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By Ashley Burnside

On January 14, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee held a hearing about the 2017 Trump tax law. The hearing was significant given the upcoming expiration of key provisions from the 2017 law without further action from Congress. The Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans have identified passing a tax package that extends these provisions as a top priority. Below are five key takeaways from the hearing:

1. The upcoming tax package should include a fully refundable Child Tax Credit (CTC).

Congress should make the CTC fully refundable permanently in the upcoming tax package. This would allow families with the lowest incomes to receive the full credit, including 19 million children whose families currently don’t earn enough to qualify for the full amount.

In 2021, under the American Rescue Plan Act, Congress temporarily expanded the CTC by increasing the size of the credit, making it available monthly, and making it fully refundable. These changes helped the child poverty rate decline by nearly half in the year the expansions were in effect.

Multiple lawmakers and witnesses uplifted the importance of expanding the CTC in the upcoming tax package, and the financial relief that this would bring to families. For example, Representative DelBene (D-WA-1) explained that 1 in 3 children are currently left out of the CTC due to how the credit is structured and advocated for a permanent expansion.

2. The tax package should include an Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that adequately reaches workers without kids.

Under current law, the EITC does not benefit all workers with low and moderate incomes equally. Specifically, those without dependent children in the household get a much smaller credit than other workers, resulting in some workers being taxed deeper into poverty. Younger and older workers without dependent kids are ineligible for the EITC.

Representative Sewell (D-AL-7) brought up the importance of implementing an expanded EITC during the hearing, explaining that it is “a rising tide lifting all boats.” Congress should permanently expand the EITC available for workers without dependent children, and make younger and older workers eligible, like was done temporarily under the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021.

3. We need to make investments in the care economy outside of the tax code.

Rather than spend over $4 trillion on a package that cuts taxes for billionaires, lawmakers should invest in the care economy. During the hearing, Representative Danny Davis (D-IL-7) highlighted that the 2017 tax law “does nothing to help parents afford child care.” Congress should invest in affordable child care, home- and community-based services, and a national paid and family medical leave policy.

4. How we pay for the tax package matters, and health care and food shouldn’t be cut to pay for it.

Lawmakers are threatening to pay for the tax package with cuts to critical public benefit programs, including Medicaid and SNAP food benefits. Representative DelBene brought up the harm this cut would have since Medicaid and Medicare “provide basic health care to low-income families, people with disabilities, and seniors.” Taking away health care and food benefits to pay for tax breaks for billionaires will widen inequality and hurt the economic prosperity for families throughout the nation.

5. We need a tax package that promotes equity and prosperity for all people.

During the hearing, Representative Sanchez (D-CA-38) emphasized that the 2017 Trump tax law exacerbated racial and income inequality. She cited that nearly 80 percent of the tax cuts provided to individuals in the 2017 tax law went toward white households, who only represent 67 percent of American taxpayers, and that the wealth of billionaires has nearly doubled since the enactment of the 2017 bill. In the upcoming tax package, we should focus on policy solutions that promote equity and prosperity for all rather than ones that continue to widen racial inequality.

By Teon Hayes and Akeisha Latch

Work requirements are policies that remove or restrict access to important public benefits such as Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and housing assistance programs. Under work requirements, access to these benefits is denied if applicants cannot demonstrate that they either are completing or are exempt from a certain number of hours of work or work-related activities. Most people who use public benefits programs either already work, have a disability, and/or have significant caregiving responsibilities. 

Work requirements are one of the legacies of racist narratives such as Black people and other people of color must be coerced into work. Yet the reality is that Black people have worked tirelessly throughout history, immeasurably contributing to this country’s progress. Even so, work requirements persist, fueled by misconceptions and prejudice.  

Extensive research has shown that work requirements do not lead to better employment and economic outcomes. Instead, they create unnecessary barriers for people with low incomes,  and especially for people of color. While public benefits provide critical care and support to millions of individuals and families, they also reinforce structures of oppression. Policymakers must dismantle the racist and oppressive systems, structures, and ideologies that continue to undermine the ability of federal benefit programs to provide the necessary support to all who need it.  

