While our economy has been growing because of Democrats’ economic policies, many families are still struggling with rising costs including housing and child care. I’m committed to creating an economy that works for everyone which includes helping our small businesses and local industries rebuild so they can support good-paying jobs for years to come, including aerospace, manufacturing, high-tech, sustainable agriculture, clean energy, and health care. We must support businesses that are creating jobs and invest in the training, education, and skills of our workers to ensure they are prepared for success. This has been a long-term commitment of mine since I secured $200 million to expand job training opportunities during my first term in Congress.
As a member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, I’m focused on modernizing the tax code and creating policies that are fair for all Americans and give businesses the ability to plan for the future. Tax policy should focus on growing the middle class and providing economic opportunity. Through a modernized tax code, we can also invest here in America, encouraging job creation and innovation. Congress should focus on simplifying our tax code by eliminating inefficient and unfair tax breaks and subsidies that don’t make sense in today’s global economy. Any time our federal government offers a tax break or subsidy, we should consider it as an investment and evaluate whether we are getting an adequate return. We must also stop governing retroactively and with short-term policies that Congress must extend each year. Families and businesses need predictability and stability.
I continue to champion efforts that provide tax relief for the middle-class including the enhanced Child Tax Credit. The enhanced child tax credit was included in the American Rescue Plan and provided families with monthly checks for 6 months and lifted 3 million kids out of poverty. I am also the lead sponsor of legislation that would create or preserve more than 2 million affordable housing units nationwide in the next decade and address the growing housing crisis.
The historic Inflation Reduction Act provided incentives that will help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 40 percent by 2030. This law is a bold step in the right direction, but more will still need to be done. I will continue working with my colleagues to build a new green economy and find innovative solutions to address climate change that will ensure our energy independence, protect our health, and preserve our planet for the future.
