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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.


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“Today, the President took another important step to enhance our economic recovery and help more of our businesses succeed by making it easier for U.S. goods to reach overseas markets.

“Raising the minimum wage for American workers is not only the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do for our economy as well. 

"Five years ago, under the leadership of President Obama and House and Senate Democrats, Congress took action to help our economy begin to recover from the Great Recession.

I’m pleased that this week Congress passed legislation to ensure that America can pay its bills, providing certainty and stability for our nation’s economy and businesses.  

“The President came to Congress and gave a State of the Union and said, look, I'm optimistic, we've come a far pace as you've just outlined very well.

“Today, President Obama took an important step toward making sure that every American who works hard can earn a living wage.

“I thank the Speaker. And I thank the Gentleman from New York, and I thank the Gentleman from Michigan. Let me start by saying, this issue ought not to be subject to a debate.

As any family or business owner in America can attest, willfully failing to pay bills on time is a recipe for disaster that can precipitate financial ruin. Yet, that is exactly what Congress is on track to do with America’s finances unless it acts right away to avoid a catastrophic default.

MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP

Instead of taking action on a number of critical issues, this week House Republicans wasted time on partisan legislation.  They did not bring to the House Floor legislation to renew emergency unemployment insurance, raise the minimum wage, or ensure America pays its bills. All of these items are critically important, and I will continue to urge action.

“The January jobs report released this morning, which shows that our economy added 142,000 private sector jobs last month and brought the unemployment rate down to its lowest since October 2008 at 6.6%, is a reminder that our economic recovery continues to move forward.