Wall Street reform and other Democratic policies have given our country the strongest consumer protections in history, and we must fight against Republican efforts to roll them back.  As we enter the eighth year of economic expansion that began under President Barack Obama, and as the stock market blows past tech bubble highs, we must be wary that cyclical downturn could be just around the corner.  The impacts of any downturn will be exacerbated by the loss of revenue that has been incurred by the Tax Scam recently passed by Congress, which will saddle the federal government with $1.5 trillion in debt, with 70% of the benefits flowing to the richest in our country.  As your Congressman, I will fight to restore a progressive tax code that allows everyone to pay their fair share, and does not penalize coastal states that voted for Hillary Clinton.

As a former management consultant to Fortune 500 companies and current owner of a small business, I’ve seen the impact that technology has had in disrupting businesses and shifting paradigms.  With the advent of artificial intelligence and greater automation of work, we must be prepared to retrain our workforce for the 21st century job market.  We must also fully support our nascent green economy, which is already creating a manufacturing and employment boom here in California, while bettering our environment.  Green jobs, whether in installing solar panels, building windmills, or making buildings more energy efficient, are jobs that cannot be offshored.

It is nearly impossible to live on the current federal minimum wage, which has remained unchanged since 2009, at $7.25 per hour.  Raising the minimum wage and linking it to inflation or a cost of living index is essential to boosting the overall economy.  Protecting workers’ rights and the right to collective bargaining is also essential to protecting the middle class.  If President Trump presents a sensible plan for infrastructure investment that does not shortchange workers and the environment, he can expect bipartisan support from Congress.  Congressional District 39 is in dire need of federal infrastructure investment.  The 57/60 interchange is rated the worst in the nation for traffic accidents, and the east San Gabriel Valley deserves a terminus for the Metro Gold Line extension.  As your Congressman, I will fight for the federal dollars we need to improve the quality of life in this district.