Economy and Jobs
While the economy continues to recover from the worst recession in a generation, rebuilding our economy is my top priority. We’ve come a long way in the last several years, but not far enough. Our economic problems did not materialize overnight, and they will not be fixed overnight. Most importantly, we must rebuild the foundations of our prosperity, namely the transportation, energy and data infrastructure that has fallen into sorry disrepair. We also must dedicate ourselves to assuring that our educational system is producing the world's most capable students.
Infrastructure
If I hear one consistent message from local businesses about how we can help them expand and create more jobs, it is that we must improve our infrastructure. While China and Europe are investing in high-speed trains and next generation energy grids, our systems are clogged and outdated. The recent derailments and outages along Metro North illustrate just how important it is that we invest in improving our transportation infrastructure. These investments will create jobs while providing for our region’s long-term economic vitality. Meanwhile, our electrical grid suffers from decades of neglect, and internet access is only a dream for far too many Americans. Our grandparents came together to bind our nation with an unparalleled interstate highway system. It is our turn to imagine and build the 21st century equivalent.
Click here to read more about my thoughts on transportation.
Education
The nation that best educates its children will ultimately be the nation that out-innovates and out-competes the rest of the world. Nothing is more essential to our long-term prosperity than our children’s ability to become the next generation of entrepreneurs, engineers, teachers, and leaders. Efforts to cut education funding are fatally short-sighted. While simply throwing money at our schools will not fix our problems, we know we need to invest in our children’s future if they are to become the workers that will lead through world. The federal government must search the nation for examples of success, in high-achieving public, private and charter schools, and then use its reach and resources to make sure best practices are universally adopted.
Click here to read more about my thoughts on education.
Unemployment Insurance
As we continue to recover from the worst economic recession in a lifetime, many of those hit hardest are still without work and struggling to put food on the table. Since the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program expired on Dec. 28, 2013, over two million long-term unemployed Americans, including nearly 50,000 in Connecticut, have lost their unemployment insurance. I am proud to cosponsor the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act (H.R. 3546), which extends emergency unemployment insurance through the end of the year for the nearly five million Americans looking for work. It is well past time for the House Majority to bring an extension of unemployment insurance up for a vote immediately.
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