Jobs and the Economy

Congressman Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) has introduced legislation aimed at strengthening America’s economic competitiveness by providing a dedicated revenue source to invest in our national freight infrastructure. The Congressman’s bill, H.R.5624, Economy in Motion: The National Multimodal and Sustainable Freight Infrastructure Act, would dedicate roughly $8 billion a year to freight-related infrastructure projects throughout the nation, with a focus on intermodal projects and projects that help reli... Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Alan Lowenthal and 29 other members of the California Delegation sent a letter today urging U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe to reject the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) recent pilot program with Staples office supply chain. On November 10, 2013, the USPS and office supply retailer, Staples, announced a pilot program that would put postal retail units in more than 80 Staples stores across the country, including 30 Staples stores in California. “The US... Read more

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Alan Lowenthal today commended Senate bipartisan action on legislation to extend unemployment insurance for nearly three million Americans, and called on the House to follow suit by passing Congressman Dan Kildee’s companion bill. The Senate passed the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act by a vote of 59 to 38, which retroactively extends emergency unemployment insurance through the end of May. “Bipartisan action in the Senate on unemployment insurance... Read more

On March 4, 2014, Congressman Lowenthal released the following statement on President Obama's proposed FY15 budget: "I am encouraged that the President's budget includes proposals to invest in infrastructure, job training, advanced manufacturing, preschool and other critical areas that will help move America forward. Most importantly, the President lays out a way to pay for these plans by closing tax loopholes enjoyed by the wealthy and well-connected." Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Building on their efforts to assist our nation's long-term unemployed, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) was joined by Reps. Jon Runyan (R-NJ), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) and Tom Reed (R-NY) in introducing legislation that would incentivize businesses to hire qualified individuals that have been out of work for 27 weeks of more. The bill, H.R. 3726, the Long-term Unemployed Hiring Incentive Act, would extend the successful Work Opportunity Tax Credit program to allow companies... Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Alan Lowenthal today introduced the “American Unemployed Worker Investment Act,” which extends tax incentives to small businesses who hire workers currently receiving unemployment benefits. If enacted, small businesses with 10-25 full-time employees would be able to qualify for a $4,000 per employee tax credit for up to two years under the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). To qualify, the employees must be kept on payroll for at least one year, working at least 3... Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Congressman Alan Lowenthal today released the text of a recent letter he authored to Boeing CEO W. James McNerney, Jr., calling on the aerospace firm to select Long Beach, California as the manufacturing site for the next generation 777x airliner. Congressman Lowenthal, joined by 46 of his California Congressional delegation colleagues on both sides of the aisle in signing the letter, highlighted the many advantages to Boeing in selecting Long Beach as the home of the 777x. Th... Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Alan Lowenthal released the following statement today regarding the House of Representatives vote on the Continuing Resolution: “Every day that the federal government remains closed means more families, students, veterans, and businesses do not have access to the federal services they need or depend on. Head Start programs, small business loans, veterans’ benefits, social security applications, passport and visa services – the list of delayed or closed services goe... Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Alan Lowenthal today marked the 50th Anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s Equal Pay Act of 1963 and continued his support for the 113th Congress’ Paycheck Fairness Act. The Equal Pay Act prohibits employers from pay discrimination with regard to sex in the payment of wages to employees working within the same establishment and working at jobs that require equal skill, effort, and responsibility. According to a new report from the American Association of Unive... Read more