Bill Overview
Title: Two-Generation Economic Empowerment Act of 2022
Description: This bill addresses multigenerational poverty through the implementation of a two-generation approach (i.e., creating opportunities for, and addressing the needs of, caregivers and children together), including by establishing an interagency council to provide guidance and create a pilot program to improve academic outcomes for children and the earning potential of their caregivers.
Sponsors: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Target Audience
Population: People living in multigenerational poverty
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The bill specifically mentions targeting multigenerational poverty, which affects families where both children and caregivers (often parents) are involved.
- The approach relies on improving academic outcomes for children, impacting those in the education system, especially in low-income areas.
- Caregivers, typically parents or guardians, will be affected as the bill aims to increase their earning potential.
- Given that multigenerational poverty tends to be more persistent in less affluent countries, the global figure might reach large portions of the population in developing regions.
- The US, having a comprehensive social welfare monitoring system, means specific targeting can affect a notable portion of families experiencing poverty.
Reasoning
- The policy targets families living in multigenerational poverty. This includes many families with children attending public schools in low-income areas, and caregivers like parents or guardians who may not have high earning potential due to lack of education or support.
- The policy's approach is likely to directly impact the wellbeing of people from this demographic by improving children's education and caregivers' job prospects and income, potentially lifting them out of poverty.
- Considering budget constraints, the policy may prioritize areas with the highest concentration of multigenerational poverty, such as urban centers or specific rural communities.
- The diversity of the U.S. population and the commonness of multigenerational poverty in specific areas means that people will experience a wide range of effects based on their location, occupation, and personal situation.
Simulated Interviews
Retail Worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I struggle to make ends meet and worry about my children's future.
- This policy sounds like it could really help us with better education for my kids and more job opportunities for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Construction Worker (San Antonio, TX)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy gives my kids a better chance than I had.
- Any extra support for job training could really help me find a better paying job.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Unemployed (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's hard living on welfare, and this policy might help me gain new skills.
- My kids could really thrive with better school programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 1 |
Factory Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this program helps stabilize my income and helps my son get a good education.
- There's potential in these types of policies if they're implemented properly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Part-time Cleaner (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It can be hard to navigate these systems, but more help for my grandkids would be great.
- More jobs in my area would help us all.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 1 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 1 |
Student (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Combining education opportunities for me and better schooling for my son sounds effective.
- Worry about job stability and paying for college is constant.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Truck Driver (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see potential in policies targeting both education and job training.
- Balancing work, child care, and planning for the future is tough.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Server (New York, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Seeing my children's education improve would be worth a lot.
- The cost of living is so high, any help like this is welcome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
None (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 49 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improving income opportunities for my partner would help our family immensely.
- Education changes for the kids are always welcome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 1 |
Mechanic (Portland, OR)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'd like to see more programs that address specific needs like special education opportunities.
- Better job prospects and income stability are something I dream of.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1200000000 (Low: $1000000000, High: $1400000000)
Year 2: $1180000000 (Low: $950000000, High: $1350000000)
Year 3: $1150000000 (Low: $920000000, High: $1300000000)
Year 5: $1100000000 (Low: $900000000, High: $1250000000)
Year 10: $1050000000 (Low: $850000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 100: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1100000000)
Key Considerations
- The success of the pilot program is contingent on effective collaboration across various federal, state, and local agencies.
- The degree to which academic and earning outcomes can be sustainably improved hinges on the quality of implementation and local uptake.
- The scale of impact will largely depend on the scope and precision of targeting families entrenched in multigenerational poverty.