House Democratic Freshmen Continue Push for A Fairer Economy that Works for Everyday Americans
Within the first 100 days of the New Democratic Majority, Freshmen Democratic Members have kept their promise to take real action that will improve the lives of everyday Americans by focusing on strengthening their pocketbooks.
From passing the landmark Paycheck Fairness Act, to working to connect workers with the good-paying jobs of tomorrow, to fighting for greater broadband investment and rebuilding America’s infrastructure that will spur economic growth in the communities that need it most – Freshman Democrats are fighting for an economy that’s fairer and works for all Americans, not just corporate special interests.
“Our Democratic Majority is working hard every day to improve the lives of hardworking Americans by making real and tangible progress on the kitchen table issues that matter to everyone. Creating jobs and ensuring that the people are receiving fair compensation are two of the many impactful ways that Freshman Democrats are delivering on the promises they ran on in 2018,” said DCCC Spokesperson Jared Smith.
Below are some highlights on how our Freshman Members are fighting to create jobs, wages and expand opportunity for people across the country:
CA-10 | Harder Talks Broadband With Knights Ferry Bobcats
Oakdale Leader | Angela Martin
The Bobcats challenged Harder with questions on higher than average taxes in the area, as well as questioning the ability of parties to work in unity and of course the pressing internet question.
“I want to make sure to not make false promises,” he said of his intentions to work on the rural internet problem, noting the commonality of it in other rural areas. “What I will tell you and what I will promise you is, we’re going to show up, we’re going to work hard on it and we’re going to tell you the truth what we can actually get done on it.”
The Congressman went on to encourage students to continue to use their voices via letter writing. He also shared he recently co-sponsored a bill, Save Our Internet Act, to put broadband in rural areas.
“We’re going to do everything we can to make sure we have the funding to make it accessible,” he said.
CA-21 | Valley congressman helps to pass ‘historical’ legislation ensuring equal pay
KSEE24 | Staff
A Central Valley congressman helped to pass a “historical” piece of legislation that seeks to ensure equitable pay practices. Congressman TJ Cox voted to pass H.R. 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act.
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Cox explains why he chose to take part in the passage of the legislation: “As a father, I want my daughter to have access to the same opportunities as her brothers. That’s why I’m proud to have voted in support of this crucial piece of legislation that will help ensure that every American receives equal pay for equal work. The wage gap is a family issue, and one that affects every American and Central Valley family. This is a critical step in repairing that injustice.”
CA-25 | From Washington D.C. to Simi, Rep. Hill talks business at chamber
Simi Valley Acorn | Melissa Simon
Tax incentives, employment and healthcare were among the topics local business owners wanted to discuss with U.S. Rep. Katie Hill (D-Simi Valley) during a Chamber of Commerce meeting last week. About 75 people attended the March 22 event at the Simi Valley Town Center to hear Hill talk about what she’s doing in regard to commerce and the economy.
“We’re trying to even the playing field so those big corporations are paying their fair share and we can put the incentives toward small businesses, which make up half our workforce,” she said.
CA-45 | The newest threat to Wall Street is a House freshman you’ve probably never heard of
Washington Post | Renae Merle
The freshman congresswoman had just five minutes to quiz Sloan on the years of scandal that have plagued the megabank — from mistakenly foreclosing on hundreds of customers to opening millions of sham accounts. Porter zeroed in on Sloan’s repeated promises to fix the bank’s problems, including a pledge in a 2017 financial document sent to shareholders.
…And Porter said she understands the angst of the committee’s witnesses. She testified before the Financial Services Committee several times, including in 2007 when she spoke about how older Americans use credit cards. “I literally sat in that chair. It’s tough.”
The day before a hearing, Porter prepares with a 70- to 150-page binder of background information compiled by her staff. “I try to ask a question rather than give a speech,” she said. “The American people want to know: ‘Are these witnesses being truthful and honest?’”
IA-01 | Freshman Finkenauer making early mark in U.S. House
Telegraph Herald | Benjamin Fischer
Finkenauer was elected in November, part of a historic wave of young women chosen to represent their homes in the U.S. House. She also flipped Iowa’s First Congressional District seat, ousting Republican incumbent — and fellow Dubuque native — Rod Blum.
…She and her staff are particularly proud of the Stimulating Innovation Through Procurement Act.
“We made sure the Small Business Administration was using procurement officers for government contracts and research grants who were actually going to work with small businesses,” she told visiting constituents during last week’s Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce annual D.C. Fly-in.
