While our economy continues to recover, millions of Americans still struggle to find work, put food on the table, or provide for their children’s education. Unfortunately, much of the recent government funding debates have centered on funding cuts that reduce the deficit at the expense of programs designed to generate economic opportunity for all.

Instead of investing in our families and our workforce, Republicans continue to hand out expensive tax breaks for billionaires and corporations that ship jobs overseas. Instead of working with Democrats to pass bills that grow our economy and strengthen our middle class, Republicans seem determined to waste precious time on ideologically driven bills that do nothing for American families. Millions of dollars have already been lost out of the Commonwealth’s economy as House Republicans continue to block attempts to guarantee wage fairness, extend unemployment insurance, and raise the minimum wage.

That is why I voted no on the Ryan Budget and yes on the budget introduced by the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The Better off Budget reverses harmful cuts that have hit working families the hardest—starting with repealing across-the-board budget cuts known as sequestration. It creates a fairer tax code so that low and middle-income families no longer pay more than they should while the world’s biggest corporations benefit from unnecessary loopholes. The Better off Budget reverses harmful pay freezes, expands benefits for retirees and strengthens health care and retirement programs Americans rely on.

I will continue to fight for a budget that gets back to doing the hard work of building an economy that works for everyone.