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

Publications

Jan 30 2024

Addressing Rural Health Worker Shortages Will Improve Population Health And Create Job Opportunities

The United States is facing a nationwide health care worker shortage. In rural communities, this crisis is worse and more widespread. According to calculations by the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) Democratic staff, 91% of all rural counties and 96% of rural counties in New Mexico face a shortage of primary care physicians . These shortages harm both the health and economic well-being of rural communities, with Tribal communities facing some of the largest shortages and the most significant impacts.

Addressing the rural health worker shortage and creating pathways that lead to health care careers in these areas are critical to protecting and improving the health and economic stability of rural communities. The Pathways and Health Careers Act, introduced by JEC Chairman Martin Heinrich, would reauthorize and expand a proven training model that can help meet the medical workforce needs of rural areas. Americans deserve access to quality health care regardless of where they reside, and addressing the rural health worker shortage will mark a significant step towards that goal.

Jan 25 2024

Cómo la Energía Renovable Puede Fortalecer la Red Eléctrica y Atender a los Riesgos de la Infraestructura

La red eléctrica en los Estados Unidos es una red compleja que provee energía a millones de hogares y empresas, colocándola al centro de la economía del país. Casi todos los aspectos del comercio y la industria dependen de fuentes de energía económicas y accesibles. Sin embargo, la red es vulnerable a los riesgos del cambio climático y de seguridad nacional, incluyendo ataques cibernéticos, con apagones costando a la economía de EE. UU. aproximadamente $150 mil millones cada año. Las fuentes de energía renovable, como la eólica y la solar, ya han reforzado partes de la red y han demostrado flexibilidad y confiabilidad en condiciones climáticas extremas. El Congreso de los Estados Unidos y la administración de Biden han realizado inversiones sin precedentes para desplegar energía renovable, fortalecer la transmisión y abordar las preocupaciones de seguridad y privacidad relacionadas con la red.

Jan 24 2024

The Clean Energy Transition Motivates Innovation and Recycling in Critical Mineral Supply Chains

The rapid buildout of the clean energy economy is fueling a significant increase in demand for responsibly sourced critical minerals. Minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel are “critical” to modern computer chips, consumer electronics, electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and to our national security. Recent federal investments like the Inflation Reduction Act are the first steps towards ensuring that the United States has a stable supply of critical minerals that can meet rising demand and address supply chain risks. Congress and the Biden administration can support the U.S. and global supply chains through increased investments in innovation and recycling, domestic mining law reform, and international cooperation.

Jan 23 2024

State by State Fact Sheets: December Employment Data

Each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases national and state-level data on U.S. employment, which provide useful information about the state of the labor market and progress toward building a better America. To highlight key trends in the monthly data, the Joint Economic Committee compiles state-by-state fact sheets for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The most recent state-level data, which cover the month of December 2023, were released on January 24, 2024. The latest national data were released on January 5th, 2024.

Jan 19 2024

How Renewable Energy Can Make the Power Grid More Reliable and Address Risks to Electricity Infrastructure

The electrical grid in the United States is a complex network that provides energy to millions of homes and businesses, putting it at the center of the nation’s economy. Nearly all aspects of commerce and industry depend on affordable and available sources of energy. However, the grid is vulnerable to climate change-related and national security risks, including cyber-attacks, with outages costing the U.S. economy approximately $150 billion each year. Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, have already bolstered parts of the grid and have demonstrated flexibility and reliability in extreme weather. Congress and the Biden administration have made unprecedented investments to deploy renewable energy, strengthen transmission, and address security and privacy concerns related to the grid.

Jan 10 2024

Rebuilding the American Dream: Policy Approaches to Increasing Housing Supply in the U.S.

A strong U.S. middle class depends on families having the opportunity to buy a home, build wealth and pass it on to the next generation. Research has shown that when low-income families move to stable homes in neighborhoods with a range of family incomes, their young children’s future earnings and life outcomes improve significantly. Broad access to affordable and stable housing helps ensure Americans’ economic well-being and mobility. However, the current housing shortage limits Americans’ ability to access this next step.