Dems on the Job -- August Edition
September 1, 2017
During August recess, Democrats brought their economic message A Better Deal: Better Jobs, Better Wages, Better Future to districts across the country. The new economic agenda promises to raise the wages and income of American workers and create millions of good-paying jobs by doubling down on support for apprenticeship programs, modernizing our infrastructure and investing in small businesses and entrepreneurs. In town halls, tours, roundtable discussions and press conferences across the country, Democrats shared their vision of creating jobs, raising wages and improving the lives of hardworking Americans. Below is a sample of the activities that Members led in August:
LEGISLATION:
On August 1st, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and Congressman Bobby Scott joined Senators Patty Murray, Sherrod Brown and Al Franken to introduce the Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act to crack down on employers who unfairly withhold wages from their employees. This bill would protect America's workers by giving them the right to receive full compensation for the work they perform.
On August 23rd, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act was signed into law, originally introduced by Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty, ensuring America's veterans receive the benefits they've earned by simplifying VA processes.
On August 29th, Congressman Jared Polis, Congressman Raul Grijalva, Congressman Jared Huffman and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal introduced the 100 by ‘50 Act which would drive the nation's complete transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050 and would create new good-paying jobs in growing industries of the future.
BRIEFINGS, HEARINGS, AND EVENTS
Tour: On August 3rd, Congressman Dan Kildee toured GLE-Precision to learn about ways to support manufacturing and create jobs for Michigan's workers.
Press Conference: On August 8th, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference for community members in Canarsie, Coney Island and South Brooklyn, New York to discuss the need for infrastructure projects to create more good-paying jobs.
Tour: On August 11th, Congressman Dan Kildee toured Bay Plastic Machinery to discuss job training and creation in Michigan.
Weekly Address: On August 12th, Congressman Cedric Richmond delivered the Democratic Weekly Address highlighting Democrats' fight to provide equal opportunities for all hard-working American families with A Better Deal.
Press Conference: On August 15th, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Jimmy Gomez held a press conference to highlight Democrat's A Better Deal economic agenda and to encourage increased federal funding for America's crumbling infrastructure that would promote job creation.
Town Hall: On August 16th, Congressman David Cicilline held a town hall to discuss A Better Deal, Democrats' plan to create more good-paying jobs in Cumberland, Rhode Island.
Tour: On August 16th, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos toured local farms in Fulton County, Illinois to learn about challenges, innovation and creating more jobs in the agricultural economy.
Town Hall: On August 16th, Congressman Ben Ray Lujan spoke with constituents at a New Mexico town hall about raising wages and incomes for hard-working Americans.
Budget Training Event: On August 17th, Congressman Brad Schneider hosted a budget workshop to discuss fiscal challenges in Concord, Illinois.
Roundtable: On August 22nd, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos and Senator Dick Durbin held an economic roundtable in the Quad-Cities discussing A Better Deal for the local community.
Press Conference: On August 22nd, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congresswoman Jackie Speier held a press conference ahead of Women's Equality Day to discuss how A Better Deal economically empowers women.
Tour: On August 25th, Congressman Anthony Brown toured The Home Depot in Maryland's Fourth District to learn about achievable growth opportunities and training for their employees.
Tour: On August 25th, Congressman Darren Soto toured Orange Technical College Mid Florida to learn about high-skill, high-wage training for workers.
Weekly Address: On August 26th, Congressman Jim Himes delivered the Democratic Weekly Address explaining how Democrats are fighting to expand economic opportunity for all working families in A Better Deal.
Job Training Event: On August 28th, Congresswoman Kathy Castor held a Tech Training and Jobs Information session in Tampa, Florida to teach attendees how to get on track with technological training, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
Roundtable: On August 28th, Congressman Tom O'Halleran held a tax reform roundtable in Casa Grande, Arizona to discuss the importance of investing in small businesses.
Press Conference: On August 28th, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos held a press conference and tour at the Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau at Martin Farms in Alexis, Illinois discussing jobs in America's heartland.
Press Conference: On August 28th, Congresswoman Jackie Speier held a press conference highlighting her efforts to bring more good-paying jobs with better wages for the people of her district through a partnership with colleges and employers.
Tour: On August 29th, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi toured CityBuild Academy, a comprehensive pre-apprenticeship and construction administration training program for San Francisco residents, and held a press conference on the importance on the job training for Americans.
Tour: On August 30th, Congressman Dan Kildee toured the Michigan manufacturing site for Magna International to talk to workers about A Better Deal and creating better jobs.
OP-EDS & LETTERS
Op-Ed: Congressman David Cicilline wrote an op-ed in USA Today – Rep. David Cicilline: A Better Deal is a bold agenda. The op-ed discusses how A Better Deal will help hard-working families in Rhode Island and across the country by promising 10 million full-time, good-paying jobs. (8/2/17)
Editorial: The Denver Post Editorial Board praised Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats for their economic agenda A Better Deal – A Better Deal? Yes, Pelosi and the Democrats are on the right track. The Editorial Board noted that Democrat's bold proposal is "a sharp contrast to Republicans' plan to jump start our slow-growing economy with individual and corporate tax cuts." (8/31/17)