Washington, D.C., July 15, 2020: In an op-ed published on Barron’s, Inclusive America Co-Founder Mark Hanis joins Paul Thornell and Robert Raben in discussing the socio-economic consequences of having a lack of diverse members in the Congressional Oversight Commission. The members of the Congressional Oversight Commission will be in charge of the implementation of the $500 billion CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act.

“A panel with a diverse set of voices could have raised concerns about the widening racial wealth gap from this economic crisis and asked what more could be done to help lessen that gap. As people of color are more likely to rent rather than own their homes, they could have raised the question about greater protections for renters in addition to the ones being considered for homeowners. And after so many individuals and small businesses had problems applying for recovery funds, the Commission could have also questioned whether minority-owned businesses will gain access to the $500 billion in lending. For these issues to be raised, it would be constructive if there were African-American, Latino, American Indian, and Pacific Islander voices in the room as part of the Commission’s work.”

Read the full op-ed at Barron’s “Diversity Needed in CARES Act Commission.”

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