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.
On National Minimum Wage Day, I join with workers, businesses, and advocates across the country in renewing the call for Congress to take up and pass the Fair Minimum Wage Act.
The monthly budget review released yesterday by the Congressional Budget Office showed that our nation’s deficit continues to decline.
Earlier today, Speaker Boehner shared a list of his ideas on how to create jobs. There was just one problem… it was completely empty:
As we mark National Manufacturing Day, Americans ought to be filled with pride in our role as the world's manufacturing leader.
September’s jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that our economy added 236,000 private sector jobs, marking the fifty-fifth consecutive month of growth, and the unemployment rate fell to 5.9% - the first time it has dropped below 6% since July 2008.
On their last day of session before the November election, House Republicans brought to the Floor exactly the same kind of partisan messaging bills that they have wasted time on throughout the 113th Congress.
Last night’s vote on H.R. 2996 to authorize a national network of manufacturing institutes was an important Make It In America priority, and I want to thank Rep. Joe Kennedy for his leadership in working across the aisle to achieve this victory for America’s manufacturers.
WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer and House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Maxine Waters today sent a letter to the House Democratic Caucus opposing House Republicans’ strategy to kill the Export-Import Bank and re-affirming their support for a multi-year authorization of the Bank that will provide certainty to businesses.
Below is the full text of the letter:
September 12, 2014
Mr. Speaker, September should be a particularly important month for this House. It will be a month of contrast. It will be a month in which the American people will be able to see that the Republican message to the American people is ‘you're on your own,’ while Democrats say ‘we're on your side.’
As we move toward the end of the 113th Congress, here’s a look back at House Republicans’ failed record when it comes to addressing job creation and supporting economic growth, despite their promises to make both issues top priorities.