Jobs and Our Economic Challenges
Our Collapse
America is stuck in a deep recession, which hit Alabama harder than other states. For years, unfair trade deals that our leadership supported have sent our jobs to China and Latin America. Once the financial crisis hit, our suffering only deepened.
Manufacturing was the foundation of our economy. The loss of manufacturing jobs has had repercussions beyond our wallets. We used to work in the town where we lived and went to church. Now we drive to work in other cities, for less pay and fewer benefits. Parents worry that their children cannot move home after college because jobs have left.
The US is on the path to become a service-only country. Yet the service industry is not a stable foundation for our economy. We must retain our ability to produce tangible goods, not rely entirely on foreign imports. This is a national security issue as well as an economic one. The US quickly mobilized for World War II due to its robust manufacturing sector. As long as we face foreign threats, we must be able to equip our troops with goods made within our own borders. Self-reliance transcends economic benefits and gives us pride in our national character.
Lack of Leadership
Since Mike Rogers took office, unemployment in East Alabama has doubled and we've lost nearly 30,000 jobs. He went to Washington promising to fight for our jobs but has fought harder for the special interests that fund him.
Rogers cast the deciding vote for an unfair trade deal that sent thousands of Alabama jobs overseas and hit Alabama worse than other states. But when the time came to vote for a massive Wall Street bailout, Rogers voted "yes" with little hesitation. When Josh spoke up about our job losses in 2008, Rogers said, "Times are not as dire as my opponent wants to make it seem when it comes to East Alabama." This is a career politician whose policies support special interests, not us.
Untapped Potential
In this economy, you deserve concrete proposals from your Representative, not more Washington sound-bites. Alabama has the resources that any state would dream about - plentiful water, moderate climate, and hardworking people. However, we do not use these resources to their maximum effect on our economy and lives. We are ripe for economic growth but the career politicians who represent us have not laid the foundation needed for this growth to take off.
The universities within our district perform amazing research on the production of alternative energy. We must use the technologies developed within our academic centers to tap into Alabama's energy potential. Our state has more timber than Iowa has corn. Every year we produce 4 million tons of waste from agriculture and timber industries that could be used for biofuels. As a member of Congress, I would make sure that these resources repower our nation and create jobs instead of going to waste.
Lack of irrigation prevents millions of acres in Alabama from being farmed. Our farmers lose crops due to summer droughts, even though we have the rainfall to sustain the crops. Irrigation is an investment that will bring a huge economic return for the Third District. Irrigating an additional 5 million acres could bring as much revenue as the state's automobile industry. I would support improving our irrigation infrastructure, creating economic growth and helping our farmers.
A New Foundation
In order to attract new industries and jobs to Alabama, we must improve our infrastructure. More than one out of four bridges in Alabama is structurally deficient or not functional. 16% of Alabama's major roads are in poor or mediocre condition. For every dollar that we invest in infrastructure, $1.59 is produced in the economy. This money stays in our local economy and exchanges many hands, creating a ripple of benefits. It's time that we get a return on the money we send to Washington instead of wasting it on bailouts for the special interests.
Alabama ranks at the bottom of the nation in internet access — only 62% of homes can access the web. Businesses are unlikely to open in an area where they cannot operate efficiently with a fast connection. Entrepreneurs need high-quality access to launch small businesses. $7.2 billion in federal funds have been set aside to increase broadband access, but Mike Rogers has yet to bring a cent of these funds to East Alabama. I will fight to expand broadband access in East Alabama, allowing free enterprise to bloom in the District.
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