Issues

Jobs and the Economy

Jim's top priority is creating good paying jobs here in Minnesota. In the past year, Jim played an important role in passing legislation that created and saved up to 2.4 million jobs since 2009. As Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee he is pushing ahead with a transportation bill that will create 174,000 jobs in Minnesota, over six years, without adding a dime to the deficit. In 2009, Jim supported an increase in the minimum wage that added more than $5 billion in wages to the lowest income earners in America. In 2009, Jim worked to pass the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work.

Fiscal Responsibility

Jim knows we can't spend money we don't have, which is why he supported the Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 2010. PAYGO is simple: new spending of tax cuts must be paid for. It's the same common sense discipline every family uses when they pay their bills every month, and it's the same common sense discipline that eliminated deficits during the Clinton administration. When Republicans took control of Congress and the White House in January of 2001 they inherited a budget surplus. America was on track to eliminate the national debt in 10 years. After $4 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans that weren't paid for, a $700 billion prescription drug plan that wasn't paid for, two wars that weren't paid for, and an economic recession, Republicans handed over a budget with deep deficits. Jim understands that we cannot afford to pass these burdens on to our children and is committed to fiscal responsibility.

Healthcare

Jim supported the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that will expand coverage and provide quality, affordable health care for all Americans. The law bars insurance companies from discriminating based on pre-existing conditions, health status, or gender; creates competitive marketplaces where individuals and small businesses can buy affordable health care coverage; and provides families and small businesses with the largest tax cut for health care in history. Recognizing that 65 million Americans live in communities where they cannot easily access a primary care provider, the law makes key investments in the health care workforce by incentivizing them to work in underserved, rural areas.

Medicare/Social Security

Jim's work in support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ensured that it made important investments in Medicare. The law extends the solvency of Medicare, closes the Medicare Part D prescription drug donut hole, provides free, annual wellness visits, and eliminates out-of-pocket copayments for preventative benefits. Jim opposes privatization of Social Security and strongly supports protecting retirement security for Americans.

Veterans

Minnesotan's have served and continue to serve our country. It is our responsibility to care for and honor these brave men and women, and their families. Jim has worked to pass the largest increase in veteran's benefits in the 70 year history of the Veterans Administration. Jim has worked to implement advance appropriations for the Veterans Administration to ensure that they are able to plan for and deliver efficient and effective care. Jim is committed to ensuring that every returning service member is able to receive a college education, and was proud to support the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

Education

Jim believes that education is an investment in our future and we must ensure our children are prepared for the challenges of the 21st century . Jim fully supports early childhood education and has worked to strengthen our schools by supporting funding to prevent teacher layoffs and education cuts. Jim supports the goals of accountability and equality in education, but he believes the No Child Left Behind law is in need of reform. Jim has worked to pass legislation that makes higher education more affordable by lowering student loan interest rates, and increasing grants for low-income students.

Transportation Reauthorization Bill

As Chairman of the House Transportation Committee Jim authored the Surface Transportation Act, legislation that will invest $450 billion in U.S. roadways and transportation infrastructure over the next six years. This legislation lays out a vision for our surface transportation infrastructure that meets today's needs and tomorrow's challenges. The legislation will address the growing investment gap in the nation's infrastructure, move our people and goods to market more efficiently, improve the safety of our roads and transit system, reduce congestion, and create over 6 million jobs without adding a dime to the deficit.

Wall St. Reform

The financial crisis of 2008 caused an economic recession that cost 8 million Americans their jobs and $17 trillion of lost savings for American families. Jim strongly supports Wall Street reform that rebuilds a stable financial system and ensures that Minnesota families never again have to be the lifeline for failing Wall Street firms. He has worked to pass legislation making Wall Street more transparent and accountable, ending the concept that an institution is "too big to fail," and protecting consumers from abusive and confusing financial products. These are common sense rules that people on Main Street live by every day.

Gulf Oil Spill

The explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig killed 11 workers and sent millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. In the wake of the disaster, Jim led hours of congressional hearings and authored the Oil Spill Accountability and Environmental Protection Act. This legislation holds BP accountable for cleaning up their mess - not the taxpayers, prohibits big oil from using foreign flagged vessels to avoid the more stringent safety standards of the U.S., and requires more thorough review and public disclosure of oil spill response plans.