Maria works to advance economic security for DC’s children and families through key income supports, including cash transfers and tax credits. She has previously worked for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Rx Kids, the National Partnership for Women and Families, Baby’s First Years, and the High Road Strategy Center. Maria holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Public Policy with a concentration in Social Policy from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.
Lawmakers can use this moment to advance a more progressive and racially-just tax system by evaluating tax proposals across five dimensions: equity, adequacy and stability, simplicity, neutrality, and accountability.
Despite TANF’s proven role in reducing family hardship and supporting child well-being, DC lawmakers approved major cuts to the program last year that will reduce or freeze cash benefits for more than 16,000 families beginning October 2026.
To preserve families’ purchasing power and prevent further erosion of already modest assistance, DC lawmakers must reverse the cut and maintain TANF’s COLA.
To better understand the harm the cuts will have on TANF families, the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI) conducted focus groups with 16 women living in DC who have reached or are approaching the 60-month TANF time limit. This report draws on participants’ voices and lived experiences to analyze the efficacy of DC’s TANF program and highlight the barriers that limit pathways to upward mobility.
The two credits are highly effective, proven tools for reducing child poverty with long-term benefits over children’s life cycle and for the economy broadly.
