Click here for the latest Sarbanes Standard - Small Business Edition
Congressman Sarbanes knows that many families are still struggling to make ends meet in these difficult times. Until our economy is working as it should for all Americans, creating jobs will remain his first priority. Long-term economic security will come from advancing strategies that invest in our infrastructure, reinvigorate our manufacturing sector, and increase our exports to world markets.
As a nation, we have allowed our critical infrastructure to deteriorate. This extends beyond our physical infrastructure—roads, bridges and public buildings—to include many of the core elements that made America great—our human capital, our vast natural resources and our civic institutions. By making targeted investments while addressing the massive fiscal challenges facing our nation, we can lay a foundation for continued American innovation, growth and prosperity.
Critical Physical Infrastructure
In the near-term, we can put Americans to work rebuilding our nation’s roads and bridges, public transportation, and water and sewer systems. This has been a focus since the outset of the recent recession but, thus far, we have only made a down payment on the vast infrastructure needs of our country. Because the unemployment rate in the construction industry remains high, this is the perfect opportunity to put those individuals back to work meeting those needs.
Environmental Infrastructure and Natural Resources
We must also invest in our energy infrastructure to relieve congestion on our electrical grid and create new capacity to generate energy from renewable resources. By developing a long term and sustainable energy strategy, we can address economic, national security, and environmental policy priorities in one fell swoop. We can diversify our energy portfolio and end our dependence on energy sources from volatile parts of the world. The potential for economic growth and energy savings is vast if we establish a framework for more Americans to invest in energy efficient and renewable energy technologies. Doing so will create thousands of new jobs in an emerging, growth industry; save billions of dollars in energy costs for consumers; and make significant progress in our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Human Capital
Civic Infrastructure
We also must not forget the importance of building our civic infrastructure. For over two hundred years, America’s democratic ideals have been our greatest asset. A government led by its citizens, when coupled with the tremendous economic power of the free market, produced the greatest period of prolonged economic expansion in human history. Service is one of the most effective ways to revitalize and energize a community. By leveraging volunteerism, it also reduces dependency on government solutions. We must invest in the programs like AmeriCorps, and Veterans Corps that provide additional resources to our nation’s veterans and Veteran Service Organizations.
Technological progress holds the greatest promise for a revitalized American manufacturing economy. For too long, America has misdirected its resources and our economy has been hampered by tremendous structural inefficiencies. America must move beyond an economy devoted to consumption. America must begin to make things again.
Maryland is home to a world-class array of government- and university-sponsored research facilities, yet we do not effectively leverage this tremendous asset to the benefit of Maryland’s economy. By linking scientists and researchers with entrepreneurs and investors, Maryland can be a national leader in the commercialization of research and the transfer of technology out of federal and university labs and into local businesses. Read my thoughts on a national manufacturing strategy here
Trade Policy
Unfortunately, our trade policies have long assumed that “free trade” is the same as “fair trade.” That assumption has touched off a race to the bottom where American jobs are shipped overseas to countries with non-existent labor standards or environmental protection laws. My highest priority is preserving high-wage jobs and increasing the competitiveness of American companies domestically and abroad. We must reset our nation’s trade policies to ensure that fairness and American values regarding worker rights guide U.S. trade agreements so that we can level the playing field for American businesses.
The choices we make should reflect a shared committment to building up the country and improving the quality of life for every American. In the coming days, we will continue to debate our priorities. At every stage of that process, my focus will be on creating jobs and pushing our country towards economic recovery. By taking action now on these fronts, we can literally build stronger communities and a more secure America.
Sarbanes Standard: Jobs & the Economy
Congressman Sarbanes knows that many families are still struggling to make ends meet in these difficult times. Until our economy is working as it should for all Americans, creating jobs will remain his first priority. Long-term economic security will come from advancing strategies that invest in our infrastructure, reinvigorate our manufacturing sector, and increase our exports to world markets.
As a nation, we have allowed our critical infrastructure to deteriorate. This extends beyond our physical infrastructure—roads, bridges and public buildings—to include many of the core elements that made America great—our human capital, our vast natural resources and our civic institutions. By making targeted investments while addressing the massive fiscal challenges facing our nation, we can lay a foundation for continued American innovation, growth and prosperity.
Critical Physical Infrastructure
In the near-term, we can put Americans to work rebuilding our nation’s roads and bridges, public transportation, and water and sewer systems. This has been a focus since the outset of the recent recession but, thus far, we have only made a down payment on the vast infrastructure needs of our country. Because the unemployment rate in the construction industry remains high, this is the perfect opportunity to put those individuals back to work meeting those needs.
Environmental Infrastructure and Natural Resources
We must also invest in our energy infrastructure to relieve congestion on our electrical grid and create new capacity to generate energy from renewable resources. By developing a long term and sustainable energy strategy, we can address economic, national security, and environmental policy priorities in one fell swoop. We can diversify our energy portfolio and end our dependence on energy sources from volatile parts of the world. The potential for economic growth and energy savings is vast if we establish a framework for more Americans to invest in energy efficient and renewable energy technologies. Doing so will create thousands of new jobs in an emerging, growth industry; save billions of dollars in energy costs for consumers; and make significant progress in our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Human Capital
By investing in education, health care and job training, we promote our greatest asset – the entrepreneurial American worker. Higher education should be an affordable and attainable goal for our children, which is why Congressman Sarbanes has worked hard to direct federal funding toward loans and grants. We also need workforce training that gives Americans the skills they need for real jobs that exist in our changing economy. Congressman Sarbanes has also focused on bolstering the health care workforce and making health care accessible to all.
We also must not forget the importance of building our civic infrastructure. For over two hundred years, America’s democratic ideals have been our greatest asset. A government led by its citizens, when coupled with the tremendous economic power of the free market, produced the greatest period of prolonged economic expansion in human history. Service is one of the most effective ways to revitalize and energize a community. By leveraging volunteerism, it also reduces dependency on government solutions. We must invest in the programs like AmeriCorps, and Veterans Corps that provide additional resources to our nation’s veterans and Veteran Service Organizations.
Technology and Innovation
Technological progress holds the greatest promise for a revitalized American manufacturing economy. For too long, America has misdirected its resources and our economy has been hampered by tremendous structural inefficiencies. America must move beyond an economy devoted to consumption. America must begin to make things again.
Maryland is home to a world-class array of government- and university-sponsored research facilities, yet we do not effectively leverage this tremendous asset to the benefit of Maryland’s economy. By linking scientists and researchers with entrepreneurs and investors, Maryland can be a national leader in the commercialization of research and the transfer of technology out of federal and university labs and into local businesses. Read my thoughts on a national manufacturing strategy hereTrade Policy
Unfortunately, our trade policies have long assumed that “free trade” is the same as “fair trade.” That assumption has touched off a race to the bottom where American jobs are shipped overseas to countries with non-existent labor standards or environmental protection laws. My highest priority is preserving high-wage jobs and increasing the competitiveness of American companies domestically and abroad. We must reset our nation’s trade policies to ensure that fairness and American values regarding worker rights guide U.S. trade agreements so that we can level the playing field for American businesses.
The choices we make should reflect a shared committment to building up the country and improving the quality of life for every American. In the coming days, we will continue to debate our priorities. At every stage of that process, my focus will be on creating jobs and pushing our country towards economic recovery. By taking action now on these fronts, we can literally build stronger communities and a more secure America.
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