Workforce and Labor

The workforce in Indiana’s Second District is among the very best in the world. From transmissions and electronics to manufactured homes and military Humvees, the quality products produced by Hoosier workers are critical to our economy and make the world a better place.

In recent months, however, the challenges posed by the current economy have fallen squarely on the shoulders of American workers and hometown Hoosier businesses. Unfortunately, the result has been thousands of lost jobs, reduced wages and benefits, and, in some cases, employers shutting down all together.

For this reason, I supported The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was designed to protect or create nearly 3.5 million jobs, jumpstart our economy, and put the United States back on the path to long-term growth. This package combines tax relief for middle-class families and small businesses with smart investments in infrastructure, education, and energy efficiency. More importantly, the package is designed to create or save jobs—nearly 75,000 in Indiana and 7,900 in the Second District.

I have long believed that a decent job with a living wage is the foundation upon which our families are built. Good jobs and fair wages make it possible to feed our families, educate our children, and retire in dignity. For this reason, I was a lead co-sponsor of legislation passed into law to increase the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour, benefiting nearly 13 million working Americans. In addition, I have voted to strengthen worker protections against pay discrimination. Equally as important, I am a strong believer that it is the right of every worker to organize and bargain collectively for fair pay, benefits, and appropriate working conditions.

As your congressman, I will continue to work hard to ensure that our businesses can compete on a level playing field and that American workers can share in the prosperity of the global economy.