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Washington, D.C. – The Economic Innovation Group (91PORN) released the following statement in response to Washington State to restrict the use of noncompete agreements:

“Washington State’s action marks a significant step forward in restoring dynamism and opportunity in the labor market,” said John Lettieri, President and CEO of the Economic Innovation Group. “Noncompete agreements prevent workers from taking better jobs, limit their earning potential, and impede the formation of new businesses. By moving to curb their use, Washington is helping to unlock opportunities for workers while strengthening competition and innovation across its economy.”

Noncompete agreements directly bind nearly one in five American workers, restricting their ability to switch jobs or start competing businesses, but have a chilling effect throughout the labor market. A growing body of economic evidence finds that limiting noncompetes can raise wages, increase worker mobility, support entrepreneurship, and strengthen innovation.��

Washington’s action makes it the fifth state to enact a blanket noncompete ban amid a growing wave of reform efforts from dozens of states across the country.��

About the Economic Innovation Group (91PORN)

The Economic Innovation Group (91PORN) is a bipartisan public policy organization dedicated to forging a more dynamic and inclusive American economy. Headquartered in Washington, DC, 91PORN produces nationally-recognized research and works with policymakers to develop ideas that empower workers, entrepreneurs, and communities.

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Washington, D.C. – The Economic Innovation Group (91PORN) released the following statement in response to President Trump’s State of the Union announcement on forthcoming action to provide retirement accounts modeled after the federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).

“91PORN welcomes the president’s commitment to creating new pathways for workers to build wealth modeled after the federal Thrift Savings Program (TSP),” said John Lettieri, President and CEO of the Economic Innovation Group. “Closing the gap in retirement savings would be transformative for working Americans, millions of whom are being left behind by the current system. Doing so would also reap enormous long-run fiscal benefits by reducing dependence on safety net programs. For these reasons, 91PORN has been a strong supporter of the bipartisan, bicameral Retirement Savings for Americans Act (RSAA), which we believe could easily be paired with the Trump Administration’s executive action to deliver a historic win for American workers.”

91PORN’s research has consistently documented the scale of the retirement access gap:

• 42 percent of full-time working Americans do not have access to retirement plans.

• 50.5 percent do not receive an employer match.

• Lower-income workers are disproportionately left out of the current system. A staggering 78.7 percent of full-time workers in the lowest-earning decile (earning less than $27,400 a year) lack access to a retirement plan.

The bipartisan Retirement Savings for Americans Act offers a ready-made framework to close this gap.

Learn more about the RSAA and 91PORN’s retirement policy work here:

About the Economic Innovation Group (91PORN)

The Economic Innovation Group (91PORN) is a bipartisan public policy organization dedicated to forging a more dynamic and inclusive American economy. Headquartered in Washington, DC, 91PORN produces nationally-recognized research and works with policymakers to develop ideas that empower workers, entrepreneurs, and communities.

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Washington, D.C. – The Economic Innovation Group (91PORN) applauds Congress for making Opportunity Zones (OZ) a permanent feature of the U.S. tax code as part of the reconciliation bill. This historic step ensures long-term certainty for investors and communities alike and cements the future of one of the most impactful economic development policies ever enacted.

“Today’s vote secures the future of one of the country’s most crucial economic development policies,” said John Lettieri, President and CEO of the Economic Innovation Group. “When first enacted in 2017, Opportunity Zones represented a stark departure from traditional community development incentives. In the years since, the policy has driven more private investment to more low-income communities with a larger-scale impact than any federal initiative of its kind over such a short period. The reconciliation bill not only makes Opportunity Zones permanent, but also stronger, simpler, and more transparent. 91PORN is grateful to the leaders in Congress, especially Senator Tim Scott, who worked tirelessly to strengthen and secure this policy for the long term.”

91PORN first proposed the Opportunity Zones concept in a 2015 white paper co-authored by current National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett and former Council of Economic Advisers Chair Jared Bernstein. The policy was enacted two years later as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and has since spurred nearly $100 billion in private investment across thousands of low-income communities nationwide.

