Congresswoman Susan Wild is a mother, attorney, public servant, and a dedicated member of the Greater Lehigh Valley community for more than 30 years.
The daughter of a journalist and a career Air Force officer, she was born at Wiesbaden Air Force Base in West Germany, and spent her childhood on Air Force bases across our country and around the world—an experience that shaped her lifelong commitment to the families that serve and sacrifice alongside our servicemembers. After years of moving around, she finally found a place to call home when she settled in the Lehigh Valley to start her family. Susan built a successful legal practice in the Valley while raising her two children, Clay and Addie, and later became the first woman to be appointed Allentown's City Solicitor. In November 2018, she made history again when she was elected as the first woman to represent Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Labor and Fair Wages
As a Member of the House Education and Labor Committee and Vice Chair of the Labor and Working Families Caucus, I’m working to ensure every American gets a fair shot at a good job and a safe workplace.
I’m proud to support the Paycheck Fairness Act to address gender-based pay discrimination, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act to protect older workers and ensure our jobs market is fair to everyone, and the FAMILY Act, which would establish a national paid leave program, so that all workers are able to take care of young children or relatives who need their assistance without sacrificing their careers.
I am an original cosponsor of the Raise the Wage Act, which would gradually raise the minimum wage and finally provide a much-needed raise to American workers and families’ bottom lines.
I am also an original cosponsor of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would strengthen our nation’s labor laws for the 21st century economy to ensure that workers can form a union and collectively bargain for good wages, a secure retirement, and a safe workplace.
Innovation and Regional Empowerment
I believe that a key part of being an effective advocate for workers means equipping our workforce with the skills and knowledge they need to obtain decent-paying jobs in an increasingly competitive global economy. That’s why I introduced the bipartisan Regional Innovation Act that would leverage federal knowledge and leadership to support technology and innovation hubs across the country – so that communities like the Greater Lehigh Valley have a fair shot to contribute to the nation’s economic success.
Small Business
Small businesses are part of what make the Greater Lehigh Valley home, and I am proud to stand with small business owners across our community.
I saw firsthand the devasting impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on small businesses in Pennsylvania . That’s why I voted for President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which provided access to critical economic relief for millions of small businesses across the country. I led efforts to increase funding for the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and to make sure the programs were working effectively for small businesses and their workers. I have also been a leader on the RESTAURANTS Act and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, which has provided billions of dollars in support to restaurant owners and workers that have struggled to stay in business during the pandemic. And I fought to help small businesses and arts and entertainment venues in our community receive over $20 million in relief funding as part of the Shuttered Venue Operator Grant, which was established under the American Rescue Plan. I will continue to do everything in my power to support the businesses that power our local economy and make our community strong.