Joe's Opportunity Agenda

Joe's Opportunity AgendaIn Joe’s maiden speech, he outlined an “Opportunity Agenda” to create more jobs and strengthen Indiana’s economy. Throughout his time in the Senate, he has worked on this four-point agenda: going all-in on American energy, helping workers hit the ground running by improving workforce development and training, investing in Indiana’s infrastructure, and keeping our state competitive through exports and innovations.

Going All-In: ENERGY

Joe thinks a strong domestic energy economy is at the foundation of our potential for economic success.  Affordable, reliable energy allows families to heat their homes and travel to work and school.  Affordable, reliable energy ensures businesses can manufacture products efficiently, on time, and can compete in the global economy.  And affordable, reliable American energy ensures that we are investing our money here at home rather than, each year, sending hundreds of billions of dollars overseas to buy energy that’s already here in the United States.  The production of affordable, reliable American energy here at home creates jobs here at home—not overseas.

  • In January 2013, Joe and a bipartisan coalition of senators wrote to President Obama advocating for the quick approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. Joe noted that he is a strong supporter of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, saying, “My work will not be done until every Hoosier who wants a job has a job, and the Keystone XL pipeline means jobs for American families and energy security for our country. The concerns President Obama cited when he originally denied a permit for the Keystone pipeline have been met, and he should allow the project to move forward.”
  • In May 2013, Senator Donnelly and Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) successfully passed an amendment to the 2013 Farm Bill that would address the increasing use of crops for biofuels by providing a base level of risk management.  Joe said, “...as many of Indiana’s farmers continue to contribute to our domestic energy security, I introduced an amendment to give the next generation of bioenergy crops access to base levels of risk management so that a logical safety net will be in place for producers.”  Their bipartisan amendment would amend the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program to offer coverage for crops producing feedstock for energy purposes. Further, the amendment would direct USDA to research and develop risk management tools for promising new sorghum crops. Joe’s efforts were supported by the Advanced Biofuels Association, Agriculture Energy Coalition, Advanced Ethanol Council, BIO, Growth Energy, National Sorghum Producers, and the Renewable Fuels Association.
  • In September 2013, Senator Donnelly and Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) introduced an amendment to S. 1392, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013, that would ensure that efforts to regulate carbon dioxide emissions are realistic about existing technology and do not negatively impact our economy.  Joe said, “If we don’t address these standards in a common sense way, the affordable, reliable energy that Hoosier families and businesses depend on is in doubt.  It is absolutely critical that the EPA understand the impact of these standards and the price their proposed regulation would ask Hoosiers to pay.  I urge the EPA to make sure that any NSPS regulation is something that reflects existing technology.  We can establish standards that protect our environment without hurting our economy.”
  • In November 2013, Joe responded to the EPA’s announcement that they will reduce the requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard for 2014, which is the law requiring a certain volume of renewable fuel in the overall fuel supply sold in the United States.  Renewable fuels include ethanol, cellulosic biofuel, biomass biodiesel, and other advanced biodiesels.  Joe said the production and use of biofuels that are grown and developed right here at home helps our economy and increases our national security by lessening our dependence on foreign oil.  He noted his frustration and disappointment that the EPA lowered the volume of renewable fuels required in our overall fuel supply.  He said that cutting the volume of renewable fuels required in our transportation fuel will hurt Indiana workers and hurt Indiana’s economy.
    • Joe brought EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to Indiana in November 2013 so she could hear directly from members of the Hoosier ag community on the importance of the RFS to the ag community and our state’s economy. 

Hitting the Ground Running: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING

Joe thinks it is very important that we help our workforce hit the ground running by improving workforce development and training.  The Department of Labor estimates that there are 4 million job openings in the United States right now, despite a national unemployment rate of 6.6% and millions of Americans looking for work.  Estimates by the Manufacturing Institute indicate there are as many as 600,000 job openings in our country that remain unfilled because employers are not able to find workers with the necessary skills to do that job.  

Joe thinks we must make a better effort to close this “skills gap,” as he often hears from Hoosier business owners, educators, and workers about the pressing need to have training available to match the needs of employers and help workers more quickly find good jobs.

