Commentary: WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, delivered the following statement at a hearing on social capital. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:
The topic of social capital is an important one, especially when it is used to build communities up.
I worry, though, that this conversation could be used to blame disadvantaged communities for not being successful.
It’s easy to generalize about people and communities. But we must to resist doing that.
Because it is offensive to use this platform here in Congress to promote the institutionalizing of stereotypes or discrimination. It is offensive, and frankly not constructive, to blame communities for the challenges they face.
There is no substitute for a strong economic foundation and smart investments in our children and workers. Social networks help, but investments in individuals and communities are key to building a better future and a more vibrant economy.
I think we’d all agree that Congress cannot force people to marry, become friends with their neighbors, or join civic organizations or churches. We need to be both strategic and realistic about the policies we pursue.
When I was a child, both of my parents worked.
For my father, his union job helped him earn a higher wage and protections at work. Belonging to a union is a source of social capital, and my family benefited from that.
My mom, on the other hand, didn’t have a union job. Her schedule was three weeks on with one day off for a wage that undervalued her and her work, leaving her with little time to spend building networks.
So as we prepare to hear about the role of social capital, about ways to help working families get into the middle class – to even have the time to make community connections and shore up social capital – it’s important that we not lose sight of investing in people like my mom.
Right now, the deck is stacked against some and in favor of others.
Children of wealthier parents start with a leg up. Good schools are increasingly concentrated in wealthier areas, leaving millions of children behind.
While a college education has been long thought of as a path to the American Dream, that path is financially out of reach for many Americans.
As Americans, we have a deep commitment to everyone getting a fair shot. To achieve that, government has a significant role to play.
It must provide the essential building blocks –affordable child care and early learning, quality K-12 education, comprehensive health care and access to affordable post-secondary education.
We can break the cycle of poverty by simultaneously providing programs and supports to parents and their children. The two-generation approach is evidence-based, data-driven, bipartisan policy that works.
I’ve seen the power of 2-gen models in New Mexico. Initiatives like The United Way's Early Learning Center in Santa Fe which offers year-round, full-day services for children right next to technology, employment and social service assistance for parents. All under one roof.
Helping parents and children in these programs develop supportive networks is an important component of helping these families achieve success – and building stronger communities.
We must expand proven programs like the EITC and the child tax credit that lift almost 10 million people out of poverty each year.
We need universal pre-k starting at age 3. We have long known that investments in early education boost education outcomes, and increase earnings.
Government cannot – and should not – go it alone.
In Gallup, Carlsbad, Silver City and throughout New Mexico, it’s the schools, churches, nonprofits, businesses and philanthropic groups that define a community. They are the community anchors.
But, government must provide the basics.
Dr. Small’s research on Head Start attendance reminds us that limited, inexpensive interventions can have meaningful impacts.
His research found that when parents of Head Start students developed networks, attendance improved.
Just one example. But we can learn two important things from this research: first that social networks can strengthen an already effective program. And second, that without that government program we wouldn’t have the foundation on which to build.
I look forward to your testimony.