PIRG praises Sherrod Brown for including unpaid caregivers in EITC [View all]

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(PIRG = Public Interest Research Group)

U.S. PIRG PRAISES SEN. SHERROD BROWN FOR INCLUDING UNPAID CAREGIVERS IN THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019

https://uspirg.org/news/usp/us-pirg-praises-sen-sherrod-brown-including-unpaid-caregivers-earned-income-tax-credit

Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio proposed a change to the Earned Income Tax Credit today that would allow unpaid caregivers to benefit from this program designed to increase Americans’ economic security.

Evan Preston, U.S. PIRG’s Senior Director of New Economy Campaigns issued the following statement:

“Technological progress means that many jobs that provide the income to support a family are vulnerable to disruption. Moving forward, we need to redefine work and the role it plays in our society. With that in mind, Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio has devised a creative way to ensure that Americans can maintain their quality of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as the nature of work changes.”

“Many people work to earn money mainly to pay someone else to take care of their children or parents. That makes no sense. Why not support families who want to provide care themselves? Investing in hard-working people who provide care for their loved ones is the right thing to do.”

“U.S. PIRG praises Sen. Brown for working with Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey and with Rep. Ro Khanna of California to accurately value contributions that are essential for improving American lives, but fall outside the traditional definition of “jobs.”

“Expanding the EITC to include unpaid caregivers acknowledges the new challenges and opportunities we face as the nature of work changes. More people should thrive as improved technology brings greater prosperity. Redefining caregiving as work brings us closer to an economy that prioritizes improving well-being, so that more people can live the American Dream.”

An earlier article from PIRG supporting this policy:

https://uspirg.org/news/usp/us-pirg-urges-lawmakers-expand-earned-income-tax-credit-caregivers

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2019
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) has a long, successful, bipartisan track record of making sure more Americans meet their needs. As the nature of work is changing, this EITC Awareness Day offers the chance to prepare for a future where we prioritize work that improves the wellbeing of Americans. U.S. PIRG urges lawmakers to expand the EITC to unpaid caregivers so we can start valuing contributions that are essential for improving American lives but fall outside of traditional jobs.

The EITC was designed to encourage people to work, to find a job and thereby contribute to society. However, a lot of jobs today can be disrupted by technology. In all kinds of industries, we can make more than ever with fewer people than ever. That ought to be an opportunity to recognize other contributions to society, but it won’t be unless we return the values behind creating the EITC in the first place.

... (snip) ...

In its current form, the EITC fails to recognize the contributions of 40 million unpaid caregivers in the U.S. When we define productivity by value captured by Gross Domestic Product, we overlook the important roles unpaid individuals play in their communities and families every day.

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) introduced federal legislation that would extend EITC qualifications to caregivers and students. “The overlooked and often thankless work of caregiving is essential to our society,” Watson Coleman said in a statement.

More about PIRG:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Interest_Research_Group