Not only are work requirements propped up by racist stereotypes, but they also deepen poverty and disproportionately affect communities of color. For example, Black people receiving TANF are significantly more likely to be sanctioned than white recipients are. Black people already face disproportionate barriers in the labor force. Work requirements maintain racial inequity and punish people of color with low incomes, reinforcing the exploited relationship between poverty and Blackness.  

This timeline highlights the history and foundation of work requirements and examines the evolution of racialized narratives in both federal legislation and state actions regarding who deserves aid. 

 Embark on a historical journey to uncover how the origins of work requirements are deeply intertwined with the racist foundations of our nation.  

Click below to download the full timeline and explore:

The Racist Roots of Work Requirements in Public Benefits Programs

This announcement is from David Hansell, Chair, CLASP Board of Trustees

On behalf of the Board of Trustees at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), I’m pleased to share an update on our leadership transition. Our Board’s Search Committee has engaged LeaderFit—a women-owned, women-led executive recruitment firm—to help identify our next President/Executive Director. The firm is actively recruiting candidates for the role, which is described here. We encourage you to share this opportunity with your networks so we can find CLASP’s next leader who will play a pivotal role in our shared fight to advance economic, social, and racial justice.

You may recall that the plans for our leadership transition also included former Executive Director Olivia Golden’s return to serve as Interim Executive Director. She has done a remarkable job, working closely with the staff and Board to enhance the organization’s capacity to meet the challenges that lie ahead in 2025 and beyond.  Olivia will wrap up her engagement on January 24, and we simply cannot thank her enough for her leadership in this critical time.

I’m pleased to announce that we have recruited Cemeré James to serve as the next Interim Executive Director until our permanent President/Executive Director is in place within the next few months. Cemeré, who will overlap with Olivia before her departure, is a CLASP alum who directed a CLASP-led multi-organization initiative known as Work Support Strategies. In addition, Cemeré led another national organization in an interim role, having served as Interim President and CEO at the National Black Child Development Institute. She also held senior roles at the Children’s Defense Fund and in the Illinois Department of Human Services. We are confident that Cemeré is the right person to assume the interim leadership mantle from Olivia, and we’re delighted she’s rejoining CLASP.

We look forward to your help in identifying our next leader and would appreciate your ongoing support in so many other ways. Thanks to your partnership and our passionate and dedicated staff, CLASP is ready to respond to all this year will bring.

This statement can be attributed to Olivia Golden, interim executive director of the Center for Law and Social Policy

Washington, DC, December 23, 2024—On Saturday, President Biden signed a continuing resolution (CR) funding the federal government through March 14, 2025. After placing a prior bipartisan agreement at risk to provide easier passage for future tax cuts for billionaires, House Republicans finally introduced the CR just hours before a potential federal government shutdown on Friday.

In addition to continuing the core public services that were placed at risk by the possibility of a shutdown, we are pleased that the short-term budget signed by President Biden provides important disaster relief funds, including support for child care access in areas recently devastated by natural disasters. With the shortage of early educators and affordable, accessible child care in the affected states, the costs of disaster recovery are too significant for any one family or employer to address on their own.

However, we are concerned that this short-term budget stripped out other important provisions included in the earlier, bipartisan CR. For example, the final proposal fails to include a key provision that would have reimbursed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients for benefits stolen through no fault of their own. We remain deeply concerned that the House majority prioritized the possibility of tax cuts for billionaires over the needs of working people. Yet we remain committed to advocating for policies that center workers, reduce poverty, and address the institutional and racial barriers faced by communities of color.

