Economy
Creating jobs, strengthening New Jersey’s middle class, and stimulating the economy have been my top priorities since the serious economic downturn and throughout the recovery.
Helping to Stimulate the Economy and Encourage Job Growth:
Rebuilding America’s manufacturing sector is key to improving our economy. That is why I have supported the Democratic Make It In America Agenda, in order to rebuild America’s manufacturing industry and put the men and women of this nation back to work. The Make It In America Agenda is an initiative aimed at creating jobs today, driving economic recovery, and moving America forward. The Make It In America plan focuses on four core components:
- Adopt and pursue a national manufacturing strategy
- Promote the export of U.S. goods
- Encourage businesses to bring jobs and innovation back to the United States
- Train and secure a twenty-first century workforce
I support investments that will keep our nation moving in the right direction. Investment in our transportation infrastructure is vital to enhancing our economy, increasing our safety, maintaining our global competitiveness, and most importantly improving our quality of life. Our nation’s infrastructure is in dire need of investment. In urban areas, such as the 8th District, transportation plays a critical role in the soundness of our economy and quality of life. I support long-term investment in our nation’s transportation infrastructure and believe it is imperative that Congress works towards finding a long-term solution that addresses these needs.
Additionally, the renewable energy sector has the potential to create millions of quality American jobs throughout the next decade. In the past, I have supported policies that provide the necessary incentives to promote the renewable energy sector. Supporting initiatives that curb our nation’s energy use and encourage the development of renewable energy sources not only protects the future of our planet, but is a smart way to create jobs in emerging industries.
Protecting Our Middle Class Families:
I have fought continuously to ensure that middle-class Americans are provided with the necessary financial relief during times of difficulty. As our nation’s unemployment rate continues to decrease, we must preserve funding for the millions of families who temporarily rely on unemployment benefits as they seek further employment. Helping those who have lost employment through no fault of their own while they get back in the job market is a sensible way to ensure that money is moving through our economy.
Raising the minimum wage is a critical step in closing the opportunity gap and building an economy that works for everyone. By raising the minimum wage, we can restore fairness for working men and women across the country. No hard working American should be forced to raise their family in poverty, but unfortunately the current minimum wage allows for just that. I believe that an increase in the minimum wage is not only the moral thing to do, but that it would also provide a much-needed boost to our economy.
More on Economy
Last week, I signed onto legislation to help support small independent restaurants impacted by COVID-19. I also signed onto letters asking the Census Bureau for an explanation on why they would end data collection early, opposing the President’s order for the federal government to not cover the cost of National Guard stationed in states, and to include immigrants in any future COVID-19 relief legislation.
Since the President came into office, his fixation with the United States Postal Service has been relentless. He has floated the idea of privatizing the service, refused to offer extra funds, and recently has been launching partisan attacks on the agency. But for all the rhetoric spewed by the President, he has failed to act in any meaningful way to help the Postal Service, opting instead to launch baseless attacks that serve the postal employees, and our country, no good.
(Washington D.C.) – Today, Congressman Albio Sires released the following statement in response to the President signing an executive order rather than negotiating with Congress for coronavirus relief legislation:
(Washington D.C.) – Today, Congressman Albio Sires released the following statement in response to the President’s continued attacks on the United States Postal Service (USPS):
Last week, I was back in Washington to vote on important legislation to appropriate funds to the government, expand and protect access to child care, create a National Museum of American Latinos, and we commemorated the late John Lewis. I also attended a House Foreign Affairs Committee review and consideration of several bills and wrote an op-ed on the Ortega regime’s continued abuse of human rights in Nicaragua.
Last week, I was in Jersey City to announce more CARES Act funding to assist small businesses in the area. A long-time Jersey City resident returned to the United States after being wrongly imprisoned in Egypt. I also attended a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing focused on the Administration’s response to reports of Russian bounties on U.S. troops.
This week, I continued to work with my colleagues addressing police brutality, the coronavirus pandemic, and other issues facing our community. Additionally, the 2020 Census is ongoing and needs your help! If you have not done so already, take 10 minutes to respond online at 2020census.gov or by phone at 844-330-2020. During this time of social distancing, check in with your family, friends, and neighbors to make sure they have filled out their forms too! Together, we will make sure the 8th District is counted fairly and received the proper federal funding for the next decade.
This week, I worked on policies addressing immigration, Title IX, the National Guard, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. I continue to work with my colleagues as the effects of this unprecedented global pandemic emerge.
We have raised our community’s 2020 Census self-response rate to 48.9%. But, we are still behind New Jersey at 61% and the country at 59%. Federal funding is allocated based on this data and times of crisis have revealed just how important this data is in our government’s emergency response.