Skills training, unions, $15 federal minimum wage, equal pay for equal work, and more:
The economy should work for everyone. But right now, too many hardworking people in Northwest Washington are doing everything right and still struggling to make ends meet.
I have heard from countless hard-working people trying to balance full-time jobs and the cost of child care. They are putting off home repairs, medical appointments, and family vacations because there is simply not enough left over at the end of the month. And we are all watching grocery bills and gas prices climb higher each month.
That is not the kind of economy working families need.
I believe that a good job is more than a paycheck. It is a source of dignity. It is the ability to provide for your family, plan for the future, and enjoy a good quality of life. That is why my top priority in Congress is bringing economic investments to Northwest Washington that create good-paying jobs and strengthen our communities.
I am proud to have delivered $386 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Washington's Second District to modernize roads, ferries, ports, and other critical infrastructure while creating jobs that support local families — but we need to do more.
We need to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.
We need to guarantee equal pay for equal work.
We need to invest in skills training for workers and young people.
And we need to strengthen unions, so workers have the power to negotiate for better pay, better benefits, and safer workplaces.
At the same time, billionaires and special interests are spending enormous sums to protect a system that works very well for them.
They see campaign contributions as an investment in preserving tax breaks and loopholes while working families are asked to settle for less.
I do not believe Northwest Washington should be represented by those interests. I believe our government should fight to lower costs, raise wages, and improve the quality of life for every family in our local communities.
Together, we can continue building an economy that rewards hard work, supports families, and gives every person in Northwest Washington the opportunity to succeed.
More soon,
Rick
