Issue Position: Economy & Jobs

Issue Position

If we give our communities the tools they need to thrive and empower middle class families and workers, the result will be economic growth and a better future for all. I am committed to building an economy that creates more jobs and opportunities right here in the 2nd District.

In Washington state, transportation means jobs. We must invest in better transit by putting dollars towards roads, bridges and highways. That is why I introduced the BUILD UP Act to ensure mid-sized cities get federal funding for surface transportation and infrastructure projects. And it is why I support the Moving Forward Act, which invests nearly $7 billion over the next five years in Washington state's transportation systems to put people back to work, jumpstart the economy and make the transportation network safer and greener.

Congress must pass a significant increase to the federal minimum wage to reduce income inequality. I support the Raise the Wage Act to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, this bill would give 27 million workers a raise and lift over 1 million people out of poverty.

To compete in the changing global economy, we must invest in education and skills training. I am committed to making it easier and more affordable for workers to go back to school, and for students to get the education they need. It is important to bring science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) education into our classrooms.

I support ensuring workers have access to registered apprenticeship programs. My Youth Access to American Jobs Act would establish a 2-2-2 pilot program that allows students to go from high school to community college to an apprenticeship program, creating a real pathway for young people looking to enter the workforce.

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