Jobs and the Economy
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Across the 5th District, I’ve heard from business owners, educators, young people and parents that we need to redouble our efforts on middle-class job creation. Too many young people do not see Connecticut as a place of opportunity and our businesses are looking for skilled workers to help their companies to grow and thrive. We have a real opportunity to set a thoughtful course to long-term job growth and rebuilding a robust middle class in the 5th District, in Connecticut and across our country.
American workers can and do compete with the best in the world – but they need the benefit of a level playing field. That means closing tax loopholes that reward companies who ship our jobs oversees, and it means enforcing our trades laws.
Here at home, we need to reward innovation and ensure businesses in our community have the support they need to grow and compete. We must invest in research and development in the clean energy sector to create good jobs in technology, manufacturing and construction. We must help our small business thrive, innovate and hire by providing access to capital, reducing unnecessary red tape, and making sure small business taxes are fair and encourage growth. We must also ensure our workers have the skills those businesses need to compete with skills training and investments in our community colleges.
Finally, we must make strategic investments in long-term growth – infrastructure, energy and education. For our economy to recover, we must be willing to invest in that recovery.
For more information on my work and views on growing our economy or to let me know your thoughts, questions or concerns, please contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.
More on Jobs and the Economy
A Senate amendment to Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty’s (CT-05) bipartisan Women in Aerospace Education Act (H.R. 4254) passed the U.S. House of Representatives by voice vote earlier this afternoon. The Women in Aerospace Education Act first passed the House in December 2017 by a vote of 409 to 17, was amended and passed the Senate by unanimous consent in late September, 2018. The Women in Aerospace Education Act now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature.
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Tomorrow, Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5), Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (VA-10), and Congressman David Cicilline (RI-01) will introduce the Innovative Materials for American Growth and Infrastructure Newly Expanded (IMAGINE) Act. The bill would encourage the research and use of innovative construction materials. The move to use more innovative materials would extend the lifecycle of water and transportation infrastructure projects that are more resilient to flooding and corrosion.
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted last night to pass her amendment to the Mini-Bus, which would allocate an additional $500,000 in funding and resources to the Office of Employee Assistance (OEA). OEA is primarily responsible for assisting employees whose job performance may be negatively affected by personal and professional problems. The amendment passed by voice vote.
Esty Votes to Create Jobs, Boost Investments in Water Infrastructure as WRDA Bill Clears House Floor
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Today, Rep. Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted last night to pass H.R. 8, the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) of 2018, by a vote of 408-2. The bill also included a new amendment, introduced by Esty, that will direct the National Academy of Sciences to study how the Army Corps of Engineers currently calculates the benefits of potential Corps projects, and what they can do to improve that calculation so that more worthwhile projects are approved.
Hartford, CT—Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives John Larson (CT-1) and Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) announced a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to FuelCell Energy, Inc. for hydrogen production research and development (R&D) that is compatible with nuclear energy sources.