Democrats are fighting to raise wages, create jobs, and expand opportunity so all Americans can get ahead.
Creating jobs and expanding economic opportunity continues to be Democrats’ top priority. Too many Americans are struggling to get by. That has to change, and that’s why Democrats are fighting for a better deal for middle class families and small businesses. We are pursuing a Make It In America plan to address the current economic challenges facing working families by investing in three core areas: education, to ensure all Americans have the skills needed to get good-paying jobs; infrastructure, which will create jobs and better connect communities by repairing roads and bridges and expanding high-speed internet access; and entrepreneurship, to encourage Americans to start their own businesses by streamlining regulations, providing access to affordable health care and retirement savings, and increasing access to credit and loans.
Rather than work with Democrats to build on the economic progress made under the Obama Administration, President Trump has failed to put forward a single jobs bill. He hasn’t taken action to support job creation, and in fact, his budget would slash investments in infrastructure, education, research, and other areas that support job creation. Forecasters have lowered growth estimates; despite promises to the contrary, companies like Ford and Carrier are shipping jobs overseas; and 2017 saw the first four consecutive months since 2012 of the economy adding fewer than 200,000 new private sector jobs.
In contrast, Democrats have a strong record of job creation and are committed to raising wages. In July, House Democrats passed the Raise the Wage Act, legislation that will gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, providing up to 33 million workers a pay raise and lifting 1.3 million of American out of poverty, including 600,000 children. In March, House Democrats passed the Paycheck Fairness Act to close the gender wage gap and ensure equal pay for equal work. In addition, we passed funding measures that will help rebuild our infrastructure, creating good jobs that pay well. While the President walked away from negotiations on a robust infrastructure package, House Democrats are committed to investing in new roads, bridges, mass transit, ports, airports, schools, water systems, energy grids, and broadband.
When Democrats last held the majority and our nation was faced with the deepest recession in generations, we passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which cut taxes for 95% of American families and led the way to creating two million new private sector jobs during the Obama presidency. Democrats also enacted Wall Street reform legislation that restored common sense rules to protect families and our economy from the excesses of big banks and help prevent a financial collapse from happening again. This law, the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, aims to protect middle class Americans by increasing consumer protections and preventing taxpayers from having to bailout financial institutions. While Republicans are working to undermine the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which works to protect consumers following the financial crisis, Democrats passed the Consumers First Act to restore the role of the CFPB and ensure consumer protections.
Democrats believe that small businesses are the backbone of our economy, working to grow and create jobs. Democrats have pushed for legislation to prevent multinational corporations from outsourcing jobs overseas, while giving tax credits to businesses who hire new employees here in the United States, as well as restore the flow of credit to small businesses so they can grow and create jobs, and extend the research and development tax credit that encourages innovation and job creation.
Rather than work with Democrats to build on the economic progress made under the Obama Administration, President Trump has failed to put forward a single jobs bill. He hasn’t taken action to support job creation, and in fact, his budget would slash investments in infrastructure, education, research, and other areas that support job creation. Forecasters have lowered growth estimates; despite promises to the contrary, companies like Ford and Carrier are shipping jobs overseas; and 2017 saw the first four consecutive months since 2012 of the economy adding fewer than 200,000 new private sector jobs.
In contrast, Democrats have a strong record of job creation and are committed to raising wages. In July, House Democrats passed the Raise the Wage Act, legislation that will gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, providing up to 33 million workers a pay raise and lifting 1.3 million of American out of poverty, including 600,000 children. In March, House Democrats passed the Paycheck Fairness Act to close the gender wage gap and ensure equal pay for equal work. In addition, we passed funding measures that will help rebuild our infrastructure, creating good jobs that pay well. While the President walked away from negotiations on a robust infrastructure package, House Democrats are committed to investing in new roads, bridges, mass transit, ports, airports, schools, water systems, energy grids, and broadband.
When Democrats last held the majority and our nation was faced with the deepest recession in generations, we passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which cut taxes for 95% of American families and led the way to creating two million new private sector jobs during the Obama presidency. Democrats also enacted Wall Street reform legislation that restored common sense rules to protect families and our economy from the excesses of big banks and help prevent a financial collapse from happening again. This law, the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, aims to protect middle class Americans by increasing consumer protections and preventing taxpayers from having to bailout financial institutions. While Republicans are working to undermine the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which works to protect consumers following the financial crisis, Democrats passed the Consumers First Act to restore the role of the CFPB and ensure consumer protections.
Democrats believe that small businesses are the backbone of our economy, working to grow and create jobs. Democrats have pushed for legislation to prevent multinational corporations from outsourcing jobs overseas, while giving tax credits to businesses who hire new employees here in the United States, as well as restore the flow of credit to small businesses so they can grow and create jobs, and extend the research and development tax credit that encourages innovation and job creation.