Skip to main content

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

Publications

May 10 2024

Protecting Groundwater is Essential for our Country and Economy

Groundwater, or water found underground, plays an outsize role in supporting the U.S. economy, with 90% of U.S. water systems relying on groundwater to meet demand. It is particularly vital for agricultural production and for the estimated 13 million American households that rely on private wells for their drinking water. In the United States, approximately 30% of the freshwater used for drinking, cooking, agriculture, and other important needs comes from groundwater.

Groundwater is a life-giving resource in every state across the United States, which also means threats like drought, contamination, and overuse threaten the entire nation. Recent analyses have shown that climate change and overpumping pose an increasing threat to the quality and quantity of groundwater supplies across the United States. Given the importance of groundwater to the U.S. economy and public health, it is essential that local, state, and federal governments build on recent federal investments in infrastructure and invest in proven management strategies to protect this vital resource.

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 19 2024

State by State Data: March 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. The below map and chart created by the Joint Economic Committee highlight key trends in the most recent monthly data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The most recent state-level data, which cover the month of March 2024, were released on April 19th, 2024. The latest national data were released on April 5th, 2024.

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.