Skip to main content

Joint Economic Committee Democrats Chairman - Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM)

Issue Briefs

May 08 2024

ICYMI: The Biden Administration Just Took Massive Steps to Protect Workers and the Climate

In recent weeks, the Biden administration took a series of key actions to protect workers, boost wages, cut pollution, and provide more clean electricity. These steps build on the landmark bills that Democrats in Congress passed in recent years to invest in clean energy, boost manufacturing, cut costs for families, and support labor unions.

Many of these rules take on massive corporate interests, so it is no surprise that big business groups and their Republican allies are already trying to use the courts to block these actions. In contrast, the Biden administration and Congressional Democrats will continue to stand up for workers and our environment in the face of this opposition.

Apr 24 2024

Fact Sheet: The Manufacturing Renaissance That Will Drive the Economy of the Future

As of February 2024, annual investment in new manufacturing facilities hit nearly $225 billion dollars, a record high even after adjusting for inflation. This spike in private investment is the direct result of bipartisan investments in infrastructure and semiconductor production and Democrats’ bold action to invest in American-made clean energy and manufacturing. This made-in-America manufacturing boom is already supporting jobs and communities across the country.

Apr 23 2024

Thanks to Democrats, Americans Are Paying Less for Prescription Drugs and Health Insurance

Last year, Democrats took action to lower drug costs and bring down health insurance premiums by passing the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). American households are already feeling the benefits by paying less, with additional savings coming in 2025 and beyond thanks to health policies passed by Democrats. Additional actions by drug companies—following the lead of Congress and President Biden—have also lowered prescription drug and medical device costs for even more Americans.

Apr 08 2024

The Many Economic Benefits of Investing in Early Childhood Education

When families have access to affordable and reliable early childhood education (ECE) it can help make it possible for caregivers to work, afford necessities like groceries and rent, and save for retirement. ECE is commonly used to refer to both child care and pre-K focused on kids younger than age five. These programs can also help improve children’s academic outcomes and future job prospects. In addition, investing in ECE benefits teachers, businesses, and society as a whole. Unfortunately, investments in ECE are often deprioritized, with women and other caregivers paying the price. Addressing the funding shortfalls and widespread market failure requires government intervention.

The private ECE market cannot meet the needs of every family. That makes government funding for ECE programs essential for the United States to reap their maximum economic benefits. States like New Mexico are already leading the way in providing accessible child care and pre-K to every family, but federal funding is crucial to cutting the cost of care for families while maximizing economic returns to the country as a whole.

Apr 04 2024

Electrifying Heavy-Duty Vehicles Will Benefit the U.S. Economy, Environment, and Public Health

Heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) like large trucks, buses, and tractor trailers are an important mode of transportation for people and products throughout the United States, but they are also among the highest emitters of harmful pollution. Though only 1 in 10 on-road vehicles is an HDV, they account for over half of the particulate matter pollution produced by the vehicle transportation sector and a significant share of other harmful emissions.

This problem presents an important opportunity to invest in the health of our families, environment, and economy by replacing inefficient, high-polluting, diesel-powered HDVs with clean heavy-duty electric vehicles (HDEVs) throughout our transportation systems. States like California and New Mexico are already taking bold action by setting strong state-level regulations that support HDEVs, and Democrats in Congress and the Biden Administration have taken pivotal steps to accelerate HDEV adoption and strengthen charging infrastructure. The recently announced Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules for HDV emissions represent an important positive step towards bolstering our economy, public health, and environment. Quick implementation of these rules and other policies will benefit our communities and turbocharge the adoption of HDEVs.