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The earned income tax credit (EITC) is one of the United States’ most effective income-support programs, lifting nearly 5.8 million people out of poverty every year. As the 2020 ideas debate heats up, policymakers are proposing changes to the EITC to improve the economic well-being of low- and middle-income families. It is crucial that elected officials understand the current EITC’s successes and limitations and how it could be even more effective.

Keynote addresses from members of Congress and a panel discussion will deepen the conversation by examining the following:

• How do current legislative and candidate proposals compare?
• What aspects of the EITC are most effective in lifting vulnerable populations out of poverty and reaching those in the middle class who are living on the brink?
• What changes to eligibility for the credit should be considered and why?
• Are there changes to the EITC that could improve participation and administration?

The discussion will also cover a newly released analysis conducted by Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center researchers of an expansion and modernization of the EITC, the Cost-of-Living Refund.

Keynote Speakers:

• Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) @SenSherrodBrown ‏
• Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI)  @RepGwenMoore

Panelists:

• Chris Hughes, Cochair, Economic Security Project @chrishughes
• Elaine Maag, Principal Research Associate, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center @ElaineMaag
• Aparna Mathur, Resident Scholar in Economic Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute @aparnamath
• Aisha Nyandoro, Chief Executive Officer, Springboard to Opportunities @aisha_nyandoro
• Eillie Anzilotti, Assistant Editor, Fast Company (moderator) @eillieanzi

Event Materials:

• Agenda 
• Speaker Biographies 

Support for this event is provided by the Economic Security Project. For more information on the Urban Institute’s funding principles, go to www.urban.org/fundingprinciples.

Send any inquiries regarding this event to events@urban.org.