Upward Mobility Act

I commend Senator Husted for introducing his Upward Mobility Act. Benefits cliffs hold people back from reaching their full potential. Giving states the flexibility to address these 'cliffs' in various programs will encourage more people to take a new job, work more hours, or even accept a promotion. Senator Husted's commonsense solution will help more Ohioans become self-sufficient, support their families and contribute to a stronger workforce. He has my full support.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services applauds Senator Husted for introducing the Upward Mobility Act which would allow states to take innovative approaches to align eligibility requirements across public assistance programs. Far too often, programs intended to provide temporary assistance become a barrier to self-sufficiency by creating benefit cliff scenarios that penalize upward mobility and career advancement. Allowing states to align programs is a win for recipients and employers.

We, at United Way of Greater Cleveland, are in daily conversation with hardworking families that need our help to triage and curate the overwhelming web of programs just to stay afloat. We applaud Senator Husted for advancing the Upward Mobility Act, which recognizes that real progress requires fixing antiquated, overly complex systems, not the people working hard within them. By aligning benefits and streamlining access, this legislation offers a more dignified, efficient, and empowering path forward, reducing burdens for families and the state while helping more people build lasting financial stability.

Eliminating the benefits cliffs is not just a moral imperative-it's an economic one. When workers hesitate to accept raises or promotions because they fear losing essential benefits, productivity suffers, and businesses could lose talent. The Upward Mobility Act offers a smart, flexible solution that empowers states to innovate, helps families achieve financial independence, and strengthens our workforce. The Greater Akron Chamber and Canton Regional Chamber support this legislation because it will help foster upward mobility and economic growth.

The benefits cliff is a real challenge, and without thoughtful solutions, it can limit job retention and mobility for some of our most vulnerable residents. We appreciate that U.S. Sen. Jon Husted is taking steps to address this at a time when employers across our region face significant challenges in attracting and keeping talent. In today's hiring climate, every potential worker matters.

The Upward Mobility Act takes important steps toward helping low-income Americans move up the economic ladder and achieve independence by reducing the penalties that the current welfare system imposes on work and marriage. In addition, by combining state experimentation with rigorous third-party evaluation, the Upward Mobility Act provides a template for determining what works. This is the sort of compassionate welfare reform that should draw bipartisan support.

Senator Husted's Upward Mobility Act tackles one of the most stubborn barriers holding too many families back. The benefits cliff forces people to choose between a raise at work and the support they need to make ends meet. The Ohio Business Roundtable was proud to partner with then-Lt. Governor Husted on Ohio's pilot program, and we applaud Senator Husted for now bringing this issue to the national stage. The Upward Mobility Act is a commonsense step toward strengthening our workforce, supporting employers and, most importantly, helping families build long-term financial independence.

For years, businesses across Ohio have at times struggled to hire or promote talent due to the challenges posed by benefits cliffs. Thankfully, Senator Husted saw a way to tackle this challenge at the state level during his time as Lieutenant Governor. We are grateful for his leadership as Senator in demonstrating the potential to address this issue through the introduction of the Upward Mobility Act. This proposal will help thousands of Americans climbing the economic ladder to support themselves and their families, and we look forward to working with him to enact this important legislation.

Benefit cliffs trap Ohio workers, stalling careers and gutting manufacturing. Manufacturers see employees turn down extra hours or permanent positions to avoid losing critical benefits. With the Upward Mobility Act, Ohio workers can finally earn more without losing the support they need. It's a straightforward win for employees, their families and our state's manufacturing strength.

The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce applauds Senator Husted for his efforts to address the benefit cliffs through The Upward Mobility Act Pilot Program. When an individual earns a small increase in income, they can risk a significant or complete loss of federal benefits, leaving families financially worse off than they were before a wage increase. This can also negatively impact employers by making it harder to retain or attract employees. We have been leading and experienced success in Lucas County with the benefits bridge pilot. The Upward Mobility Act can further enhance our region's workforce and economic vitality by making this concept statewide assisting even more individuals and businesses.

