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.
“Yesterday’s report by the Institute for Supply Management shows the resilience of America’s manufacturing sector. While manufacturing continues to expand, last month’s slowed growth makes it even more important for Congress to take meaningful action now to encourage businesses to Make It In America.
“I thank the Gentleman for yielding, and I rise in support of his substitute and in opposition to the so-called SKILLS Act.
We shouldn’t be surprised. According to POLITICO, despite Republicans’ support of the sequester, it turns out they don’t like these cuts when it impacts their districts:
“Republicans have been most prominent in seeking relief. Sen. Jerry Moran wants to shift $50 million to protect contract air-traffic control towers important to rural states like his own Kansas.”
The House Republican budget has been officially unveiled, and the reviews aren’t pretty. It appears that the early predictions were correct: while the Republican budget includes no major surprises, it does offer plenty of disappointment. The reaction so far is that the Republican budget cannot be taken seriously, it offers more of the same, targets the most vulnerable and leaves us with unanswered questions.
“The Republican budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2014, which Chairman Ryan introduced this morning, once again heaps the burden of deficit reduction onto the backs of those who can least afford it while asking nothing of those at the top. Yielding to the extreme wing of his party, which has demanded that he balance the budget in only ten years but refuses to consider any new revenues necessary to do so, Chairman Ryan flouts mathematics and fiscal common sense by imposing severe cuts to programs vital to seniors, women, veterans, federal employees, low-income families, and America’s middle class.
In what is likely to be the latest installment in a tragic budgetary trilogy, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan on Tuesday will introduce a Republican budget proposal for fiscal year 2014 that purports to balance within ten years. While an improved economic outlook and new revenue from the fiscal cliff deal make the task of balancing the budget somewhat easier, this plan, much like Ryan’s previous budgets, is expected to rely on spurious budget trickery to reach its goal.
Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan appears to have based his Republican budget proposal on fantasy instead of reality. While Rep. Ryan admits Republicans don’t want to refight the fiscal cliff battle, apparently refighting the Affordable Care Act isn’t off the table (yes, the same Affordable Care Act upheld by the Supreme Court). Here’s a look at some of the articles pointing out that this proposal is unrealistic:
Rep. Paul Ryan may not have officially unveiled his budget proposal yet, but he gave a pretty clear indication of his plans this weekend. As expected, it appears the Republican budget will be based on false realities, gimmicks, and rejected policies.
Prior to its unveiling next week, several economists, op-eds and news sources have been taking a look at the proposals Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan has discussed including in the House Republican Budget.
Next week, Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan and House Republicans are reportedly planning to put forward a budget that balances in 10 years. Rep. Ryan told the Wall Street Journal that we shouldn’t expect any big surprises, but we’ve still got plenty of questions about the fuzzy math and ambiguous spending cuts. Take a look at our top 10 questions for Rep. Ryan: