Robert Menendez

Working men and women are the backbone of our state and country – and they are the reason our economy is so resilient. Because of their productivity, we will be able not only to complete an economic recovery, but we will be able to build an even stronger, more secure economy for the 21st Century. It is imperative that these members of our workforce are paid fair wages, are protected by fair labor standards and are able to freely join a union that can defend their rights.

During my career in public service, I have made it a priority to stand up on labor issues on behalf of working New Jerseyans.  From guaranteeing a living wage to guaranteeing equal pay for equal work, from protecting jobs to creating jobs, I have approached economic issues with the understanding that when working and middle class New Jerseyans are prospering, everyone is prospering.

In recent years, even though the productivity of the American workers has continued to rise, real income has declined. That is why I have helped champion policies to help create new jobs and new economic sectors, to protect a worker’s right to unionize and to guarantee a livable wage.

Highlights

• Raising the minimum wage -- Original co-sponsor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act, which was enacted into law in 2007 and provided for workers the first raise in the minimum wage in ten years. The legislation raised the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour.Employee Free Choice Act -- Original co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act, which would require employers to honor the choice of their employees, whether they want to form a union through a majority sign-up process or the longer election process outlined in the National Labor Relations Act.

• Economic recovery package -- Helped champion the economic recovery package, which was enacted into law in 2009. This included billions of dollars invested in New Jersey to spur economic activity, create jobs and lay the foundation for economic security in the 21st Century.

• Equal pay for equal work -- Original co-sponsor of The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which helps end pay discrimination and was enacted into law in 2009. The law makes it illegal to discriminate in wages based on gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or disability and strengthens the legal recourse available to those who are subject to such discrimination.

• Alternative Minimum Tax relief -- Introduced and enacted into law as part of the 2009 economic recovery package a one-year fix to the Alternative Minimum Tax that threatened to unfairly and unexpectedly raise taxes on middle class taxpayers. New Jersey has been the state with the highest rate of taxpayers who would be subject to paying the higher Alternative Minimum Tax if no patch is passed. Before a patch was passed in the previous year, joint taxpayers earning $74,660 or more could have been subject to the paying the higher AMT. In total, more than 1.6 million New Jerseyans faced the higher tax during the previous year before the patch, and many of those were middle class taxpayers.

• Energy efficiency projects -- Created the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants program as part of the 2007 energy bill. This program, funded with $3.2 billion in the 2009 economic recovery package, helps create jobs, provide local tax relief, ensure local services and clean the air we breathe. The grants invest in energy efficiency projects undertaken by cities, towns and counties. It lowers their energy costs and provides local budget relief.

• Worthy wages for early educators -- Authored a resolution passed by Congress in 2008 supporting the goals and ideals of a National Child Care Worthy Wage Day to bring attention to the early childhood care and education staff compensation crisis.

• Tax credits for working and Middle Class families-- As a member of the Finance Committee, helped craft tax credits for up to $800 per working and middle class family. Included in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and enacted into law.

• Liberty Corridor -- Congressional champion of Liberty Corridor project, having established it as a Project of National and Regional Significance and secured tens of millions of dollars in federal investment since 2005. An area of seven northeastern counties and one western county, the Liberty Corridor of New Jersey is where multi-modal transportation systems, such as ports, highways, airports, rail lines and research facilities, play a vital role in linking and nurturing an historic base economy of manufacturing and commerce with global implications.

• Mass transit tunnel -- Helped secure a federal commitment to fully fund its portion of the new Mass Transit Tunnel across the Hudson -- a project which is now underway. This project helps create jobs, save commuters time and money and clean the air we breathe. The tunnel is expected to create 44,000 permanent jobs, in addition to 6,00 construction jobs. With train traffic into New York at maximum capacity, the tunnel project would double commuter rail capacity between New Jersey and New York and improve rail service across the Garden State and reduce congestion on roadways.