CLASP submitted a public comment in support of Louisiana’s Section 1115 request to offer Medicaid-covered services to individuals 90-days prior to their release from incarceration from a public institution. We applauded the demonstration’s relatively broad eligibility criteria and use of the maximum pre-release eligibility period allowed by CMS. However, we also expressed concern over certain aspects of Louisiana’s implementation plan and asked CMS to consider these areas for improvement before approving the state’s waiver request:

>> Read the full comment here

The statement can be attributed to Olivia Golden, Interim Executive Director at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)  

November 6, 2024, Washington, D.C.—Today, as we confront the prospect of a second Trump administration, we are deeply concerned about the significant impact of his administration’s policies. We know what his intentions are because he has stated them many times: to target immigrant communities, people of color, women, and LGBTQ Americans; to harm workers and people with low incomes, including threatening job protections and the right to unionize, for the benefit of billionaires; and to threaten core public programs and the capacity of public officials to do their jobs honestly, fairly, and without fear.

CLASP is prepared for this moment, informed by our experience in responding to the first Trump administration, which previewed all these threats. Our preparations include strengthening the powerful coalitions we are already engaged in, including those that protect immigrant families and children, and building new ones where needed; working with partners to build on our collective knowledge and expertise to slow down, minimize, and where possible prevent or mitigate damage; standing ready to build on our powerful past record of documenting the harm when it happens and telling the story to the public; moving the vision forward in the states; and bringing our deep knowledge into partnership with organizing and movement leaders.

CLASP has a long history of and commitment to advocating for the safety, rights, and economic security that families with low incomes, workers, children, and immigrants deserve. As these communities stand to lose the most under another Trump administration, it’s more important than ever that we remain steadfast in advocating for social, economic, and racial justice.

Donald Trump and his advisors have made no secret about their roadmap for administration priorities. It’s a path that will benefit the very wealthy while creating and exacerbating hardship for millions.  CLASP fought the fight to resist these priorities and elevate a very different vision during his first administration, and we are committed to doing so again.  As we prepare for this work, we are inspired by the partners who share this work with us.

By Janna Herron 

(EXCERPT)

“One theme that really stuck out to me is just not only were these payments going towards bills, food and groceries,” said Ashley Burnside, a senior policy analyst at CLASP. “But it was also helping parents to be able to say yes to a lot of these experiences that their children wanted and to create these positive moments that can make parenthood and childhood so special.”

Read the full article here.

By: Suzanne Wikle 

In 2024, a record 21.4 million people received their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces. Enrollment gains among Black, Latino, and people with low incomes drove the increased enrollment. Sustaining the policy choices that led to record enrollment and adding in long overdue eligibility for people with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status will be important to keep up the momentum and keep affordable health insurance available. With these policies in place, 2025 is poised to be another record-breaking year for Marketplace enrollment.  

Several policies have led to this historic enrollment, but the gains are not guaranteed to stay, unless Congress acts.  

Enhanced Premium Tax Credits
People receive premium tax credits to purchase health insurance through the ACA Marketplaces when they do not have other affordable options. The premium tax credits lower the amount people pay every month for their premiums. Starting in 2021 the tax credits were enhanced, making Marketplace plans much more affordable. People earning less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level can be insured for $0 monthly premium; for those who had out-of-pocket costs, their premiums were reduced an average of 44 percent.  

Since the enhanced tax credits became available, 83 percent of the growth in Marketplace enrollment has been by people with incomes less than 250 percent of the federal poverty level. Black and Hispanic enrollment increased the most. Compared to 2020 (non-enhanced tax credits), enrollment in 2023 (with enhanced tax credits) increased by 95 percent among Black enrollees and 103 percent among Latino enrollees. Enrollment among American Indians and Alaskan Natives grew by 59 percent;, multiracial enrollment grew by 28 percent;, white enrollment grew by 25 percent;, and Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander enrollment grew by 14 percent. 

What’s at stake: The enhanced tax credits for Marketplace enrollments are slated to end on December 31, 2025. Congress must act to extend or make permanent the enhanced tax credits that have led to record enrollment, particularly among people with low incomes and people of color. Without Congressional action, we can expect to see fewer people enrolling in Marketplace coverage, greater out-of-pocket costs for those who do enroll, and an increase in the number of people without health insurance. An individual making $21,000 per year would have to pay nearly $800 more in annual premiums, and a family of four making $60,000 would see an annual premium increase of $2,700.  

