House committee announces release of documentary film

The House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth on Thursday announced it would release a documentary film to showcase the issues it aims to address, entitled "Grit & Grace: The Fight for the American Dream."

The film runs for 30 minutes and will debut on Dec. 13 with a screening at the National Archives, according to a committee press release. Emmy award-winning actress Sarah Jessica Parker narrates the film, which focuses on three tales of achieving economic security in America.

"This project is personal to me,” Parker said. "As someone who grew up in a family that experienced economic hardship firsthand, this was a unique opportunity to share stories of dignity and strength, shedding light on hardworking individuals across our country in their pursuit of the American Dream."

"In this era of deep division, the need for empathy among Americans couldn't be more important. I see this film as a vehicle for the kind of compassion and mutual understanding that's missing amid this polarized time," she continued.

Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the committee chair, said of the film that "[t]here is immense power and wisdom in personal stories... Only so much can be learned from the dense jargon and obscure statistics inundating Capitol Hill."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi established the committee in 2021 to research solutions to the "prosperity gap." The committee will present its final report to Congress in December.