Standard of Living

Every policy decision I make as a Member of Congress and as the vice chair of the Education and Labor Committee is about raising the standard of living for working people and guaranteeing economic justice for all. Our country, our economy and our education system must work for every American—not just a wealthy few.

As we work to restore economic mobility and rebuild the middle class in America, we must make sure that that a full-time job guarantees the ability to live with dignity. This means restoring the freedom to form unions and organize collectively, raising the minimum wage, establishing a national paid leave insurance program so everyone can afford to take necessary time off to care for themselves and their loved ones, and ensuring strong workplace protections so that no one has to face discrimination, harassment or unsafe conditions on the job. In fact, the first bill I introduced as a Member of Congress, H.J. Res. 44, would reverse a Trump administration rule that eliminated certain protections for workers in cases of workplace injuries.

We must also ensure all children and Americans, regardless of their zip code, have access to a safe place to live and a high-quality education that provides them with the resources and support necessary to reach their full potential. Investing in universal public education from pre-school to college and enhancing our trade school programs and workplace training will build a strong future for Michigan’s kids and workers.

Affordable housing, an equitable education system, effective worker training programs and strong worker protections lift all working families and will help build a stronger economy for Michigan and our nation.