Skip to main content

Jobs & the Economy

Creating jobs and expanding economic opportunity continues to be Democrats’ top priority.

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.


Related

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement this afternoon after House Republicans again blocked a vote to raise the federal minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour over two years. Democrats believe there is majority support in the House for raising the minimum wage, so Democrats asked Republicans to join them in opposing the rule on the Science, State, Justice and Commerce (SSJC) Appropriations Bill to force a vote on an amendment to increase the minimum wage.
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) testified before the House Rules Committee this evening and called on the Committee to make in order an amendment to increase the minimum wage over two years. Hoyer offered an identical amendment to the FY07 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill that passed with seven Republican votes, yet the House Republican leadership has stalled floor consideration of the Labor-HHS bill. Below is the text of Whip Hoyer's remarks to the Rules Committee, as prepared for delivery:
House Republican leaders are putting off a vote on the $141.9 billion FY07 Labor-HHS bill that was expected next week, fueling speculation that they will try to keep a lid on the measure until after the November elections.
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today at an event with the bicameral Democratic leadership of Congress discussing Democrats' plan for taking America in a New Direction:
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after offering an amendment with Rep. Obey (WI), the Ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Mollohan (WV), the Ranking Democrat on the Science, State, Justice, and Commerce Subcommittee, to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25. Hoyer successfully offered the same amendment to the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill last week, which gave Democrats new momentum on the issue
Democratic Minimum Wage Amendment is Accepted
WASHINGTON - House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD) and Rep. George Miller (D-CA) released the following statements today:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The national minimum wage of $5.15 is now at its lowest level in 50 years when adjusted for inflation, according to a new analysis from the Center for Economic and Policy Research released by Rep. George Miller (D-CA) and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) today. The lawmakers said the unfortunate milestone should shame the U.S. Congress into finally acting on behalf of America’s lowest-paid workers.
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today following the announcement by the Department of Labor that only 75,000 jobs were added in May: