Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez has served on the Joint Economic Committee since 2005. This Committee was established by the Employment Act of 1946 and is a bicameral Congressional Committee composed of ten members from each the Senate and the House of Representatives. Its main purpose is to make a continuing study of matters relating to the US economy. The Committee holds hearings, performs research and advises Members of Congress.

Prior to serving in Congress, Rep. Sanchez worked extensively in the finance sector. This experience has enabled her to make unique and insightful contributions to the Joint Economic Committee's work.

Through the Joint Economic Committee, Rep. Sanchez has participated in numerous hearings examining economic indicators, including quarterly hearings to receive testimony from the Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Particularly during the last year, the Federal Reserve's growing role in stabilizing the financial sector and helping to turn the economy around has made the Joint Economic Committee's oversight hearings with the Federal Reserve Board Chairman Bernanke more important than ever.

Through the wide variety of hearings held by the Joint Economic Committee Rep. Sanchez has been able to examine ongoing economic issues, and items that could become critical in the future including:

• The subprime mortgage crisis
• Commercial real estate defaults
• The implementation and operation of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP)
• Predatory lending
• Unemployment
• The gender pay gap
• The importance of education for a strong economy
• Economic effects of the costly healthcare system
• Energy efficiency's positive economic impact