build that coalition to move it forward. But what is it . And is it going to reach to the level of folks who need to be able to take advantage of it and whose lives can be changed by it . So, you know, for me, it is about the details of what it is that were doing. How how penetrable it is to the problem that we are looking at, and if we can build a coalition around the goal of what the program is, then everybody can figure out a way in which they can define it, you know, for themselves. Or for their constituents or you know, so forth. That is the way i view that. Any further questions . If not, ron thank you very much. Thank you. I get the last word, goodbye. [ laughter ] and drinks are on the house. We have a reception outside. It resulted in a naval victory for the u. S. Over japan just six months after the attack on pearl harbor. And friday, American History tv will be live all day from the Macarthur Memorial Visitors Center in norfolk, virginia, for the 75th anniversary of the battle of midway. Featured speakers include walter bornman, the fivestar admirls who won the war at sea. Elliot carlson with his book, joe roachfords war. Anthony tully, coauthor of shattered sword, the untold story of the battle of midway. And timothy orr, author of never call me a hero. Watch the battle of midway 75th Anniversary Special live from the Macarthur Memorial Visitor Center in norfolk, virginia, on friday, beginning at 9 30 a. M. On American History tv, on cspan3. The Appalachian Region has been defined as the region that runs from southern new york to northern mississippi, including all of West Virginia and parts of 12 other states, including new york and mississippi. Up next on cspan3s American History tv, a look at the history and mythology of the appalachia region. Then a discussion on the moon shine wars in appalachia in the 1870s. Later a conversation on the origins of country music. Cspan, where history unfolds daily. In 1979, cspan was created as a Public Service by americas Cable Television companies, and is brought to you today by your cable or satellite provider. On lectures in history, Shepherd University professor Benjamin Bankhurst talks about the role of ap lafepa, describing how the recentlial stereotype has changed over time from being viewed during the Industrial Revolution to backwards hillbillies to a people respected for their culture in the early 20th century. This talk is about an hour. All right, lets go ahead and get started, everyone. Welcome to class. Over the course of this semester so far, we have seen how appalachia, perhaps to a greater degree than any other american region is defined to the world and in the minds of its residents by outsiders. We have seen, for example, how industis