The Native Financial Education Coalition hosts its fifth annual policy briefing in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

The event brings together practitioners, advocates and policymakers to collaborate on ways to expand financial education and asset building opportunities in American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities This year's briefing will include a focus on the national economy.

The briefing takes place from 9:30am to 11:30am in Room 628 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building. Events sponsors are the First Nations Oweesta Corporation and the Anna E. Casey Foundation.

The agenda follows:

9:30 am
Coffee and Networking

10:00 am
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Elsie Meeks, NFEC Chair
Welcome from Event Sponsors
Annie E. Casey Foundation

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going
Elsie Meeks, NFEC Chair

Presentation of New Study “Borrowed Time: Use of Refund Anticipation Loans Among EITC Filers in Native Communities”
Leslie Parish, Center for Responsible Lending

Presentation of NFEC Policy Recommendations
Tracey Fischer, First Nations Oweesta Corporation
1. Expand Financial Education Opportunities
2. Combat Predatory Lending
3. Increase Utilization of Earned Income Tax Credits
4. Expand Savings Opportunities

Financial Education in Action
Jacqueline Johnson Pata, National Congress of American Indians

Award Presentation to NCAI Tribal Exchange Winners from Mescalero Apache Tribe, By Senator Tom Udall (invited)

11:30 am
Closing Remarks