A distinguished group of over 100 entrepreneurs, activists, researchers, and philanthropists sign on to the mission of championing direct cash payments to empower Americans to live and work to their full potential.

At CASHCon, an Economic Security Project event, Mayor Michael Tubbs announced the first groundbreaking, ESP-backed guaranteed income demonstration: a mayor-led program in Stockton, CA.

Representative Rashida Tlaib introduces the BOOST Act, and then-Senator Kamala Harris introduces the LIFT the Middle Class Act, which adopt Economic Security Project’s proposal to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit– the first time since 1969 that a guaranteed income bill has seen real attention in Congress.

In December, the Magnolia Mother’s Trust, led by Aisha Nyandoro, paid the first of $1,000 monthly payments to a cohort of 20 Black mothers living in affordable housing in Jackson, Mississippi. It has expanded to larger cohorts with each successive year, offering more benefits and continues to this day. Mayor Tubbs’ Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration would distribute their first payments in February of 2019.

Hughes’ public stance against monopolies throughout the economy led to the formation of the $10 million Antimonopoly Fund, moving the issue of runaway corporate power “from the margins to the mainstream.”

Economic Security Project works with the Biden Administration to campaign for the expanded Child Tax Credit that is an essential part of the American Rescue Plan, providing unprecedented cash payments for children.

Economic Security Project successfully lobbies state legislatures to eliminate income requirements for tax credits and to increase the amount of cash delivered to families; and to expand eligibility to young people, the elderly, immigrants, and low and middle-income families.

A network of leaders, experts, funders, and elected officials rapidly begin implementing over a hundred local demonstrations of guaranteed income, with the support of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, the Guaranteed Income Community of Practice and many others.

In 2023, three dozen states considered legislation for state-level tax credits that would ensure more cash to families nationwide, and 18 states notched wins. The number of states with Child Tax Credits doubled over the last two years.