Jobs and the Workforce
As a life long owner of a union printing business, a staunch defender of worker’s rights and a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, I believe Congress has a responsibility to take proactive and commonsense measures that can provide business owners with certainty, promote economic growth, and create jobs for Wisconsinites. I want to make strategic investments in education, research and development and infrastructure, and to support small business owners who create jobs in our communities. I have made creating jobs a number one priority and will fight to put Wisconsinites back to work and ensure long-term, sustainable growth that will power our economy for years to come.
As a small business owner who has seen the effects of massive trade deals and their impact on American products, I have also been a leader in fighting for fair trade deals that protect American jobs and American industries. Twenty years after the NAFTA trade deal was signed, the U.S. has a $181 billion trade deficit with Mexico and Canada and a related loss of one million net U.S. jobs, according to Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch. Recently, I led a letter with 35 other freshman lawmakers calling for increased transparency from the administration on Trans-Pacific Partnership, a Pacific Rim trade deal, and urging Congress not to give up our constitutional authority to oversee foreign trade agreements.
I am also a strong proponent of raising the minimum wage and am a cosponsor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013, which would raise the minimum wage, over the span of two years, to $10.10 an hour.
More on Jobs and the Workforce
WASHINGTON, DC—Four leading members of Congress today called on United States Trade Representative Michael Froman to ensure “real, meaningfully enforceable labor protections” are included in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Democratic Representatives Rosa DeLauro, George Miller, Loretta Sanchez and Mark Pocan also requested a status update from Ambassador Froman so they can better understand what measures and assurances are being discussed as part of the TPP negotiations, which have been conducted largely in secret.
MADISON— Last week, Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) sent a letter, with Reps. Gwen Moore (WI-04) and Ron Kind (WI-03), urging Governor Walker to apply for a Preschool Development Expansion Grant. Unfortunately, Governor Scott Walker failed to submit an application before Wednesday’s deadline depriving Wisconsin of up to $60 million for preschool programs.
MADISON – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) will speak this evening at SEIU’s Raise the Wage Rally on the State Capitol steps at 5:30 p.m. Rep. Pocan will join with hard-working Wisconsinites to demand Governor Scott Walker raise the minimum wage from $7.25.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today U.S. Reps. Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Gwen S. Moore (WI-04) wrote Governor Scott Walker to request details about his proposal to require mandatory drug testing for recipients of FoodShare and Unemployment Insurance. The signed letter is available here.
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI), a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, along with Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member George Miller (D-CA), and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the Promoting Apprenticeships for Credentials and Employment Act (PACE Act), a new bill that would support greater development of registered apprenticeship programs.
Madison, WI — U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, today released the following statement in support of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and striking fast food workers across the country who are calling for an increase in the minimum wage:
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, today released the following statement after President Obama signed an executive order enhancing workplace protections for federal contractors. A fact sheet from the White House is attached and available online here.
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 5021, the Highway and Transportation Funding Act, to fund the Highway Trust Fund through May of 2015:
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, today issued the following statement urging United States Trade Representative Michael Froman to stop providing Congress with trade data that distorts exports and hides the true nature of our nation’s trade deficits.
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, today issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 803, The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA):