Economic Security Issues

While all Missourians were impacted by the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, some were hit harder than others. Although every Missourian deserves the opportunity to thrive, with quality housing they can afford, a job that lets them provide for their families, and a Read More

Introduction Working Missourians are the engines of our economy, supplying the products and services we all use in our daily lives. They harvest the food we eat, build the homes we live in, and pave the roads we drive on; they keep our communities safe, provide our families with Read More

Paid family leave benefits both workers and employers by allowing employees to address the caregiving needs of their family without losing their jobs or ability to pay their bills and by reducing employer costs associated with high turnover, low worker retention, and decreased Read More

Child care providers across Missouri have faced unprecedented financial and logistical challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading many to close temporarily or permanently. Without additional fiscal support, many Missouri children & families could be left without Read More

Access to high quality, affordable childcare not only creates a solid foundation for children to thrive but is also an essential component of developing a strong workforce. The Missouri Child Care Assistance Program offsets the costs of childcare for working families with low Read More

The American Rescue Plan (ARP), signed into law March 11th, includes $1 billion dollars in Pandemic Emergency Assistance (PEA) funds that can be used to help families with the lowest incomes address immediate hardship or cover additional expenses related to the pandemic. Over Read More

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance is designed to help lift families and children out of poverty. What’s more, boosting the income of families with low wages has been shown to improve children’s academic performance, as well as economic and Read More

The federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) has long provided hardworking families the ability to achieve a better future and a pathway to the middle class. Though most families receive the EITC only temporarily, it has profound long-term benefits for families and communities. Read More

Nearly 46,000 Missourians were overpaid unemployment benefits in 2020, largely due to administrative errors tied to the unprecedented volume of unemployment claims related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the hardship repayment would place on families who are already struggling Read More

A state Earned Income Tax Credit would provide a much-needed boost for hardworking families. This bottom-up tax cut builds the middle class, spurs local economic growth, and provides long-term benefits to families and communities. Updated February 2021 Read More