More than 3.3 million jobs stand to be created over the next decade to implement energy-efficiency upgrades, according to the report from Democrats on the Congressional Joint Economic Committee. With 2.2 million people employed in the energy efficiency sector in 2016, this sector already represents a sizeable portion of the national energy economy. And the employment numbers are on the upswing. Energy-efficiency businesses forecast 13 percent growth this year alone -- almost double the 7 percent growth seen from 2015 to 2016.
The Trump administration's promises to revive the coal industry and reinvigorate the fossil fuel industry more broadly are not the only things standing in the way of renewable energy. A new report released today from the Democratic staff of the Joint Economic Committee outlines several market and policy barriers:
Ahead of Father’s Day, Joint Economic Committee Democrats released a fact sheet today underscoring the need for affordable, high-quality child care and parental leave. The fact sheet examines the crucial family-friendly policies needed to lift up all American families, including mothers, children and fathers alike.
Joint Economic Committee Democrats released a fact sheet today on the important role Medicaid plays in fighting the opioid crisis and how TrumpCare would reverse the progress we have made so far. The fact sheet follows last week’s Joint Economic Committee hearing on the economic impacts of the opioid crisis.
Jun 14 2017
Heinrich Statement on Fed Interest Rate Hike
I am deeply concerned that the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates for the third time in six months. Job and wage growth have yet to return to many parts of the country. Today’s decision will make workers struggle to realize income gains.
The opioid epidemic was the subject of Congress’s Joint Economic Committee hearing last week. New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich, a Democrat, is the ranking member of that committee. He spoke with KUNM about the hearing and the prospects for behavioral health in the Republican health care replacement bill.
Jun 09 2017
Think Progress - Trump’s cuts to energy efficiency will cost jobs and taxpayer money, report finds
Democrats on the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee studied the energy efficiency sector to determine its impact on economic growth. The researchers found that the two federal programs, Energy Star and the Weatherization Assistance Program, contribute to job growth and make it easier for customers to invest in energy efficiency products and upgrades. In his fiscal-year 2018 budget proposal, Trump called for the elimination of both Energy Star and the Weatherization Assistance Program. These programs enjoy bipartisan support and provide strong benefits to residential and business customers across the country, especially in rural areas where Trump won the presidency with a large majority of votes.
Jun 09 2017
JEC Democrats Report: American Consumers Are on Track to Save $2 Trillion on Energy Costs
Joint Economic Committee Democrats released a report today on energy efficiency and the important role it plays as a component in the clean energy economy. This report follows President Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, impacting millions of Americans who are employed in the clean energy economy. The report outlines how the application of energy efficiency technologies creates well-paying jobs, lowers government spending, saves consumers and businesses money, increases competitiveness for businesses, and reduces carbon emissions. Congress must now invest in projects and research that foster job growth and the expansion of the energy efficiency economy.
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, delivered the following statement at today’s hearing entitled “Economic Aspects of the Opioid Crisis.” In his opening remarks, Ranking Member Heinrich highlighted the impact of Medicaid cuts to substance abuse treatment and mental health care in the House Republicans’ TrumpCare bill.
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), ranking member of the Joint Economic Committee, said President Trump’s policies have hurt job growth. “After more than 130 days in office, President Trump has yet to show us he is serious about creating jobs and raising wages across the country. Rather, he has pushed for policies that will only hinder economic growth: a disaster of a health care plan that will kick millions off their health insurance, a budget that threatens working families, and reckless practices by his administration that only endanger the economic security of every American while he benefits,” Heinrich said.