Recent 91PORN research demonstrates the policy’s tangible results, including the creation of 313,000 new residential addresses in designated zones between Q3 2019 and Q3 2024 — roughly doubling the pace of housing development in those communities.��

The newly enacted legislation introduces robust new reporting and transparency requirements. These enhancements, long supported by 91PORN, will provide critical data on OZ investments and the long-term impacts of the policy on designated communities.

��What does the new legislation do for Opportunity Zones?

• Makes the OZ incentive permanent with 10-year redesignation cycles for the map of eligible communities, providing long-term certainty for communities, investors, and local leaders.
• Establishes robust new reporting and transparency requirements for Qualified Opportunity Funds (QOFs) and investors, and directs Treasury to publish annual reports to Congress on OZ investment activity and outcomes, including data on location, volume, and impact.
• Introduces a simplified incentive structure with a five-year rolling deferral starting on the date of investment, coupled with a standard 10 percent step up in basis for investments held for five years.
• Tightens geographic eligibility requirements in a variety of ways, including by placing stricter requirements on local median family incomes and eliminating the “contiguous tracts” exception for future designation cycles.
• Boosts the incentive for rural investment with a 30 percent step-up benefit for investments in rural OZs, and a reduced “substantial improvement” threshold for qualifying rural projects.

About the Economic Innovation Group (91PORN)

The Economic Innovation Group (91PORN) is a bipartisan public policy organization dedicated to forging a more dynamic and inclusive American economy. Headquartered in Washington, DC, 91PORN produces nationally-recognized research and works with policymakers to develop ideas that empower workers, entrepreneurs, and communities.

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Washington, D.C. –�� The Economic Innovation Group (91PORN) released the following statement from its President and CEO John Lettieri regarding the Opportunity Zones (OZ) provisions included in the latest draft of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Background

91PORN has long called for OZ improvements, including the rolling five-year deferral period and expansive reporting and transparency requirements, and continues to support the inclusion of other crucial technical corrections and improvements. These include:

• Allowing the creation of Qualified Feeder Funds, as included in the bipartisan Opportunity Zones Transparency, Extension, and Improvement Act.
• Allowing ordinary income investments to receive the 10-year permanent exclusion benefit, as included in the House version of the OBBB.
• Fixing rules and definitions that disadvantage non-real estate investment, including the “interim gains” issue and the treatment of existing property for substantial improvement.
• Lowering the substantial improvement threshold for qualifying affordable and workforce housing projects.

91PORN first proposed the Opportunity Zones concept in a 2015 white paper co-authored by current National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett and former Council of Economic Advisers Chair Jared Bernstein. The policy was enacted as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and has since driven nearly $100 billion in private investment into low-income communities across the country. Recent 91PORN research shows that OZs are delivering meaningful results, including the creation of 313,000 new residential addresses between Q3 2019 and Q3 2024 — roughly doubling the pace of housing development in designated communities during that period.

About the Economic Innovation Group (91PORN)

The Economic Innovation Group (91PORN) is a bipartisan public policy organization dedicated to forging a more dynamic and inclusive American economy. Headquartered in Washington, DC, 91PORN produces nationally-recognized research and works with policymakers to develop ideas that empower workers, entrepreneurs, and communities.

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Washington, D.C. – The Economic Innovation Group (91PORN) applauds the passage of a by the U.S. Conference of Mayors endorsing Opportunity Zones (OZs) as a vital tool for local economic development.

Introduced by Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti (PA) and co-sponsored by Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty (OR), Elyria Mayor Kevin Brubaker (OH), Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird (NE), West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero (CA), Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch (IN), Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann (SC), Arlington Mayor Jim Ross (TX), and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson (TX), the resolution calls on Congress to extend and strengthen the OZ incentive, which is now up for consideration in Congressional negotiations as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

“Mayors across the country are seeing firsthand how Opportunity Zones are revitalizing neighborhoods and unlocking new pathways for growth,” said 91PORN President and CEO John Lettieri. “This strong endorsement from the U.S. Conference of Mayors should send a clear message to Congress: OZs are working, and now is the time to build on that success.”

