A report released by Democratic members of the Joint Economic Committee highlights causes of the increasing cost of college for many Americans. It identifies, among those, declining state support for public institutions, incentives for institutions at odds with keeping programs affordable, and failures in the regulatory system to hold programs failing students accountable.
Nov 07 2017
Politico - Morning Education
Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee, led by Sen. Martin Heinrich, today are releasing a new report describing “The College Affordability Crisis in America.” Read it here.
The report outlines the increasing cost of a college education in the United States. College costs have soared for both public and private institutions since the early 1970s, putting college out of reach for many Americans. It is important that Congress and the administration address rising college costs to ensure that all Americans have access to an affordable, high-quality, postsecondary education.
Nov 03 2017
Heinrich Statement on October Jobs Report
The economy the Trump administration inherited is resilient and this month’s job numbers reflect that. But rather than building from this position, President Trump and Republicans in Congress are jeopardizing growth by pushing a tax reform bill that benefits the wealthiest, at the expense of working families and rural communities. Hard-working Americans will be faced with double taxation, higher homeownership costs and medical expenses, and more expensive student loan debt.
Nov 02 2017
Politico - Morning Energy
Joint Economic Committee Democrats released a report Wednesday arguing the federal government must adapt how it rebuilds following natural disasters to be more resilient and that every dollar spent on disaster preparedness provides almost $4 in future benefits. Take a glance here.
Still, some lawmakers believe a recognition of the threats posed by climate change is essential when drafting mitigation, preparedness and response solutions to extreme weather events. "We've seen the economic toll that climate change takes on communities through larger and more frequent storms, fires and floods," said Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), ranking member of the Joint Economic Committee, in a statement to E&E News yesterday. "We must ensure that our recovery efforts include improvements in infrastructure that prepare us for a new climate reality. As Congress moves forward with additional disaster relief, it should require relief funds for the construction of resilient infrastructure and also prioritize mitigation efforts that save us money." Heinrich yesterday released a report on the need to rebuild infrastructure from natural disasters in a way that limits future risk.
“The details of the secretive Republican tax proposal emerging today reveal a plan that does very little for working families and may even increase their tax burden, while providing deficit-busting giveaways for others that bankrupt our ability to invest in a stronger economy tomorrow. We need to make sure the tax code is working for everyday New Mexicans, growing the economy, creating good paying jobs, and supporting families and communities across the country. This GOP plan is a setback on almost every level.”
In the wake of devastating hurricanes that have struck the United States and wildfires that destroyed nearly 6,000 homes in California, Joint Economic Committee Democrats released a report on the need to limit risk from future disasters by rebuilding infrastructure to guard against natural disasters. The destruction we have witnessed makes clear that merely rebuilding without taking actions to ensure that infrastructure, homes, and businesses are made less susceptible to the next natural disaster will only lead to higher costs down the road.
Oct 31 2017
Arizona Daily Star - McSally Can't Ignore Economics of National Monuments in AZ (Letter to the Editor)
Even if the administration and some in Congress don’t care about the intrinsic values of these places, they should appreciate the economic benefits they provide. In Arizona, outdoor recreation accounts for more jobs than defense, technology and aerospace combined. (US Senate Joint Economic Committee). A 2013 study showed nearly $28 million in economic benefits to Flagstaff from visits to local monuments. Martha McSally must pay attention to the economic needs of Arizona and vote against HR 3990.
Episode 3, “Debunking the GOP Tax Plan,” unpacks the Republican proposal that would give massive tax breaks to the wealthy at the expense of working Americans. The episode features Seth Hanlon, senior fellow at The Center For American Progress and former special assistant to President Obama for economic policy at the White House National Economic Council.
