Congresswoman Suzan DelBene

Representing the 1st District of Washington
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Jobs and the Economy

With working families and businesses still struggling in the midst of our fragile economic recovery, my top priority in Congress is creating jobs and building the foundation for long-term economic growth.

Our nation’s economic recovery continues to make progress; in 2012, payroll employment rose by more than 2 million and the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in four years.  But there are still too many Americans who can't find fulltime employment. By focusing on helping small business and local industries succeed, we’ll be able to create and grow more good paying jobs for years to come.

Growing our economy means investing in education, research, and infrastructure; equipping American workers with the skills they need to compete in the global economy; fixing our broken immigration system; pursuing a balanced approach to deficit reduction; reforming the tax code to ensure fairness for working families; and opening up new markets for U.S. exports.   

Long-term economic growth and prosperity require incentives and policies that encourage entrepreneurship and support innovation. Nowhere in the country is the impact of innovation on the economy more visible than in Washington’s 1st Congressional District, where our local industries ranging from aerospace, manufacturing, high-tech, agriculture, clean energy, and healthcare are driving the economy forward through innovation and entrepreneurship. This district builds the world’s best airplanes, grows the finest food and designs world class software.

To have strong, robust job growth, we must have an economy that works and provides access to opportunity for everyone. We must make investments in our education system that provide the training and skills workers need to be prepared for the jobs of today and tomorrow. We must also support our colleges and technical schools that can help develop our next generation of local farmers, manufacturers and innovators and lead to good jobs for the families of the 1st Congressional District.

With determination and a willingness to look past partisan divides, Congress must come together to find solutions to spur job growth, build strong communities and create an economy that works for everyone.

construction workers smiling

 

See also information on Jobs and resources for Businesses.

More on Jobs and the Economy

Oct 1, 2014 In The News

During the August district-work period, we traveled our districts in the states of Washington, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Illinois and met with small-business owners, entrepreneurs and middle-class families who desperately want to see a Congress focused on fostering an environment for job growth.

Oct 1, 2014 In The News

Dozens of people who helped clean up in the aftermath of the Oso landslide are about to lose their jobs.

But they're hoping the experience they gained through that disaster will help them start a new chapter in life.

"In Darrington, you have the mill, and IGA, and a couple gas stations, but that's about it," said 19-year-old Ward Hoftell, one of dozens of people in Snohomish County who've been working under a temporary Department of Labor grant, meant to provide jobs after the Oso landslide.

Sep 25, 2014 Press Release

Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and U.S. Representatives Adam Smith, Rick Larsen, Suzan DelBene, Derek Kilmer and Dennis Heck applauded an announcement by Washington Governor Jay Inslee that the state has been awarded $4.3M  in Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) Defense Industry Adjustment program funding to focus on the military and defense industry supply chain and the companies in the state that support the defense industry.

Sep 18, 2014 Press Release

Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Judy Chu (CA-27), and Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) introduced legislation aimed at giving women entrepreneurs equal treatment when it comes to starting and growing their own businesses. The “Women’s Small Business Ownership Act of 2014” would improve access to lending and increase business counseling and training services for women entrepreneurs, and give women-owned businesses the same level of access to federal contracts as other disadvantaged groups.  Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced companion legislation in the Senate in July.

Aug 25, 2014 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene welcomed an announcement from U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today that the USDA will begin taking applications from states for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) pilot program, which was included by Rep. DelBene in the Farm Bill reauthorization enacted earlier this year. The provision is based on a bill Rep. DelBene introduced called the Enhancing Employment and Training Through Education Act of 2013 (H.R. 1929).

Jul 18, 2014 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reps. Suzan DelBene, WA-01, and Rick Larsen, WA-02, praised the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement today that it will use its authority under the Clean Water Act to protect one of the world’s largest salmon fisheries in Bristol Bay, Alaska from the proposed Pebble Mine. The Bristol Bay salmon fishery supports thousands of jobs for Washington state fishers and processors.

Jul 11, 2014 Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Responding to a call from Congresswoman Suzan DelBene and local residents to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S.

Jul 11, 2014 In The News
Congresswoman Suzan DelBene is asking the Department of Homeland Security to take steps to cut back wait times at Whatcom County ports of entry, especially Point Roberts. And she’s getting results. 
 
In a July 7 letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske expressed concerns about “unacceptably long wait times.”
 
Jul 9, 2014 Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene this week called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to allocate the appropriate resources to reduce wait times and increase border crossing capacity in Whatcom County. DelBene urged CBP to take action in a letter sent to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson and CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske.

May 28, 2014 In The News

When discharged from military service, there are many things veterans have to adjust to in civilian life.

One of those things is re-entering the workforce.

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