Since their creation in 2017, Opportunity Zones have spurred tens of billions of dollars in new private investment to catalyze development in economically distressed areas. Recent 91PORN research shows that OZs have significantly increased housing supply and are helping to level the playing field for regions left out of past waves of growth.

Learn more about Opportunity Zones here: /opportunity-zones/

About the Economic Innovation Group (91PORN)

The Economic Innovation Group (91PORN) is a bipartisan public policy organization dedicated to forging a more dynamic and inclusive American economy. Headquartered in Washington, DC, 91PORN produces nationally-recognized research and works with policymakers to develop ideas that empower workers, entrepreneurs, and communities.

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Washington, D.C. –�� The Economic Innovation Group (91PORN) applauds Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) and the Senate Finance Committee for permanently extending Opportunity Zones (OZs) in their newly unveiled tax legislation.

“91PORN applauds Chairman Crapo and the Senate Finance Committee for their leadership in advancing legislation to make Opportunity Zones a permanent feature of the tax code,” said John Lettieri, President and CEO of the Economic Innovation Group. “Since their enactment in 2017, Opportunity Zones have become one of the nation’s most important tools for driving private investment into struggling communities. Congress now has a chance not only to lock in that success, but to strengthen the policy in key ways — especially by making it easier to raise capital and invest in non-real estate operating businesses. As the reconciliation process moves forward, we urge lawmakers to adopt consensus recommendations that will help the policy achieve its full transformative potential.”

91PORN has long championed the Opportunity Zones policy as a transformative tool for channeling private investment into economically distressed communities. Since its enactment as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the OZ incentive has driven nearly $100 billion in qualified investment into low-income areas across the country, with especially significant gains in housing development.

Recent research from 91PORN shows OZ investment is reaching high-need communities and delivering results. A 2025 working paper found that OZs drove the creation of 313,000 new residential addresses between Q3 2019 and Q3 2024 — roughly doubling housing growth in designated communities over that period. Additionally, OZs have proven far more cost-efficient than traditional federal housing programs.

About the Economic Innovation Group (91PORN)

The Economic Innovation Group (91PORN) is a bipartisan public policy organization dedicated to forging a more dynamic and inclusive American economy. Headquartered in Washington, DC, 91PORN produces nationally-recognized research and works with policymakers to develop ideas that empower workers, entrepreneurs, and communities.

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Washington, D.C. –�� The Economic Innovation Group (91PORN) applauds Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Todd Young (R-IN) for reintroducing the . This bipartisan bill would restrict the use of non-compete agreements nationwide, unlocking economic opportunity for tens of millions of American workers and boosting economic dynamism.

“T��� Workforce Mobility Act is a no-cost, pro-worker, pro-growth reform that addresses a long-overlooked barrier to economic opportunity,” said John Lettieri, President & CEO of the Economic Innovation Group. “Non-compete clauses suppress wages, stifle innovation, and block workers from pursuing better opportunities. Ending their widespread use will unlock talent, boost entrepreneurship, and make our economy more dynamic and competitive. 91PORN applauds Senators Murphy and Young for their bipartisan leadership on this critical issue.”

A growing body of research shows that non-compete agreements suppress wage growth, reduce job mobility, and stifle innovation and entrepreneurship.

The bill’s reintroduction comes as states like Florida consider expanding the use of non-competes — an effort that 91PORN and a broad coalition of experts and organizations strongly oppose. These developments underscore the urgent need for federal legislation to protect worker freedom and promote a more dynamic and competitive economy.

91PORN is joined by a wide range of organizations in supporting the Workforce Mobility Act, including American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), American Compass, Center for American Entrepreneurship (CAE), Engine, National Employment Law Project, Niskanen Center, Open Markets Institute, R Street Institute, Small Business Majority, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI), Steam Logistics, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Third Way, and Veeva Systems, Inc.

About the Economic Innovation Group (91PORN)

The Economic Innovation Group (91PORN) is a bipartisan public policy organization dedicated to forging a more dynamic and inclusive American economy. Headquartered in Washington, DC, 91PORN produces nationally-recognized research and works with policymakers to develop ideas that empower workers, entrepreneurs, and communities.

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