Jobs & the Economy
Throughout the 117th Congress, House Democrats have partnered with President Biden to enact policies that expand economic opportunity for businesses, workers, and communities across America. Under President Biden and Congressional Democrats, the unemployment rate is at its lowest in more than 50 years with more than 10 million jobs created, helping more of our people get ahead in today’s economy and Make It In America.
Democrats pursue an economic agenda that helps American businesses create good-paying jobs and ensure that workers have the tools not only to get by but to get ahead in our global economy. From raising the minimum wage to providing skills training and apprenticeship opportunities to ensuring equal pay for equal work, from making childcare more affordable to making it easier to save for retirement, Democrats’ economic policies are aimed at helping workers and their families attain real economic security at every stage of life.
Democrats have also delivered historic legislation investing in infrastructure and greater access to high-speed internet, taking the lead in the clean-energy economy, and supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. The generational Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has already begun to expand economic opportunity for Americans in communities across the country and takes action to repair our nation’s roads, bridges, ports, and other infrastructure while creating nearly 1.5 million jobs annually over the next decade. It contains the first major American investment in climate resilience to help communities upgrade their critical infrastructure and mitigate the impact of climate change-driven extreme weather. Likewise, the Inflation Reduction Act also advances America’s clean energy goals, turbocharging clean energy research and transmission while promoting electric vehicle domestic manufacturing to reduce American dependence on gasoline while revitalizing our auto industry.
The CHIPS and Science Act includes bipartisan measures to revitalize the domestic semiconductor industry and spur research. By strengthening domestic supply chains, this law acts directly to accelerate American innovation in the long-term while acting immediately to address inflation and create good paying jobs. House Democrats will continue to champion skills training and education at every level – from early childhood learning through higher education – to prepare our people for success and advancement in a changing economy. In all of these efforts, Democrats will continue to look for ways to make access to opportunities more equitable and to combat the lingering effects of legalized discrimination that continue to make it harder for minorities to access credit for loans, seek investment capital for startups, and build wealth to pass on to the next generation.
With historic job creation under President Biden, House Democrats will continue to advance policies that expand economic opportunity for working families, support small businesses, and create better-paying jobs.
What we're seeing, Lawrence, in my opinion, is a very sorry and irresponsible spectacle of holding America’s credit worthiness, and very frankly the interest of every American, hostage to an increase in the debt limit, which simply says America’s going to pay its bills. What has been offered by Speaker Boehner is a formula that he has rejected, and Mr. cantor have both rejected, saying that if we did just incremental, every six months or every eight months, it would keep the economy roiled and it wouldn't grow. And I think they were absolutely right then, but for political reasons simply to put the President in a corner, they have said no to every deal, to every compromise, to every effort to move this forward to adopt responsible policies which will protect the credit of the United States.
Today, both Majority Leader Reid and Speaker Boehner released proposals on America’s debt limit. Throughout negotiations over the debt limit, Democrats have been more than willing to make hard choices and compromise for the good of our nation, so that America can pay the bills it has incurred; by contrast, Republicans have repeatedly shown themselves willing to drive our nation into a job-destroying default unless they can succeed in enacting 100% of their ideological agenda.
The American public was concerned mainly about two things in this last election: jobs, trying to get opportunities for themselves and their children and young people to earn a living, and the deficit that confronts this country. Those were the two items that they were very focused on and concerned about, and I think almost everybody on this floor shares their concerns. I got no message from any voter that I ought to come to congress and undermine the air, water, and land that they survive on, recreate on, and rely on for the quality of their lives. Not one constituent, whether he or she voted for me or against me, said that we should undermine the protections of our land and water and air. Not one. However, that is what we're dealing with today: not jobs, not deficits, but undermining the integrity of our air, our water, and our land.
Pop Quiz for Senator Bob Corker (R-TN):
Which option will keep us from defaulting?
A. Compromise on a balanced package that includes revenues and spending cuts, and increase the debt limit
OR
B. Chill out
Sen. Corker’s Response: B
Wanted to be sure you saw this White House blog post by White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer highlighting Republican opposition to short term debt limit increases. In a quick turnaround, Republicans are arguing for short-term extensions of the debt limit, which would put our economic security at risk and create uncertainty for businesses and the markets.
I am extremely disappointed that once again Speaker Boehner and House Republicans have chosen to walk away from talks to reach a comprehensive deficit reduction plan. It is my understanding that Speaker Boehner made an offer for a long-term comprehensive solution, which he's stated he is for, and that the President supports. Unfortunately, included in Speaker Boehner’s offer was an unrelated demand that a portion of the Affordable Care Act be repealed - which would neither help America pay its bills or reduce the deficit.
Tomorrow marks the 200th day of Republican control of the House of Representatives and they have still not produced a comprehensive jobs plan. With millions of Americans out of work, Republicans have failed to put forth an agenda to create jobs, despite their campaign promises. We cannot afford to wait any longer.
Today, the Department of Defense certified the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ a discriminatory policy that weakened our military; the policy’s repeal will officially go into effect in 60 days. ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is coming to an end because the views of our troops, the judgment of our military leaders, and the experience of our allies has made one thing clear: open service by gay and lesbian troops does not harm military readiness or effectiveness. With this policy at an end, gay and lesbian troops can serve our country openly, and all Americans will benefit from their patriotism, service, and willingness to sacrifice. I was proud to take a leading role in the legislative struggle to end ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ because it was both the right and smart thing to do. May all of America’s men and women in uniform, gay and straight, continue to serve with the courage and honor characteristic of our Armed Forces.
When Republicans took the House majority, they pledged to focus on creating jobs and growing the economy. But after 200 days, Republicans have only passed one jobs bill—the patent reform bill, which is part of Democrats’ Make It In America agenda to support invention and innovation in our economy. But one jobs bill is not enough to help the millions of Americans still out of work. Republicans have still not put forward a comprehensive jobs agenda.
As Republicans continue to dig their heels in, putting our economic security at risk in order to protect tax cuts for the wealthy, time is running out to ensure that we pay America’s bills and avoid the catastrophic consequences that default would have on our economy.