Creating Good Jobs
Our economy is recovering from the Great Recession, but there is still considerable work to be done. Too many Americans can't find jobs or are working part-time or for lower pay than before the economic crisis. Too many Americans who are working have seen their hours shortened or their benefits cut back. Too many feel that their part of the American Dream – to provide for their families with a solid paycheck, own a home, send their kids to college, retire with dignity – is slipping away. I will not accept that as the new status quo, the "new normal", and I have proposed ideas on how to create good jobs and get the economy moving again.
Creating good jobs will help improve our entire economy in many ways. What the economy needs is more confident consumers -- workers with steady incomes are more likely to buy goods in local stores, go out to eat a meal or even go on a vacation – and that creates more jobs. In addition, putting people back to work will bring down the deficit, as more workers are paying taxes and fewer families are dependent on unemployment insurance and food stamps.
It is also critical that when we create jobs we also support the workers who fill them. I am a strong supporter of unions and the labor movement and the right to collectively bargain.
More on Creating Good Jobs
On Tuesday, Republicans in the House of Representatives passed a disastrous funding bill that gives President Donald Trump and unelected billionaire Elon Musk the power to steal from the middle class, seniors, veterans, working people, and small businesses to pay for tax breaks for billionaires.
On Friday, I voted in favor of a continuing resolution to keep our government open and funded. While the continuing resolution did not include everything I had initially wanted, we could not let the government shut down. A government shutdown right before the holidays would have forced our troops to work without pay, harmed small businesses, risked air travel disruptions, endangered access to food assistance for millions of mothers and their children, and so much more.
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) released the following statement on the continuing resolution to keep government programs and services functioning until March 14, 2025:
We are in a fiscal crisis because of the tax cuts that were given to the ultra-wealthy, and now some of my colleagues want to make devastating cuts to our vital programs. They never discuss the morality of these cuts. The Affordable Care Act and Social Security are lifesaving programs. We must keep fighting.
With Medicare Open Enrollment now underway, I wanted to share important details with you regarding recent improvements to Medicare that are lowering health care costs.
During his State of the Union address last Thursday, President Joe Biden emphasized that America is a story of progress, possibilities, and resilience. He delivered a strong speech that detailed how far we have come under his leadership, the hurdles we have cleared, and his bold, optimistic vision for the future.
Last week was another busy week in the 9th Congressional District! I love being out and about in the district, and this week was particularly exciting. I spent quite a bit of time in the newer parts of my district, McHenry and Lake Counties, and I also had the opportunity to meet with two different groups of high school students to discuss issues that are on their minds. Meeting with constituents has always been one of my favorite parts of my job, and it was truly a fabulous week.