I am proud to champion the Upward Mobility Act and the critical support it will provide to the families, helping them remain stable as they leave public assistance programs and preventing them from falling off the benefits cliff. The Benefit Bridge program, operated at our OhioMeansJobs Center has truly been a lifeline for working families. This flexible funded program helps prevent the benefit cliff by ensuring families don't lose critical support the moment they advance in their employment. This program allows parents to pursue better jobs, higher wages, and long-term stability without the fear of losing immediate access to childcare, housing, healthcare, or other essential services. It has empowered working parents to succeed and opened real pathways to long-term economic independence.

I believe that this could be a really important way to help people get off of government support. Right now, employers can only hire employees and pay them up to what the government gives them in benefits plus their wages. For example, we could start an employee at $15.00 an hour while they learn with the hopes that employee could grow into a higher-paying position. But if the government is paying them the equivalent of $22.00 per hour with benefits added after wages, that employee will not take promotions in their job and will remain at a lower rate of pay, instead of having a job to eventually getting off of government support. This bill is a win for all parties. And if you figure out how many people this could help, I think you would find it is a lot of money.

Thank you for sharing this thoughtful proposal. I am enthusiastic about the potential it holds to reshape how we support families and empower individuals to achieve lasting financial independence. The challenges posed by the current benefits cliff are well documented, and they continue to hinder the very upward mobility our safety-net programs are intended to promote. This proposal acknowledges that reality head-on and offers an innovative path toward a more flexible system. The creation of a multi-program pilot could help eliminate rigid burdens. Pilot states will be able to focus on what truly matters: helping families advance economically, removing disincentives to work and tailoring supports to the unique needs of their communities. The emphasis on individualized case management and collaboration with local partners is a refreshing shift toward human-centered design and policy. I am encouraged by the bill's commitment to identifying measurable results. Participating states will have the opportunity to demonstrate meaningful progress, whether through increased earnings, stronger employment outcomes or the removal of unexpected barriers. Overall, this bill signals an intent to promote innovation and is a bold step toward a safety net that truly supports self-sufficiency. It invites states to modernize, reduces barriers and promotes an encouraging path to long-term success. Thank you, again, for sharing new opportunities that promote the best interest of the families, individuals and children that we serve here in Ohio.

For almost thirty years, our nation has invested in welfare reform and work-participation programs designed to move people who receive public assistance into the workforce. These efforts have succeeded in helping individuals transition into employment-but too often, those jobs are low-wage, unstable and insufficient to lift households beyond the working poor status. We have proven that people are willing to work; the Upward Mobility Act shows we are willing to help them thrive.

Fairfield County Job and Family Services strongly endorse efforts that advance the goals of the Upward Mobility Act. We stand ready to support pilot programs and collaborative initiatives that empower families, strengthen the workforce, and promote genuine economic mobility.

Family Resource Centers are a proven, community-based way to help Ohioans move from crisis to stability and into long-term economic mobility. By aligning public, private and philanthropic partners, centers like the Wickliffe Family Resource Center help working families keep the supports they rely on while they work more, earn more and build a better future. We strongly support the Upward Mobility Act and other common-sense policies that remove benefit cliffs and make it easier for families to advance without falling behind.

The Wayne Economic Development Council strongly supports Senator Husted's Upward Mobility Act, which represents a bold and necessary step toward helping families achieve long-term economic stability. By allowing states to streamline federal anti-poverty programs and eliminate benefit cliffs, this legislation empowers individuals to pursue higher earnings without fear of losing essential support.

The Upward Mobility Act reflects a transformative shift in federal antipoverty policy-creating a safety net that advances the inherent dignity, potential and purpose of every person. For decades, outdated programs have created barriers that trap individuals and families in cycles of dependency. This legislation offers a path forward that prioritizes work, opportunity, and upward mobility as the true measures of a successful safety net.

The current patchwork of public benefits creates unintended barriers to economic opportunity in the form of benefits cliffs. Working families need a better approach that aligns supports around them so that no parent is forced to choose between pursuing a better career and ensuring they can feed their children. By removing arbitrary silos and empowering states to test innovative solutions, the Upward Mobility Act is a step toward building better evidence on what works to empower families to achieve financial stability and opportunity.

