ECONOMY

Cosponsored Taxpayer Assistance Act (referred to Senate Committee on Finance) as Oversight Subcommittee Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee to ensure greater transparency in Internal Revenue Service practices and to protect elderly and low-income citizens from the predatory practices of approved private debt collection companies
Originally opposed Iraq invasion and has been working tirelessly since 2005 to exit Iraq as a founding member of the Out of Iraq congressional caucus to end the occupation
Passed Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 (passed both chambers, pending enactment) , which amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and raises minimum wage over 40% on an incremental schedule to $7.25 an hour
Cosponsored Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008 (before Senate) extending unemployment benefits by up to 100% for recession victims
Pushed for a broad housing legislation package, including, but not limited to:

FHA (Federal Housing Authority) Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention Act of 2008 (on Union calendar) , which provides for $300 billion in refinanced mortgages for families deemed at risk of foreclosure, and places the burden of repayment on lenders and borrowers instead of taxpayers to prevent the authorization of government bailouts of mortgage lenders
Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008 (referred to Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs)) , authorizing the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to disburse $15 billion in loans to states to rehabilitate foreclosed properties and neighborhoods devastated by numerous foreclosures
Cosponsored Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008 (on Union calendar) authorizing an additional $10 billion to states to provide loans to first-time homebuyers and refinance sub-prime loans; the Act also includes reforms to push for the development of low-income housing and gives a tax credit to first-time homebuyers, which functions as an interest-free loan and housing market stimulant

Serves as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Labor Taskforce, which acts in conjunction with labor advocates to pursue fair employment rights, and as a member of the Labor and Working Families Caucus

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