The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Policy held a hearing, “State of the American Dream: Economy Policy and the Future of the Middle Class,” on June 6. The hearing featured Diedre Melson, John Cox, and Pamela Thatcher, who were subjects in the HBO documentary American Winter. The documentary examines eight families in Portland, Oregon who were self-described as middle class, but who went through economic calamity due to the Great Recession. Other witnesses at the hearing were Amy Traub of Demos, Atif Mian of Princeton University, Nick Hanauer of Second Avenue Partners, and Steve Hill of the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development.Much of the testimony and questioning focused on the impact that student loan debt has on families. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) also raised the issue of low wages, and how insufficient income contributes to the ongoing instability of families. Mr. Handler spoke in support of raising the minimum wage, and Dr. Mian suggested that instead of being incrementally increased by Congress, the federal minimum wage be indexed to inflation. However, Mr. Cox said in his testimony, “Minimum wage does not pencil out for the breadwinner of the family. How can the government expect me to earn minimum wage, pay daycare for my Down’s syndrome boy, and put food on the table?” An archived hearing webcast and all witness testimony are available at: http://1.usa.gov/17lTiKl