Remarks by Congresswoman Sara Jacobs During Opening Hearing of Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth

Press Release

The House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth held its first hearing Thursday, titled "The Nature and Consequences of American Economic Disparity." Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi attended the full hearing and gave opening and closing remarks. (Full hearing video here)

Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) is one of just eight Democrats appointed to the committee by Speaker Pelosi, and the only freshman member. During her remarks at the hearing, Congresswoman Jacobs spoke about inheriting wealth, pointing out that she is a beneficiary of America's unjust economic system. Jacobs added, "I think it's incumbent on all of us, and especially those of us who benefited from the system, to make sure that we're partners in the solution and that we're working together to try to solve it."

The Select Committee is modeled after the Temporary National Economic Committee that was established by President Roosevelt and Congress during the Great Depression. The Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth will study and recommend policies to make our economy work for everyone, ensuring that no one is left out or left behind as the economy grows.

Congresswoman Jacobs' opening remarks were as follows (video link here):

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to our witnesses, not for only being here and talking to us, but also for all of your great work. I know it often might feel like you are toiling in the darkness and no one is watching all the work you are doing, but we really do appreciate it, and I'm glad we're able to shine a light on it today. And to the Speaker, for creating this committee and for really elevating this important issue, which I think is the central issue of our time, and also for appointing me to this committee.

I'm the freshman on the committee, but in addition to that, I have a very different experience with inequality. I benefited from it.

I am the beneficiary of this very unfair system.

And you know, I think if my colleagues on the other side of the aisle were here, they would be spending a lot of time talking about merit, and why it's okay we have this inequality because of merit.

But what I did to inherit my wealth was that I was born. That's what I did to earn it.

And so I think it's important when we're talking about this issue, that the people who are experiencing poverty, the people who are experiencing stagnation in growth -- they didn't create this problem. And I think it's incumbent on all of us, and especially those of us who benefited from the system, to make sure that we're partners in the solution and that we're working together to try to solve it.

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