By Marc H. Morial
President and CEO
National Urban League
“The rich nations must use their vast resources of wealth to develop the underdeveloped, school the unschooled, and feed the unfed.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
It is a peculiar time in America, when economists offer varying outlooks on our economy. Some herald the artificial intelligence era as a period of great prosperity. The stock markets continue to climb, nearly unscathed by a war that costs the nation nearly $1 billion every day. And the current administration, despite firing the official overseeing the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly jobs report just over a year ago, says the job market shows signs of growth.
But for most Americans, the reality paints a much dimmer picture.
This Iran war has cost the average household over $1,200 in the last seven months as gas prices reach record highs. Access to safe, affordable food is growing scarcer, with nearly weekly recalls on nutritious items. And as tariffs and global spats threaten energy prices as we enter the colder months, disastrous cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP benefits loom on the horizon to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy in the Big Ugly Bill.
The Urban League movement sees the pain Americans face every day, and we’re meeting the moment the best way we can through job programs and housing and education supports, but now is also a time for Congress to act.
Less than two months ahead of the midterm elections, we’re no longer waiting on either side of the aisle to present an agenda that will serve the people. We’ve developed one ourselves.
I’d like to introduce our blueprint to rescue the American Dream and put working families first: the Affordability for All agenda.
This agenda is informed by research from our Washington Bureau, anecdotes from our affiliates, and insights from my leadership as President of the National Urban League for over 23 years.
These are the six calls to action:
- Pass a National Living Wage
No one who works full time should live in poverty. Raise the federal minimum wage to reflect today’s cost of living and index it to inflation so wages keep pace with rising costs.
- Repeal and Replace the Big Ugly Bill
H.R. 1, “the Big Ugly Bill,” represents one of the greatest threats to affordability for working families. Repeal its harmful cuts and restore investments in Medicaid, education, student aid, nutrition assistance, and other programs that help families succeed, not just survive.
- Housing Vouchers
Housing vouchers should work more like SNAP or Medicaid: if you qualify, you receive assistance. Fully fund the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, so every eligible family can access safe, affordable housing while expanding pathways for homeownership.
- Launch a National Affordable Housing Trust
America cannot solve the housing crisis without dramatically increasing the supply of affordable homes. Establish a robust national Housing Trust Fund to finance the construction and preservation of affordable and workforce housing at the scale the crisis demands.
- Restore Affordable Internet Access
Reestablish and strengthen the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) so every family can afford broadband. In today’s economy, internet access is as essential as electricity for work, education, healthcare, and economic mobility.
- End Inflationary Tariffs that Raise Costs
American families should not bear the cost of policies that make everyday goods more expensive. Repeal inflationary tariffs and replace them with trade policies that strengthen American competitiveness without driving up household costs.
Our nation is facing an unprecedented crisis driven by unregulated technology that threatens to upend our workforce and education system. We have had enough of spending our resources on misplaced priorities and vanity projects for a President who has shown Americans time and time again that their livelihoods and future are not a priority.
Now is the time to act. Now is the time to adopt the Affordability for All agenda and make America prosperous again.
The Hon. Marc H. Morial is the President and CEO of the National Urban League. Previously, he served as mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana.
