The Issues
Jobs & Economy
In 2008, our nation faced the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. President Obama and Democrats took emergency action to restore confidence in our financial system and boost private sector job creation. Thanks to that critical leadership, the economy has added 9.4 million jobs in 51 consecutive months of job growth.
Our economy continues to move in the right direction, but there is still more that needs to be done. House Democrats are committed to pursuing America’s top priorities: creating jobs, strengthening the middle class, and building an economy that works for all Americans, not just the wealthy and well-connected.
Right now, the average CEO continues to make more in one day that a minimum wage worker makes all year, women continue to earn less than men for the same job, and Republicans continue to push budget priorities that champion wealthy corporations over hardworking families. It’s time to reignite the true engine of America’s economic growth—a rising, thriving middle class. By helping small businesses expand, hire, and create new jobs; by supporting education and job training for a 21st century workforce; and by investing in the innovative spirit of American entrepreneurs, we will strengthen and expand the middleclass and build the prosperity, security and opportunity the American people deserve.
WHAT DEMOCRATS ARE DOING
To grow our economy and create good-paying jobs for millions of Americans, House Democrats are committed to passing initiatives that will move America forward. House Republicans, however, have failed to pass a single jobs bill—denying a vote on the country’s top economic priorities. That is why House Democrats have filed discharge petition to demand a vote to:
- Raise the national minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour.
- Pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that gives women the tools to fight for equal pay for equal work.
- Renew emergency unemployment insurance for more than 3 million Americans, including 300,000 veterans, who lost their jobs through no fault of their own.
- Pass comprehensive immigration reform, which will create an average of 159,000 jobs a year and reduce the deficit by $820 billion over 20 years.
While Republicans continue to obstruct crucial investments in the economy, House Democrats are championing proposals that will invest in the key pillars of job creation: American manufacturing, American infrastructure, and American workers.
Our ‘Make It In America agenda’ focuses on creating the best conditions for our businesses to produce, innovate, and create jobs here in the United States. The agenda includes:
- Adopting & pursuing a national manufacturing strategy: Right now, American manufacturers are facing international competitors that benefit from other nations’ carefully crafted manufacturing strategies. America needs a comprehensive strategy that includes tax incentives, investments in research, skills development initiatives, and support for infrastructure projects in order to help American manufacturers thrive.
- Promoting the export of U.S. goods: We must do more to empower American manufacturers to sell their products overseas. That requires reliable physical and telecommunications infrastructure, enforcement of fair trading rules, and targeted assistance to compete successfully in global markets.
- Encouraging businesses to bring American jobs and innovation back to the United States: In order to maintain a strong economy and remain the world’s leader in innovation, we must encourage businesses to move jobs and innovation back to the U.S., and keep them here. When manufacturing moves overseas, innovation follows.
- Training & securing a 21st century workforce: American businesses can only remain competitive when they have the trained and educated workers they need. We must strengthen our education and skills-training programs to make sure our workers are getting the preparation and certifications they need, and we ought to ensure that all those we train in high-demand skills have an opportunity to find work and contribute to our economy.
Learn more about the Make It In America agenda here.
Today, women account for more than half of our workforce and are more and more likely to be the breadwinners in their families. For our economy to truly thrive, we must unleash thepower of America’s women. That is why House Democrats are working to unlock the full promise of our future with our economic agenda for women and families: “When Women Succeed, America Succeeds”
The agenda stands on three pillars:
- Fair Pay: More than fifty years after President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law, women continue to face wage discrimination and earn less than a living wage as minimum wage workers. The Women Succeed agenda addresses the persistent wage gap by calling on Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act and an increase in the national minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10.
- Work and Family Balance: Workers around the world earn paid sick leaves—except in the U.S. In fact, we are the only industrialized nation that fails to provide paid family leave. The Women Succeed agenda includes the FAMILY Act and the Healthy Families Act, legislation that would provide paid sick leave and paid family leave for hardworking families.
- Affordable Child Care: The lack of quality pre-school has reached crisis proportions in America. The women succeed agenda would extend the child care tax credit and expand and fund affordable, quality child care.
Learn more about the When Women Succeed, America Succeeds agenda here.