…“Oftentimes, what we were seeing is all of the innovation and research was happening on the coasts, not in the middle of the country, where we honestly need it to happen,” she said. “We need to make sure we’re creating good-paying jobs all across our country and here in the Midwest.”
NJ-11 | Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill Tours CCM to Learn about the Strength of Its Programs and Facilities to Prepare the Workers of Tomorrow
Tap Into | Kathleen Brunet Eagan
Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, (D-11th District) toured County College of Morris (CCM) on Tuesday, March 19, to learn about the programs and facilities the college provides to ensure students obtain a high-quality education and are prepared to excel in the jobs of tomorrow.
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Wrapping up her visit, Sherrill spoke with CCM student leaders and answered their questions about state and national issues, as she shared some of her impressions of the college.
“A lot of what we need to focus on is the future of work,” she said. “It’s places like CCM that are at the forefront of the new economy.”
NM-02 | Torres Small’s bill aims to reduce doctor shortage
Albuquerque Journal | Scott Turner
U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small has introduced a bill she hopes will address the doctor shortage in rural parts of New Mexico.
Torres Small, D-N.M., introduced The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2019 along with representatives from Alabama, New York and Illinois, legislation they hope will help reduce nationwide physician shortages, with an emphasis in rural areas, by increasing the number of Medicare-supported residency positions by 15,000. There are currently 90,000 positions.
Torres Small said the money would be increased to add 3,000 residencies a year over a five-year period.
“I know adding 3,000 residency positions a year won’t solve all of our problems,” she said. But she said something needed to be done with a projected shortage of 100,000 doctors nationwide by 2030.
NY-19 | Rep. Delgado calls for study of green jobs demand
Daily Freeman | Ariél Zangla
U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado wants the Department of Energy to study the demand for green jobs and create a pilot program to award grants to community colleges and small businesses so they can provide job training that would support the study’s findings.
Delgado, a freshman congressman who represents New York’s 19th Congressional District, said he plans to introduce federal legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct a study to identify green jobs that are in demand now and will be in the future. He said it has been more than a decade since such a study was done and that new science has emerged since then.
The bill also would establish a pilot program to award grants to community colleges and small businesses to provide job training in accordance with the study’s findings, Delgado said.
NY-19 | Broadband, health care top Delgado’s agenda
Hudson Valley 360 | Melanie Leckocevic
Two primary issues with regard to broadband access stand out, Delgado said. One is speed and the other is how access is mapped out and determined.
“Right now, the way it is being mapped out is based on census data, which doesn’t really capture rural communities,” Delgado said. “If there is one home that has access at a speed of 25 megabytes, by census data that is a sufficient basis that the entire region is covered. That is just wrong.”
Delgado called for a more detailed, street-level mapping of broadband, where it is accessible and at what speed.
“It is critically important that we do this work, not just because of business opportunities and having access to the marketplace, but it implicates rural medicine and it implicates how we educate our young people,” Delgado said, adding that students who don’t have broadband access at home are at a disadvantage.
PA-17 | Casey, Lamb unveil bills restoring tax deductions for workers
The Times | J.D. Prose
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb had strong words for the Republican tax-cut plan’s impact on the middle class during a visit to a township union hall where they announced legislation to help workers recoup certain employee expenses and union dues.
“The Republican tax plan once again has hurt working families while taking care of the rich,” Kelly said. “It seems to be a broken record that we’re getting out of D.C., of Republican leadership taking care of the 1 percent and once again the working class suffers.”
Casey and Lamb followed with remarks on their Tax Fairness for Workers Act, which each has introduced in their respective chambers. Casey is reintroducing the bill that he initially proposed in the Senate last year.
The legislation would restore the deductions for un-reimbursed employee expenses and union dues that were stripped away in the tax-reform package passed by Republicans in December 2017, and it would make the dues deduction available to all filers and not just those with itemized deductions.
VA-07 | ‘Paycheck Fairness Act’ to close gender wage gap, protect workers, proposed in Congress
NBC4 | Brie Jackson
Representative Spanberger said she wants to ensure employees, in particular women, get paid equal pay for equal work.
“In Virginia, for example, women make 78 cents on the dollar of what men make,” said Rep. Spanberger. “This disparity impacts not only the wage earner but it impacts the family they support.”
Under the proposed bill, employers would have to prove that pay disparities exist due to legitimate, job-related reasons. The bill would also ban retaliation against workers who discuss their wages and prohibit employers from seeking the salary history of prospective employees.
“It’s about ensuring that families, in particular the women who are supporting families, have the ability to earn pay equal to their male counterparts,” said Rep. Spanberger.
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