As Americans Struggle with Rising Costs, the National True Cost of Living Coalition to Brief Congress Members on the True Cost of Economic Security Measure
Washington, DC (May 7, 2025) – As Americans contend with rising costs and a lack of resources to make ends meet, a new measure shows the crisis is already far worse than official statistics suggest.
On May 7, the National True Cost of Living Coalition will brief members of Congress and their staffs on the True Cost of Economic Security (TCES) measure, a groundbreaking new standard that reveals more than half of all Americans lack the resources needed to achieve real economic security. Led by Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA) and David R. Jones, President and CEO of Community Service Society (CSS), the coalition is dedicated to ensuring that true economic security is a possibility for all Americans.
The Congressional briefing comes as sweeping reductions to programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and a wide range of social services are under consideration, putting millions at risk of losing support for health care, food, housing, and childcare. While the official poverty rate suggests only 11.5% of Americans are struggling, the TCES measure—developed by the Urban Institute for the National True Cost of Living Coalition—shows that 52% of Americans fall below the threshold for true economic security, unable to save for emergencies or the future, and often living paycheck to paycheck despite not being classified as “poor.”
Congresswoman Gwen Moore, who represents Wisconsin’s 4th Congressional District, will also join the briefing to speak to the importance of advancing economic security across the country. “I am grateful to partner with The National True Cost of Living Coalition to uplift and educate Congressional members about the True Cost of Economic Security Measure – an innovative, new measure that assesses the full economic state of American workers and families,” Rep. Moore said. “It’s just another reminder that Americans across the income spectrum are struggling to meet basic needs and that costs are not going down. We need to not just ensure that folks don’t teeter on the brink of poverty but that everyone in America can thrive. That means shifting our focus to embrace the full spectrum of economic security and ensuring that our policies reflect the true burdens people face and respond appropriately to empower them to have fulsome lives.”
“Today’s briefing marks a pivotal step toward ensuring that economic policy truly reflects the realities of people’s lives,” said Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA) and Co-Chair of the National True Cost of Living Coalition. “As a nation, if we’re not measuring what it actually takes for Americans to survive and thrive, then we can’t come up with the right policy solutions to address a problem that’s only growing bigger. The TCES measure moves us beyond outdated benchmarks and embraces a more accurate, just, and humane understanding of economic security.”
“Recognizing what it truly takes to achieve economic security—not just to get by, but to live with stability and dignity—is the first step towards addressing the concerns of all Americans,” said David R. Jones, President and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York and Co-Chair of the National True Cost of Living Coalition. “The TCES measure captures the full range of expenses—like housing, food, transportation, childcare, and healthcare—and compares them to all sources of income. By reflecting the real costs people face, TCES offers a more accurate and comprehensive picture of what it takes to be secure. This understanding is critical for shaping policies that not only alleviate struggle, but also help individuals and families flourish.”
The TCES measure offers policymakers a comprehensive, data-driven tool to better understand and address the real costs families face, including regionally specific expenses for essentials like housing, childcare, transportation, and healthcare, as well as the need to save for the future. By adopting this new standard, Congress can craft policies that reflect the lived realities of American families and ensure that economic security is an attainable goal for all.
Media are invited to attend the briefing. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Andrew Taranto at ataranto@actumllc.com.
Who: Jennifer Jones Austin and David R. Jones, Co-Chairs of the National True Cost of Living Coalition, briefing members of Congress and their staffs
What: Presentation and discussion on the True Cost of Economic Security (TCES) measure, highlighting the real financial needs of American families
When: May 7, 2025, starting at 9:00 a.m. ET
Where: United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.
About the National True Cost of Living Coalition:
Founded in 2024 by the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA) and the Community Service Society of New York (CSS), the National True Cost of Living Coalition brings together policy experts, labor, business, philanthropic, and community leaders to advocate for the adoption of a national true cost of living measure that informs policy and programming at all levels of government, ensuring economic security is an attainable goal for all Americans.
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