From my perspective, both as an employer struggling to retain entry level manufacturing workers, as well as a member of my local Business Advisory Council and Regional WIOA Board as an employer representative, providing rural workers with the flexibility to allow a smooth transition from reliance on support programs to well-paying career options would eliminate a huge retention hurdle. Currently, many entry level or reentering workers report to our HR department that pay increases over time will cause them to lose a myriad of benefits because of the benefits cliff. The loss of benefits such as SNAP/TANF, Housing Vouchers/ Rural Rental Assistance and Child Care Funding create a situation where employees must choose between maintaining benefits and continued work. In a time where manufacturers (especially those in rural areas with housing, daycare and transportation challenges) cannot attract and retain enough personnel to keep up with demand, limiting or eliminating the benefits cliff is a giant step forward in getting people who want to have fulfilling jobs able to do so without totally disrupting their family finances. When I listen to JFS representatives in our county discuss the hurdles regarding benefit program compliance and helping people achieve and retain employment status, it is clear to me the proposed federal level changes resulting from this proposed legislation would be a welcome red tape cutting tool. We at Mid West Fabricating Company fully support efforts at all levels of government to address the benefits cliff and allow continued employment for those seeking careers in entry level manufacturing jobs or any other in demand trades.

Waivers from one-size-fits-all federal bureaucratic requirements enabled a few pioneering states to lead the way toward a successful national welfare reform effort in the 1990s. Similarly, today, Senator Husted's Upward Mobility Act will encourage a handful of states to conduct rigorous experiments with innovative programs and partnerships to better promote opportunity for the next generation of American citizens.

The Ohio Workforce Coalition commends Senator Husted's work to address benefit cliffs through the Upward Mobility Act. The Coalition understands the complicated relationship between public benefits and employment, and we look forward to continuing to work with Senator Husted's office to ensure that the workforce development ecosystem features prominently and proactively in all economic mobility related efforts.

It is encouraging to hear that Senator Husted will be introducing legislation to address the benefits cliff. This is a challenge we see firsthand through our workforce, and it directly impacts upward mobility, retention, and long-term stability for working individuals and families. I appreciate the thoughtful approach your team is taking to engage employers and stakeholders early in the process.

The Upward Mobility Act hits directly at one of the biggest barriers we see every day at Impacting Tomorrow. Families are trying to do the right things, take on more hours, and move forward, but the benefits cliff punishes progress. It creates fear, instability, and a real hesitation to take steps that should lead to long-term independence. The pilot structure you outlined makes sense. Giving states the flexibility to braid funding, remove duplicative rules, and design systems that support upward mobility instead of trapping families is a meaningful step. The alignment with case management, community partners, and outcome-based evaluation is exactly what we need more of. From our side, the Act connects well with what we're seeing on the ground. We're serving roughly 810 people a day now across Market, CarryHer, Boutique, Pediatric OT, and Medical/Dental services. A significant number of families talk about the cliff as a real threat to their stability. Any policy that helps remove that fear while supporting higher earnings and self-sufficiency will have an immediate impact.

Over the past five years, we have repeatedly seen graduates decline or walk away from skilled trade job offers-not due to lack of interest or ability, but because entry-level wages are often outweighed by the short-term financial support provided through government benefits. This dynamic creates a meaningful gap between the long-term value of starting a skilled trade career and the immediate financial realities individuals face. While these roles offer strong income growth within one to two years, many candidates simply cannot afford the initial transition period, making the upfront investment untenable despite the clear long-term upside.

On behalf of the BCW/Workforce Development Board (BCW/Workforce), I am writing to express our strong support for the Upward Mobility Act. This legislation represents a thoughtful, innovative approach to addressing one of the most persistent challenges facing low-income individuals and working families-the benefits cliff that discourages career advancement and long-term self-sufficiency.

On behalf of the Greater Springfield Partnership (GSP), we write to express our strong support for your Upward Mobility Act and to commend your leadership in addressing one of the most significant and persistent barriers to economic advancement: the benefits cliff. By allowing states to voluntarily combine funding from multiple federal anti-poverty programs into a single, flexible pilot structure, the Act creates an opportunity to eliminate benefits cliffs while maintaining accountability and fiscal discipline. The emphasis on rewarding work, aligning incentives, and supporting upward mobility closely mirrors the recommendations that emerged from our local research and employer engagement. From an economic development perspective, addressing benefits cliffs is essential to strengthening workforce participation, increasing labor force attachment, and ensuring that economic growth translates into improved quality of life for working families. The Upward Mobility Act offers a practical, bipartisan, and data-driven framework to advance these goals.

