Issue Position: Jobs and Economic Development

I am a founding member of the bipartisan Congressional Jobs NOW! Caucus. I joined for one reason: to advocate for jobs, jobs and more jobs. Tennessee has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, especially among women and minorities.

I supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which has helped to create and save thousands of jobs in the 9th District that otherwise would have been lost because of the economic downturn. I'm pleased that the ARRA included millions of dollars in funding for the Summer Youth Jobs Program, which helps teenagers find jobs. Additionally, the ARRA has helped retain teachers, maintain special education programs in the Memphis and Shelby County schools hire 37 new Memphis police officers, purchase new MATA buses and fund road construction projects. The University of Memphis, the UT-Health Science Center, St. Jude and Memphis BioWorks have all received federal funding to promote medical and scientific research, creating new jobs in our community.
I am a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I advocate for investments in transportation and infrastructure improvements because they are a proven and effective way of putting people back to work and are crucial to long-term economic development. Memphis is America's distribution hub and a major tourist destination for people around the nation and the world. Investing in our roads, runways, rivers and rails is crucial for the 9th District's economic success. As a member of the Transportation Committee's Aviation Subcommittee, I promote policies that will protect jobs at FedEx, the largest private employer in Memphis. Additionally, through my advocacy on the Railroads Subcommittee, I have received assurances from the Federal Railroad Administration that the Little Rock to Memphis high-speed rail feasibility study will be conducted.

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