DACA Eligibility for ACA Marketplace Tax Credits 

 When the annual open enrollment period begins on November 1, 2024, an exciting and long overdue new policy will take effect. People with DACA will be newly eligible to buy health insurance and receive tax credits through the Marketplace. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that around 100,000 people with DACA will enroll for 2025 coverage. The new policy also clarifies that other vulnerable youth, such as those who have been approved for Special Immigrant Juvenile status and those applying for asylum, will also be eligible for coverage.  

What’s at stake: DACA eligibility for Marketplace coverage is being challenged by some states. Oral arguments were held on October 15, 2024, but at the time of publication, people with DACA will still be able to enroll in Marketplace coverage and receive tax credits when open enrollment begins on November 1, 2024. 

The progress made connecting people with affordable health insurance options is the direct result of important policy changes. In order to continue the progress and not lose ground – especially for Black people, Latinos,  DACA recipients, and immigrant youth – we must ensure the right policies stay in place. Congress must act to continue enhanced premium tax credits beyond 2025 and ensure DACA recipients and immigrant youth continue to have access to affordable health care.  

 

By Parker Gilkesson Davis, Teon Hayes, Jesse Fairbanks, and CPG members Alice Aluoch, Barbie Izquierdo, and Tamika Moore

>> Read the full report

In the often-exclusive policy landscape of Washington, D.C., the Community Partnership Group (CPG) at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) seeks to change how policy is made and implemented. The CPG, a peer cohort of activists with lived experience navigating or being excluded from benefits programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), embodies the famous quote by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley:

“The people closest to the pain should be the closest to the power, driving and informing the policymaking.” 

In 2019, CLASP sought to shift its work on public benefits to incorporate the perspectives and leadership of activists with lived experience navigating or being excluded from programs. This became the Community Partnership Group or CPG. This decision represented a new direction not just for CLASP, which wanted to change how policy was made and implemented, but an overall policy landscape that too often excludes the voices of those with lived experience. Comprised of individuals who have firsthand knowledge of poverty’s challenges, the CPG works closely with CLASP staff to shape policy and advocate for centering people with lived experience in the policy advocacy ecosystem. The group’s consistent collaboration rejects a deficit-based approach, which treats people living in poverty as a problem to be solved, and instead embodies an asset-based approach that values the insights and capabilities of those directly affected by poverty.

Traditionally, funding and policy decisions have often been dictated by external funders who, despite their best intentions, may not fully grasp the nuanced realities and strengths of those living in poverty. These approaches tend to focus on the limitations or needs of individuals without recognizing their existing assets and potential. An asset-based approach, however, recognizes and values the inherent strengths, insights, and capabilities of individuals directly affected by poverty. This paradigm shift is critical, as it empowers individuals as co-creators of the policies and practices that affect their lives, rather than viewing them merely as recipients of aid. Guided by a vision for community engagement that centers collaboration, the CPG aims to influence funders and policymakers to rethink how they support communities. Instead of imposing solutions, the asset-based approach involves listening to and learning from those with lived experiences to design interventions that are not only effective but also sustainable and respectful of the community’s own goals and visions.

This paper is not just the story of the CPG; it is a celebration of resilience, a testament to unity in diversity, and an ode to the relentless pursuit of equity. It traces the CPG’s journey from inception to impact and highlights not just what the group does but why it matters. This paper also examines the inevitable challenges and hard lessons that come with building something new and calls for a future where people experiencing poverty are at the center of the policy decisions that affect their lives. The CPG believes that meaningful partnerships between allies and impacted people that reject classism, racism, and other harmful systemic injustices serve as the bedrock of all successful efforts to advance economic and racial justice. Through healing-centered relationships with community members, advocates and policymakers can advance policies that are both effective and equitable, sustainable and liberatory.

>> Read the full report

CLASP submitted a comment urging the House Ways and Means Committee and Members of Congress to pass tax reforms that will benefit individuals and families with incomes under $400,000 in annual income, and to allow harmful provisions to expire on schedule from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that largely benefitted the very wealthy with incomes over $400,000 and corporations.

>> Download the full comment