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.
The first priority for the 2nd session of Congress should be an extension of federal emergency unemployment insurance for people still searching for work.
“For the 1.4 million Americans who have lost emergency unemployment insurance and the thousands more who stand to lose them each week Congress fails to act, today’s Senate vote is a reminder that Democrats are still working hard on their behalf and will not give up until their benefits are restored.
I join in congratulating Janet Yellen on her confirmation as the next Chair of the Federal Reserve.
Congress’ first priority at the start of 2014 should be an extension of emergency unemployment insurance for millions of Americans still struggling to find work. Unfortunately, House Republicans don’t seem willing to take action to help people while the economy continues to improve. For example, Rep. Tom Cole recently stated:
“Our manufacturing sector continues to grow in spite of a lack of serious action by Congress to provide certainty and invest in competitiveness, and today’s report by the Institute for Supply Management ought to be taken as a call to action.
I thank the Speaker. Arguably, Mr. Speaker, this Congress is the least productive one in which I have served over the last 33 years, both from a humanitarian standpoint and an economic one. This Congress has earned the disdain of the American people, irrespective of their party affiliation.
Republicans, including Rep. Paul Ryan, are again threatening to not pay America's bills. So here comes another warning telling them what they should already know – that playing games with the debt ceiling puts our country’s economy at risk. From the New York Times:
The ink isn’t even dry on the budget deal, but Republicans are gearing up to hold our economy hostage over yet another debt ceiling fight. Now they’re publically discussing what they want to get in exchange for ensuring America pays its bills. The kicker? They don’t know what they want!
Here we go again… the budget agreement hasn’t even reached the President’s desk, and House Republicans are already threatening to default on our bills, which could cause another credit downgrade and further harm our economy. As the Hill reports:
First of all, let me say America is advantaged by having two people who work on the Budget Committee who have great intellect, great integrity and care about America: Mr. Ryan from Wisconsin and Mr. Van Hollen from Maryland.