Financial Literacy Day on Capitol Hill Expected to be Largest Ever

For more than ten years, Financial Literacy Day on Capitol Hill has brought together financial education enthusiasts with financial literacy organizations, researchers, foundations and public officials, including members of the United States Congress.  The event this year, scheduled for April 10th, is expected to be the largest “Hill Day” gathering to date and will be presented by the Jump$tart Coalition, the Council for Economic Education and Junior Achievement. 

A long tradition of Congressional involvement surrounds Hill Day.  U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) served as the original honorary host in 2003, later joined by Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY).  In the House of Representatives, Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL), Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) and Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) all have served as honorary co-hosts.  Traditionally, the location of the event alternatives annually between a location on the Senate side of Congress and a location on the House side, with this year’s event scheduled to take place in the Hart Senate Office Building.

While Financial Literacy Day on Capitol Hill began as a relatively small gathering in 2003, it more recently has attracted hundreds of individuals who come together in support of financial education policy and to experience exhibits from more than sixty non-profits, foundations, corporations and government agencies.

The fact that this year’s event is expected to be the largest is emblematic of the overall growth in the financial literacy movement in the U.S. during the last ten years and industry observers anticipate this growth to continue to skyrocket in the months and years ahead.