We, at United Way of Greater Cleveland, are in daily conversation with hardworking families that need our help to triage and curate the overwhelming web of programs just to stay afloat. We applaud Senator Husted for advancing the Upward Mobility Act, which recognizes that real progress requires fixing antiquated, overly complex systems, not the people working hard within them. By aligning benefits and streamlining access, this legislation offers a more dignified, efficient, and empowering path forward, reducing burdens for families and the state while helping more people build lasting financial stability.

The Community Bankers Association of Ohio applauds Senator Husted for his leadership on the Upward Mobility Act. Community banks serve families and small businesses in every corner of Ohio, and we know that financial stability begins with opportunity. By addressing the benefits cliff and encouraging upward mobility, this legislation supports the same values community banks stand for-empowering individuals, strengthening families, and helping more Ohioans achieve long-term financial independence.

Eliminating the benefits cliffs is not just a moral imperative-it's an economic one. When workers hesitate to accept raises or promotions because they fear losing essential benefits, productivity suffers, and businesses could lose talent. The Upward Mobility Act offers a smart, flexible solution that empowers states to innovate, helps families achieve financial independence, and strengthens our workforce. The Greater Akron Chamber and Canton Regional Chamber support this legislation because it will help foster upward mobility and economic growth.

The benefits cliff is a real challenge, and without thoughtful solutions, it can limit job retention and mobility for some of our most vulnerable residents. We appreciate that U.S. Sen. Jon Husted is taking steps to address this at a time when employers across our region face significant challenges in attracting and keeping talent. In today's hiring climate, every potential worker matters.

We firmly believe that the Upward Mobility Act is necessary to building a first-class American Workforce. It will give states the ability to create viable pathways for both work and education; it will create pathways for public/private projects that accelerate innovation; and it will give millions of Americans viable pathways to achieve their own American Dream.

Family Resource Centers are a proven, community-based way to help Ohioans move from crisis to stability and into long-term economic mobility. By aligning public, private and philanthropic partners, centers like the Wickliffe Family Resource Center help working families keep the supports they rely on while they work more, earn more and build a better future. We strongly support the Upward Mobility Act and other common-sense policies that remove benefit cliffs and make it easier for families to advance without falling behind.

The Wayne Economic Development Council strongly supports Senator Husted's Upward Mobility Act, which represents a bold and necessary step toward helping families achieve long-term economic stability. By allowing states to streamline federal anti-poverty programs and eliminate benefit cliffs, this legislation empowers individuals to pursue higher earnings without fear of losing essential support.

By consolidating funding streams and granting states flexibility to design benefit structures that limit marginal effective tax rates, the Act directly addresses one of the most significant challenges facing workers with low incomes: the benefit cliff. Too often, individuals are forced to choose between advancing in the workforce and maintaining essential supports. This legislation creates a pathway for states to remove those disincentives and align public assistance with employment and earnings growth.

In our daily work, we see firsthand how benefits cliffs discourage raises, promotions, and additional hours-ultimately limiting both economic mobility for families and workforce stability for employers. Addressing this issue is essential to ensuring that work truly pays, and that Ohioans can pursue advancement without fear of sudden financial setbacks. The Upward Mobility Act offers a thoughtful, practical solution. By giving states the flexibility to align and modernize anti-poverty programs, reduce bureaucracy, and design benefit structures that reward work and advancement, this legislation empowers people to pursue higher earnings without fear of losing critical support overnight.

In working with over 25,000 people each year in West Central & Southern Ohio, we know first-hand the challenges faced by people in poverty as they work toward a better future for themselves and their families. The Upward Mobility Act takes a strong positive step in promoting upward mobility for families in poverty, for increasing the earnings of low-income families, for reducing government dependence, and for eliminating the benefits cliff. We strongly support this important legislation.

