Economy And Jobs

The Budget:

Congress has a responsibility to help bolster our economic recovery, and the federal budget should support investments in transportation infrastructure, research and development, clean energy and climate, and education that create well-paying jobs here at home. That’s why I have supported the Democratic budget proposals that create millions of new jobs by investing in infrastructure, providing businesses with tax credits for creating jobs, supporting our schools and institutions of higher-education, and establishing a Veterans Jobs Corps.  

Jobs and Workforce Protections:

Many working families – on the North Coast and throughout the nation — still feel they cannot get ahead. Wages are stagnant while the costs of prescription drugs, college, and housing continue to grow. It's no wonder many people feel frustrated and left behind. 

We know many of the things that can help middle class families meet these challenges: keeping health care affordable, making sure more workers have equal protections, raising the minimum wage, and providing paid family leave and child care. However, those tools alone are not enough to combat the broader economic changes that are hurting working families. We also need to ensure that our trade policies support workers and do more to provide the tools people need to succeed in the 21st century global economy. 

In the 117th Congress, I worked with my Democratic colleagues to get several landmark bills signed into law that will boost the economy while creating millions of well-paying jobs. We are rebuilding our nation with our Infrastructure Law, reinvigorating domestic manufacturing with our CHIPS and Science Law, and investing in our clean energy future with our Inflation Reduction Act. 

Small Businesses: 

Small businesses are an integral part of our economy, employing nearly half of America’s workers and creating two-thirds of net new jobs. California’s 2nd District is home to nearly 19,000 small businesses, employing over 160,000 people across the North Coast.  

I have supported several bills to help small businesses, including the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act, which have created vital funding programs to help businesses. In California’s 2nd District, entertainment venues received over $35 million in funding through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, and restaurants received over $134 million in funding through the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. I will continue working to support our small businesses in Congress. 

Trade:

Trade agreements must promote strong protections for American consumers, workers, public health, and the environment. 

I opposed the U.S. - Mexico - Canada Agreement, which was a renegotiated version of NAFTA. I was particularly concerned with the weak environmental standards and lack of real climate solutions in the agreements. 

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