On the recordOctober 25, 2021
I thank the gentleman from Connecticut for yielding. It is great to be joining him here on the House floor to share with our colleagues the important work that lies ahead for the Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth. Simply put, we will be exploring, questioning, and hearing potential ways to address economic challenges we are seeing across this country. We are, in fact, on a fact-finding mission as we search for policy solutions that create opportunity for every American. Leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans saw progress. In 2019, the median household income grew by 6.8 percent, the largest increase ever recorded. Minority communities saw even greater growth: Blacks Hispanics, Asians, and women. But coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, something has changed, which is why the work of this Select Committee is so timely. Labor force participation, both those seeking work and currently employed, are lows not seen since the Carter administration. Across this country there is a growing disconnect between available jobs and workers ready to work. The government should be supporting and encouraging work and the dignity that comes with it. Families across the country, from Kenosha to New York, San Francisco to Orlando, are being hurt by rising prices. They feel it when they fill up their car's tank. They feel it at the grocery store.…
