Issue Position: Jobs and the Economy

Issue Position

Jennifer believes we need to create an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top. Wages and benefits are not keeping pace with costs. In the State Senate, she voted in favor of several measures that would raise the minimum wage, and has introduced legislation that would ensure women doing the same job as men receive equal pay and employment benefits. She also introduced legislation that would have established Paid Medical Leave in Virginia.

Jennifer believes that making investments in our workforce is a key to growing our economy. As our state and our nation evolve from an industrial to a technology-based economy, our workers must be prepared for the jobs of the future, not those of the past. Jennifer supports increased investments in career and vocational training, and retraining for those who have been displaced from the workforce.

Too often, wages have not kept pace with costs and the increased use of low-bid or unrealistic contracts has resulted in an American workforce doing more work for less pay. In Congress, Jennifer will support increasing wages and salaries, establishing paid family and medical leave programs nationwide, revitalizing America's middle-class, protecting and expanding workers' rights, making affordable housing more accessible to Americans, reining in Wall Street, and supporting America's small businesses and entrepreneurs.

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