A small pay increase combined with losing a public benefit means their out-of-pocket expenses increase and they fall further behind than if they did not earn a pay raise. This "benefits cliff" causes workers to turn down raises and promotions to avoid the cliff, keeping them trapped at their current low wage and supported by public assistance. Businesses then struggle to fill open positions and retain workers, and taxpayers lose by funding a public benefits system that traps Ohioans in poverty, rather than supporting growth towards economic stability. The Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio, which serves residents in Hamilton County, appreciates Senator Husted's leadership in addressing the benefits cliff through the Upward Mobility Act.

Omega Community Development Corporation supports efforts to eliminate the benefits cliff and strengthen pathways to economic stability for families. In Northwest Dayton, we see how fragmented systems and sudden benefit losses can undermine residents working to move forward, toward self-sufficiency. Poverty is not a failure of effort; it is often a failure of systems. We believe meaningful progress requires collaboration across federal, state, and place-based partners. Omega CDC welcomes the opportunity to be part of these discussions to help ensure economic advancement supports long-term family stability and upward mobility.

We applaud Senator Husted (R-OH) for introducing the Upward Mobility Act, which will allow states, at no additional cost to taxpayers, to combine proceeds from several federal anti-poverty programs to create new benefit structures that will help Americans grow their way off federal programs and prosper. This will help the recipients of these programs get a promotion, a job offer with higher pay, or a chance for extra hours, withuout facing the real potential of losing their home, health care, or even the ability to pay for food for their family. Taxpayers benefit when the government encourages self-sufficiency and career growth, and are hurt when Americans are afraid to accept a promotion or a new job.

As the owners of the Cincinnati area franchises of AtWork Personnel, we strongly support Senator Jon Husted’s Upward Mobility Act and its focus on reforming federal benefits so families aren’t trapped by the “benefits cliff.” In the workforce and staffing world, we see this problem up close: people who want to work more hours, accept a raise, or step into a better role sometimes hesitate because a small increase in wages can trigger a sudden loss of essential support—leaving them worse off than before. That’s not a pathway to stability; it’s a penalty on progress.

Senator Husted’s proposal is a practical, pro-family approach. By empowering states to innovate—and encouraging collaboration with nonprofits and the private sector—the bill can create a clearer runway for families to increase earnings without risking a financial freefall.

Beyond increased income, we believe upward mobility restores dignity and strengthens purpose—the deep confidence that comes from providing for your family and making a real contribution to your workplace and community. When people can pursue advancement without fear of a sudden loss of essential support, they’re more likely to stay engaged in the workforce, invest in their skills, and build momentum that benefits their families, employers, and neighborhoods.

For these reasons, we applaud Senator Husted for leading on this issue and urge strong support for the Upward Mobility Act.

On behalf of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce and our more than 2,200 member businesses serving the greater Dayton region, I am writing to express our strong support for the Upward Mobility Act. The Dayton region is undergoing significant economic transformation, driven by growth in advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, healthcare, and logistics. Our economy depends on a highly skilled and adaptable workforce that is ready to the meet the changing demands of the labor market.

The Upward Mobility Act will have a direct impact on the Greater Dayton community and Ohio as a whole. Across the region, we witness firsthand how benefits cliffs can undermine progress for working families. When a small increase in wages results in a loss of food assistance, housing support or childcare, families often are forced to choose between advancing their careers and meeting basic human needs for themselves and their loved ones. This situation not only limits their opportunities but also perpetuates long-term dependence on public assistance, while further straining already limited public resources.

On behalf of Clothes That Work, I am writing to express our strong support for your proposed Upward Mobility Act. As an organization dedicated to helping individuals secure and maintain employment, we deeply appreciate your commitment to policies that empower Ohioans to achieve economic independence
and long-term success.

The Upward Mobility Act addresses one of the most persistent barriers we hear from employers and workers alike, the benefits cliff. When individuals are discouraged from taking a raise or promotion, it limits both economic mobility and workforce participation. This legislation is a positive step toward creating a system that rewards work, supports families, and strengthens our region’s and the state’s economies. 

