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.
“It is very disappointing that Senate Republicans continue to block the restoration of emergency unemployment assistance for 1.7 million Americans who are seeking work in a tough job market.
“Today’s announcement by the Commerce Department that 2013 was a record year for U.S. exports is a strong indicator that if Congress were to move forward with Make It In America legislation, the benefits to our economy and job creation would be tremendous.
“As you know, Mr. Leader, very well - as we all know - beginning tomorrow the Treasury Department will have to start using extraordinary measures because the authorization for the debt limit to be extended will end on the 7th.
“Tonight, House Democrats had the privilege of sitting down with President Obama for a productive discussion of Democrats’ shared agenda for the year ahead.
“The Budget and Economic Outlook report released this morning by the Congressional Budget Office makes it clear that, while our deficits have fallen significantly and our economy has grown since President Obama took office, Congress must work together to achieve deficit reduction while ensuring our economic gains are shared by the middle class.
The debt limit was suspended until February 7th, at which point the Treasury Department will have to take extraordinary measures to ensure America can pay its bills.
“For the eighth consecutive month our manufacturing sector continues to expand, in spite of the effects of the Republican-led government shutdown in October and the economic uncertainty caused by the looming deadline for our government to pay its bills and avoid default.
Here we go again…
Looks like House Republicans have not learned from their past mistakes, and once again are threatening to play games with our nation’s ability to pay its bills. According to Roll Call:
On Tuesday, President Obama stood before Congress and the American people to deliver a message of optimism borne from the progress we have made over the past five years recovering our economy from the Great Recession.
While Republicans continue to ignore millions of Americans still struggling to find work (some even claiming that “the situation has been dealt with”), a new report from the Economic Policy Institute shows that the percentage of the long-term unemployed remains above pre-recession highs in 41 states.