Once again, the PRO Act is anti-worker, but even more anti-women                                                                                      

Hey,

There’s a lot going on right now that will affect our wallets, workforce, and economy. Check out the latest updates in “The Pointer,” our Center for Economic Opportunity newsletter.

I don’t want you to miss out on anything that could impact you or your loved ones. So I put together this monthly newsletter with updates on the important info.

Now you don’t have to spend time digging up the info yourself.

If you want to get these updates regularly, sign up for The Pointer newsletter here: iwf.org/ceo.

Thanks,
Patrice

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From: Independent Women's Forum
Date: Thu, Jul 29, 2021 at 4:04 PM
Subject: The Pointer: Flexible work options are better for the economy and for women
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Expanding opportunity and mobility for women and workers

Welcome to the July Pointer Newsletter highlighting work from IWF’s Center for Economic Opportunity.

This month, working families are beginning to receive child payments, part of the largest and most expansive Child Tax Credit program under this administration’s American Rescue Plan. In addition to push back against the PRO Act this month, IWF highlighted stories of freelancers ([link removed]) across the nation who would be impacted if this bill becomes law. Keep reading for the latest work on the child tax credit, broadband expansion, the real cost of inflation burdening families, and more.
Learn More ([link removed])


** CHARTING TRENDS ([link removed])
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** ON THE MARK ([link removed])
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Women Choosing To Stay Out of the Workforce? Here’s What We Know ([link removed])
Some women want more flexibility in work and others want to be stay-at-home mothers entirely. Crafting the schedule and work-life balance that best suits each woman’s situation is the ultimate goal. Policymakers should reject the knee-jerk reaction that we have to force women back to work if that’s not what they want. ([link removed]) Also, throwing cash at families will not solve problems when more choice and more flexibility are what women desire.
Read More ([link removed])


** WHAT'S THE POINT
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A Minimum Wage Hike Could Mean Smaller Paychecks ([link removed])
A minimum wage increase may sound like a relief for workers, but it could actually mean smaller paychecks and cuts in benefits such as health care and retirement plans. Income and benefit cuts hurt women, people of color, and young people, who are most likely to be working minimum wage and retail jobs. ([link removed]) Policymakers, especially those in California, should also reconsider their policy approach as people stream out of the Golden State to seek better pay and benefits.

Coming Back to Work ([link removed])
Although the U.S. economy as a whole remains about nine million jobs short of its pre-pandemic trend line, we must stay optimistic about what lies ahead. While the overall labor-force-participation rate did not budge, this partly reflects the continuing retirement of the baby boomers ([link removed]) . The participation rate among people aged 25 to 54 increased, rising from 81.3% to 81.7%. The June jobs report was impressive and the numbers show this trend should continue, but not as fast as most people would like.

Lawmakers Should Cut the Cord on a New Broadband Expansion Bill ([link removed])
The Broadband Reform and Investment to Drive Growth in the Economy Act (BRIDGE) was introduced by a bipartisan group of senators in order to make broadband internet more affordable and accessible. However, the provisions in the act will actually take funding away from households with no broadband access ([link removed]) and give it to those that have access but would like faster speeds. This would create larger divides amongst those with access to internet and those without it.

Diapers More Expensive? Thank Washington ([link removed])
Generous unemployment benefits are a force behind the worker shortages across industries and those shortages are driving prices higher for households. It’s a destructive cycle. ([link removed]) If we want to give American families lasting relief, we must push back against this endless and counterproductive government spending.


** PUTTING A FACE ON IT ([link removed])
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Reasons To Be Cautious About the Advance Tax Credit ([link removed])
As a mother of five, Carrie Lukas calls caution to the consistent money flow into American families’ wallets. The Child Tax Credit may be the trojan horse for future debt of individual families and the country as a whole. She wants to remind Americans that although this money may be nice to buy the household items that are getting more expensive to purchase now ([link removed]) , it may hurt us later when we no longer receive money back from the government on things like tax refunds.

Read More ([link removed])


** ON OUR RADAR
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Biden’s Business Order Is Not Just Big, It’s Burdensome ([link removed])

She Thinks: Public Policy Should Reward Work, Not Compete With It ([link removed])


** FINAL THOUGHT ([link removed])
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“I seek out those who haven’t been given a head start in life. It’s not because I’m doing anyone a favor. It’s a business decision for me. I believe that these people possess character and strengths that are important to my business: unique approaches, a strong work ethic, and a healthy dose of willpower. I dug my future out of the ground, and I want to surround myself with other people who, if given the chance, will do the same today.”

—Sarah Frey, entrepreneur and CEO of Frey Farms ([link removed])
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