The Middle Class Jumpstart

The following is a newsletter from Congressman Frank Pallone:

As your Member of Congress, my focus has always been and will always be ensuring that every American, regardless of their race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or socio-economic status, has a fair shot at making it in this country.

Frank Pallone

Unfortunately, Republicans continue to ignore legislation in Congress that would safeguard this essential element of the American Dream. Instead, they have chosen to double-down on political stunts and partisan gridlock. Meanwhile, the American middle class remains on the losing end.

Democrats in Congress, however, have proposed a legislative initiative – called “the Middle Class Jumpstart” – that addresses the challenges facing the middle class with a three-prong strategy:

• Providing tax incentives for creating good-paying jobs here at home, as well as authorizing the repair and modernization of America’s roads, rails, bridges and broadband technology

• Guaranteeing both women and men get equal pay for equal work, as well as strengthening the “Violence Against Women Act” and expanding access to comprehensive health care and family planning

• Making college more affordable and allow students to refinance their college loans to new, lower rates, as well as increasing access to effective early childhood learning

I remain committed to passing these bills and revitalizing our middle class to ensure our nation remains prosperous and rich with opportunity for all Americans.

Frank Pallone
Member of Congress

President Obama's Weekly Address 8/16/14 : Everyone Should Be Able to Afford Higher Education

WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, with schools getting ready to open their doors again over the next few weeks, the President talked directly to students and parents about the importance of preparing for an education beyond high school. In today’s economy, some higher education continues to be the surest ticket to the middle class, but for too many families across the country, paying for higher education is a constant struggle. The President and First Lady know this first hand – they only finished paying off their student loans ten years ago – and that’s why they have made it a priority to help make college more affordable for families. They have taken action to reform student loans, expand grants and college tax credits, help make loan payments more manageable, and have proposed plans to make sure colleges also do their part to bring down costs. And just this week, as part of the President’s Year of Action, the administration announced a new series of commitments to support students who need a little extra academic help getting through college.

President Obama's Weekly Address 6/7/14: Supporting America's Students

WASHINGTON, DC -- In this week’s address, President Obama underscored the importance of helping to lift the burden of crushing student loan debt faced by too many Americans and highlighted the efforts he’s taken to ensure we uphold America’s commitment to provide a quality education for all who are willing to work for it. While the President will continue to take action on his own, he urged Congress to do its part and commended Senate Democrats for working on a bill that would help more young people save money.

President Obama's Weekly Address 8/24/13: Making Higher Education More Affordable for the Middle Class

WASHINGTON, DC— In his weekly address, President Obama noted that while college education has never been more important, it has also never been more expensive. That’s why the President proposed major new reforms to make college more affordable for middle class families and those fighting to get into the middle class. The President’s bold plan would tie federal financial aid to the value and opportunity that colleges provide students, encourage innovation and competition, and help Americans manage their existing student debt by allowing everyone to cap monthly payments at 10 percent of their discretionary income. The President acknowledged that these reforms won’t be popular with everyone – especially those who benefit from the status quo – but we have to shake up the current system because the path we’re on is simply unsustainable.

President Obama's Weekly Address 3/5/11: Cutting Waste, Investing in the Future

WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Obama called for Democrats and Republicans to come together on a budget that cuts wasteful spending without sacrificing job-creating investments in education, innovation, and infrastructure. Noting that his administration has already proposed specific cuts that meet congressional Republicans halfway, he said that he is prepared to do more and that the job can only be finished by working out the differences and finding common ground.

President Obama's Weekly Address 10/9/10: Strengthening Education, Not Cutting It

The President explains that even as we focus on creating jobs immediately, we must also ensure the economy is better for our children by investing in education – not cutting it by 20% as Congressional Republicans propose.

Commentary:In tough times, schools provide hope; Education is the key to economic recovery

BY BARBARA KESHISHIAN
Newjerseynewsroom.com

Labor Day is behind us, the beaches are nearly empty and school buses are on the road in force. It can only mean one thing: class is back in session for nearly 1.4 million public school students in New Jersey. While I'm sure many of them would have opted for just a little more summer vacation, it is time to get down to the business of learning again. And there is no better place to do that than New Jersey.

This summer brought news that New Jersey's schools are leading the nation in closing the achievement gap. The work isn't done, but we are making significant progress. Just a couple of weeks ago, the New Jersey Department of Education released information showing that 99.7 percent of our teachers are rated Highly Qualified according to federal guidelines, with almost no gap remaining between low-poverty and high-poverty districts. And New Jersey still has the nation's best graduation rate, turning out students who are well prepared for both college and work.

That is the kind of good news we've come to expect from our public schools, but it does not happen by accident. It takes a combination of talented teachers and school employees, hard-working students, involved parents and communities committed to public education. Fortunately, New Jersey has all of those in good supply.
We will need all of that and more as we enter a particularly challenging year. Times are tough here, just as they are across the country. The economy is wearing on all of us, and I'm sure that many students feel that stress and carry some of it with them to school.

Fortunately, school remains a place of hope and possibility. Because of our state's commitment to a thorough and efficient free public education, no child will be turned away from a public school this year because his or her parent lost a job or is struggling to make ends meet. In fact, for many children, school is also a place to get a nutritious meal or two along with an education.

Times like these remind us why public education — true public education — is so critical. It has always been the cornerstone of the American Dream, and the ladder that any child could use to rise above his or her circumstances and secure a better future.

That is why I am so proud to live in a place where that ideal still flourishes. Our current economic crisis has only highlighted the depth of New Jersey's commitment to its students. In a year when billions of dollars were slashed from the state budget, Gov. Corzine and the Legislature protected public schools, and even increased funding. When students returned to school, they found the people and programs in place to help them succeed.

It was an act of political courage to protect schools when so many important programs and priorities were on the chopping block, and it proved that our elected leaders have a long-term vision for New Jersey. Gov. Corzine has often repeated his belief that investing in education is an investment in New Jersey's future economic prosperity. He and the Legislature have backed that up with action.

Barbara Keshishian, a mathematics teacher in New Milford, is the elected president of 200,000 teachers, certificated staff, educational support professionals, and retired members of the New Jersey Education Association.

A New Foundation for Growth

President Obama talks about his budget and asks you to get involved by making calls and talking to friends and neighbors.