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Joint Economic Committee Democrats

Reports & Issue Briefs

Feb 13 2018

Retirement Security in Peril

American workers are facing a crisis: the inability to retire with dignity after a life of hard work. After years of supporting families and contributing to society, American workers are confronting a nearly empty retirement nest egg. Half of all American families near retirement have $12,000 or less in formal retirement savings.1 Not only do far too many workers earn too little to adequately save for retirement, but many more also lack access to good retirement saving plans. Many other factors, including the 2007 financial crisis and slow wage growth, have exacerbated the problem.2

Feb 05 2018

25 Years Since the FMLA, the Time for Paid Leave is Here

Since February 5, 1993, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has kept millions of workers from losing their jobs, but we can do more. FMLA covers less than 60 percent of the workforce, and it only guarantees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave, which millions of Americans cannot afford to take.

Jan 30 2018

Republicans Plan Bait and Switch on Infrastructure

The Trump administration wants better infrastructure, but doesn’t want to pay for it. Instead, the administration’s long-awaited plan is expected to shift responsibility for infrastructure onto the private sector and cash-strapped state and local governments.

Jan 25 2018

Growing Economic Impact of U.S. Freight Railroads

The volume of commerce crossing our borders has more than tripled in the last 25 years and United States freight shipments are expected to increase by 41 percent by 2040, placing a growing demand on America’s freight rail system and the 30 rail ports of entry (POEs) along our borders. As Congress considers border policies and solutions in the coming months, investment in border infrastructure to ensure our rail POEs can operate at full capacity is an important part of the conversation.

Jan 23 2018

January Economic Snapshot of the States

Although the U.S. economy overall continues its expansion following the Great Recession and associated financial crisis, the recovery can look very different from state to state. The lion’s share of economic gains are not only concentrated at the top of the income and wealth distribution, but also in a small share of regions. While some parts of the country have surged ahead, millions of Americans in urban and rural communities are still waiting for their wages to start rising again and struggling to make ends meet.

Jan 16 2018

Trump’s First Year: 10 Numbers the President Won’t be Talking About

During his first year in office, President Trump ignored the big problems, such as our nation’s crumbling infrastructure, failed to address national crises, including the opioid epidemic and Puerto Rico’s devastation following Hurricane Maria, and at every turn, acted to undermine recent gains in health insurance coverage. As we near the end of President Trump’s first year in office, below are 10 numbers that highlight the challenges ahead and which likely won’t be talked about by the administration:

Jan 11 2018

Expanding Opportunities Through Middle-Skills Education

Expanding education opportunities and increasing quality are not only good for workers and their families, but are also good for communities and the economy as a whole. Investing in proven middle-skills pathways will enhance the skills of America’s workforce, boost U.S.competitiveness, and prepare a new generation of American workers for labor market success. By scaling up these programs, regional and local communities can effectively shape the workforce to meet the needs of employers while advancing opportunities for prosperity for workers.

Jan 03 2018

December Economic Snapshot of the States

Although the U.S. economy overall continues its expansion following the Great Recession and associated financial crisis, the recovery can look very different from state to state. The lion’s share of economic gains are not only concentrated at the top of the income and wealth distribution, but also in a small share of regions. While some parts of the country have surged ahead, millions of Americans in urban and rural communities are still waiting for their wages to start rising again and struggling to make ends meet.

Dec 20 2017

Worst of 2017: How Republicans Stacked the Deck Against Working Families

This year has turned out to be a rough one for working Americans. In his first year in office, President Trump and Congressional Republicans hurt workers’ pay and benefits, rolled back consumer financial protections, targeted public lands for commercial development, and attempted to strip health care coverage from millions of Americans. Just one year into the Trump presidency and already the harm to people, communities, and the environment is considerable.

Dec 15 2017

Republican Agenda Threatens Market Stability, Puts Main Street at Risk

With equity market valuations at highs only seen right before the stock market crash of 1929 and the Dotcom crash of 2000, now is the time that policymakers should be focused on maintaining stability, protecting consumers, and promoting sustainable growth. Instead Republicans are pursuing an agenda that will feed bubbles, leave consumers and small investors vulnerable to fraud and abuse, and undermine financial stability.