  • In March 2013, Senator Donnelly joined Senators Kay Hagan (D-NC) and Dean Heller (R-NV) to introduce the AMERICA Works Act, which would modify existing federal training programs so that they place a priority on programs and certifications that are recognized and demanded by industry.   To help close the skills gap while not increasing federal spending, the AMERICA Works Act would modify the Workforce Investment Act, Perkins Career and Technical Education, and Trade Adjustment Assistance to prioritize the credentials that employers need now.  Joe noted that the improvements made in the AMERICA Works Act would be a benefit for both workers and employers, as workers would know that the time they spend training is more likely to lead to employment in a good-paying job, and employers would be more likely to hire people whom they know have the training they need to be productive on day one.
  • In October 2013, Senator Donnelly and Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) introduced the Skills Gap Strategy Act, which would direct the Secretary of Labor to develop a strategy to help close the “skills gap” by increasing on-the-job training and apprenticeship opportunities. It would encourage the Department of Labor to develop plans in consultation with the Departments of Commerce and Education to increase employer participation in education and workforce training.  The bill asks the Department of Labor to focus on solutions that utilize existing resources, programs, and personnel.

Investing in the Crossroads of America: INFRASTRUCTURE

In order to live up to Indiana’s “Crossroads of America” name, Joe thinks we need the best roads, the best rail, the best airports, and the best waterways—so we can continue to expand our logistics and other transportation industries.  Today, 22 percent of Indiana’s bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.  Seventeen percent of Indiana’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition.

  • In July 2013, Senator Donnelly joined Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) in introducing the Federal Permitting Improvement Act of 2013.  The bill, also supported by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Mike Enzi (R-WY), would cut red tape to improve the permitting process for big infrastructure projects, helping private industry create jobs in Indiana and across the country.  The Federal Permitting Improvement Act would improve the permitting process for major capital projects by improving coordination among agencies and deadline-setting for permitting decisions, enhancing transparency, and reducing litigation delays.  It would apply to construction activities with an investment of more than $25 million that require review by a federal agency.  It would not alter substantive standards or safeguards, but rather seeks to create a smarter, more transparent, and better-managed process for government review and approval of major capital projects. The legislation is endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AFL-CIO Building & Construction Trades, and Business Roundtable.
  • In November 2013, Joe joined other Great Lakes senators in an effort to improve navigation infrastructure in the Water Resources Development Act by sending a letter to conference committee leaders thanking them for their efforts and for advancing positions that will improve navigation infrastructure. The senators urged that the following priorities be included in the final conference report: dedicated harbor maintenance funding for the Great Lakes Navigation System (GLNS), authorization of the GLNS, and expanded uses of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund.  

Keeping Indiana Competitive: EXPORTS & INNOVATIONS

Joe thinks it is important that we keep Hoosier—and all American—businesses and industries competitive through the promotion of exports and innovation.  Indiana produces some of the best quality products in the world—from automobiles to agricultural products to medical devices—and we should continue to look for opportunities to sell these products to the world.  

Manufacturing accounts for more than 98% of Indiana’s exports, and manufactured goods exports support nearly 23% of Indiana’s manufacturing jobs, which is higher than the national average.  Small businesses account for nearly 17% of Indiana’s exports.  Joe thinks we need to do more to promote the good work of these Hoosier businesses, which includes promoting a global economy that is built on responsible and fair trade policies.  

  • Joe is a longtime supporter of cracking down on currency manipulation by foreign governments, which results in an unfair playing field for American manufacturers.  To address this issue, in June 2013, Joe cosponsored S. 1114, the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act, which would reform and enhance oversight of currency exchange rates, including new requirements that the Commerce Department investigate claims of undervalued foreign currency at the request of a U.S. industry. The bill would also use U.S. trade law to counter the economic harm to U.S. manufacturers caused by currency manipulation and includes tools to address the impact of currency misalignment on U.S. industries.
  • In September 2013, Joe joined Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and others in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and United States Trade Representative Michael Froman regarding foreign currency manipulation.  The letter urged them to address foreign currency manipulation in the current Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations.  
  • In late October 2013, Donnelly led a letter with Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and then testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) regarding the importance of maintaining existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders against unfairly traded imports of hot-rolled steel. These trade orders help maintain a level playing field for an already vulnerable domestic steel industry. In December 2013, Joe welcomed the ITC announcement that it will maintain the existing orders against unfairly traded imports of hot-rolled steel.
  • Also in December 2013, Senator Donnelly and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) led a group of senators in an effort to note the importance of addressing barriers to market access for American pork producers in the TPP.  The bipartisan group of senators wrote to United States Trade Representative Michael Froman and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack outlining the importance of exports to the economic well-being of U.S. pork producers and the U.S. economy as a whole.  They asked Ambassador Froman and Secretary Vilsack that, as part of the TPP agreement, all tariffs and non-tariff barriers on pork in TPP partner nations be eliminated.

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