Issue Position: Jobs and the Economy

Issue Position

In order to keep our economy moving, Colleen believes that the people of Hawai"i must make smart, long-term investments in the state, in the country, and in all of its citizens. She supports funding important infrastructure and transportation projects, small business investments, and innovative research and technology that will keep Hawai"i and the United States competitive in the global marketplace, and achieve energy independence.

During her time in Congress, Colleen helped to bring more than $77 million in Department of Labor grants to Hawai"i including funding for veterans, job training, and workforce development. She supports the "Make it in America" agenda to help strengthen the country's manufacturing industries, while creating well-paying jobs here at home. Colleen also cosponsored the Make it in America Block Grant Program Act of 2011, which would make grants available to eligible businesses in the U.S. manufacturing sector.

Colleen supports aggressively expanding education and training initiatives that will prepare Hawai"i's students to lead the way and compete with the best and brightest around the world.

With tourism remaining the state's largest private industry, Colleen believes that Hawai"i must ensure its economy is prepared for any uncertainty that may arise in the world economy. The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in 2011 gave the local business community the opportunity to develop and foster relationships with international economic allies, while promoting the islands as not just a premier vacation destination, but also as a state ready to do business.

Hawai"i is also home to the U.S. Pacific Command, bringing public and private jobs and investment in cutting-edge research. The islands' strategic location in the Asia-Pacific is not only crucial to national security, but also to economic growth and development.

Source