Economy and Jobs
Our country has come a long way since 2008 when our nation experienced the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Since that time, I’m proud to say our economy has significantly recovered. Unemployment has been cut in half, household wealth now exceeds pre-crisis levels, and we’ve had the longest streak of private-sector job growth in our history. However, it’s indisputable that too many Americans still aren’t experiencing the benefits of our growing economy. In fact, between 2009 and 2012, 91 percent of income gains went to those in the top one percent. This means it’s harder for middle-class Americans to climb the ladder of success, and even harder for poor Americans to grab hold of the lowest rung. I believe that expanding our middle class requires us to adopt a combination of policies that tackle income inequality so all Americans have a fair shot in today’s economy and polices that accelerate economic growth so American workers and businesses can thrive in tomorrow’s economy.
In Congress, I’m an active member of the New Democrat Coalition, which is a pro-growth, fiscally-responsible, solutions-oriented coalition of members that seeks to bridge the partisan divide and enact new and innovative policies that will help build a 21st century American economy. I’ve been proud to co-sponsor legislation that will give small businesses a greater voice in the regulatory process. I’ve also supported legislation to expand small business exports overseas; raise the minimum wage; combat wage discrimination; and reward businesses that hire veterans. Furthermore, I have opposed efforts to undermine worker's rights and have addressed the importance of strengthening our unions.
By themselves, closing the income gap and promoting economic growth will not solve the dilemma of our shrinking middle class. But accomplished together, this strategy has the potential to unlock an enormous expansion of our middle class, and allow future generations a chance at the American Dream, like so many before them.
Rep. Mike Quigley celebrates “Start-Up Day Across America” with Chiago-based relocation management software company, UrbanBound.
Rep. Mike Quigley’s SEC Small Business Advocate Act passed the House by voice vote in 2016.
Rep. Mike Quigley addresses the City Club of Chicago in 2015 on the need for bipartisan cooperation to pass legislation that will benefit the American economy.
More on Economy and Jobs
Dec 19, 2016
Press Release
The bipartisan SEC Small Business Advocate Act of 2015 introduced by U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the New Democrat Coalition, along with Reps. John Carney (DE), Sean Duffy (WI-07) and Ander Crenshaw (FL-04), was signed into law by President Barack Obama. This legislation establishes the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Oct 24, 2016
Press Release
U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), went “undercover” at Chicago Fire Department’s Engine 22 Station in Lincoln Park to learn more about the day to day duties of firefighters and how the station strives to provide the highest levels of life safety and property protection through fire prevention, public fire safety education, life safety education, fire suppression, emergency medical services, and hazardous material incident mitigation.
Oct 4, 2016
Press Release
U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the New Democrat Coalition, joined ACG Global and prominent Chicago women in finance for a roundtable discussion to better understand the barriers women face in their ascent to leadership positions in the financial sector and what Congress can do to help remove these hurdles.
Aug 4, 2016
Press Release
U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) participated in “Start-Up Day Across America” at Curiosity and Reverb.com, two Chicago-based tech companies, to discuss the importance of high-tech entrepreneurship and ways the government can support the industry.
Jul 28, 2016
Editorials
When I was sworn in to Congress in April of 2009, we were at the height of the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Unemployment shot up to 10 percent, median household wealth plummeted by almost 40 percent and nearly five million homeowners lost their homes to foreclosure. Fortunately, we’ve come a long way since 2009.