The Ohio Domestic Violence Network appreciates Senator Husted's attention to the benefits cliff, which is an issue we see directly in our work with domestic violence survivors across Ohio. Survivors leaving abusive situations often face this exact dilemma: they begin working, earn slightly too much, and lose the benefits that were keeping them and their children stable. For many, this creates a path back to the abuser rather than forward to independence. As this legislation moves forward, we urge that any pilot state be required to maintain the existing, unique federal protections for domestic violence survivors embedded in these programs.

The introduction of the Upward Mobility Act by Senator Husted represents a necessary and pragmatic step toward addressing the structural challenges created by the benefit cliff. This issue is not theoretical. It directly impacts working families who are actively trying to improve their economic position, yet are penalized for incremental progress.

My wife and I experienced this reality firsthand early in our careers. While I was in college and working part time, we were raising three daughters. My wife worked full time in an entry level role at Kroger. In an effort to create stability, I took on an additional part time job. That decision, which should have represented forward progress, instead triggered a cascade of lost support. We were cut from food assistance and child care assistance, and eventually lost healthcare coverage. In total, we lost approximately $2,000 dollars in benefits for earning an additional 300 dollars per month. The outcome was not initial upward mobility. It increased financial strain while doing exactly what the system is supposed to discourage.

This is the core failure the Upward Mobility Act seeks to correct. Public policy should reinforce effort, not undermine it. When marginal increases in income result in disproportionate losses in support, the system creates a disincentive to advance. That is not sustainable for families or for the broader economy.

Addressing the benefit cliff is not simply about fairness. It is about aligning incentives with outcomes. Policies that create gradual transitions, rather than abrupt cutoffs, allow families to build stability over time. That stability translates into stronger workforce participation, reduced dependency, and long-term economic growth.

The Upward Mobility Act reflects a more disciplined and outcome oriented approach to policy design. It recognizes that the path out of poverty is not immediate, but incremental. Ensuring that progress is rewarded, rather than penalized, is essential to creating a system that works as intended.

At HealthSource of Ohio we take pride in helping patients navigate the complex landscape of safety net and social support programs every day. One of the most significant barriers they face is the ‘benefit cliff,' where pursuing a better job can result in the loss of essential services. This legislation offers a much-needed solution to that challenge. By reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, it will also make the programs easier to navigate for those individuals and families who really need them. The Upward Mobility Act represents a practical, common-sense approach that will positively impact many of the patients and communities we serve across our eight-county service area.

Thank you for taking the time to hear about our needs in Huron County. Senator Husted’s work is vital to our economic growth and bringing young adults back to our community. Flexible support and marketable skills give people a path to upward mobility, middle-class wages, and lasting financial security. And together we can make this happen. 

On behalf of CISE (Catholic Inner-city Schools Education), I am writing to express our strong support for the Upward Mobility Act of 2025. For over 40 years, CISE has been dedicated to serving students in Cincinnati’s inner-city communities, providing the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. We believe that education is the foundation for unlocking potential and providing a pathway out of poverty. Your proposed legislation aligns closely with our mission to empower students from underserved communities. Thank you!

On behalf of the Community Shelter Board (CSB), I commend your leadership in addressing the benefits cliff and proudly support the Upward Mobility Act, S. 3583. The intent of the Upward Mobility Act closely aligns with our mission: ensuring that people can transition from crisis to stability and ultimately achieve long-term independence. We applaud your focus on removing structural barriers that can unintentionally discourage work and upward mobility.

Senator Husted and Representative Moore’s Upward Mobility Act is about restoring the promise of the American Dream for millions of Americans. Too often, benefit cliffs punish people for working harder, earning more, and contributing to their communities with their unique gifts and talents. This bill would give states flexibility to design smarter safety nets that will not sacrifice so much human potential.

The benefits cliff holds communities back by making it harder for families to increase earnings and achieve stability. The Greater Cincinnati Foundation supports the advancement of the Upward Mobility Act, which helps reduce these barriers by unlocking funding flexibility and expanding pathways to economic opportunity and self-sufficiency. There is no single solution to complex economic challenges, but when government, philanthropy, nonprofits, and the private sector each do their part, we can build strong, vibrant communities where everyone can thrive.