As someone who was born and raised in California, I grew up believing that America is the land of opportunity. It is a place where you can reach your full potential if you work hard.
I was fortunate to get a great education by attending California’s public schools from kindergarten through medical school. With some help from my family, scholarships, and while working part-time and taking advantage of federally-funded student loans, I was able to graduate with less than $10,000 in debt. I became a doctor and, along with my wife Janine, was able to support my family and raise my daughter Sydra. This was all possible because my country made an investment in me.
But today, many families have to work harder and harder to realize their American dream. I know many hard working families are worried that their children may end up worse off than they are.
As we continue to recover from the financial crisis that cost people millions of jobs, homes, and retirement savings, we’re also experiencing a shift in our economy. Many families are still under stress and aren't earning enough to make a decent living or to save for their retirement. At the same time, we’re living in an increasingly interconnected world where technology is reshaping our economy.
As our economy changes, we must to do a better job of keeping up. We need a plan for Sacramento County that creates more high-paying jobs and provides in-demand skills training so that workers have the opportunity to get ahead.
An economic roadmap for Sacramento County means rebuilding America’s roads, bridges, and levees to create more jobs and to modernize our economy. It means investing in education to maintaining high-quality schools that will educate the next generation of innovators. We need to focus on creating more jobs and opportunities in sectors such as high-tech and manufacturing. And we need to help every family get ahead so they not only can pay their bills, but earn enough to save for a secure retirement.
Here's the economic roadmap for Sacramento County:
- Creating Jobs & Opportunities:
- Helping Everyone Get Ahead:
- Rebuilding Our Infrastructure:
- Investing in Education:
- More on the Economic Roadmap for Sacramento County:
Creating Jobs & Opportunities:
In May of 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that more than 40,000 jobs had been created in Sacramento County since 2012. This is welcome progress since the depths of our economic and financial crisis. But there’s no question that more has to be done. Many people are continuing to look for work in an increasingly changing economy.
We need to create more jobs and opportunities in Sacramento County so more people have a shot at the American dream. We must focus on building a 21st century economy that supports small businesses and invests in technology, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy jobs. These sectors provide quality, higher-paying jobs and we should be providing our workers with the training and support to fill these jobs.
Please click here to see what I’m doing to Create more Jobs and Opportunities in Sacramento County.
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Helping Everyone Get Ahead:
As we continue to recover from a financial crisis that cost people their jobs, homes, and retirement savings, we’re also experiencing a shift in our economy. Many families are still under stress and aren't earning enough to make a decent living or save for their retirement. At the same time, we’re living in an increasingly interconnected world and the internet and technology are reshaping how our economy works.
We have to do a better job of keeping up with these changes so more families can be a part of the middle class dream and can get ahead in life.
Please click here to see what I'm doing to Help Everyone Get Ahead.
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Rebuilding Our Infrastructure:
In America, both parties have to get back to dreaming big and building big things to invest in our future. Years ago, Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt helped bring us out of the Great Depression with projects like the Hoover Dam, and Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower helped plan and build our interstate highway system. Projects like this created jobs and laid the foundation for a modern economy to support a strong middle class.
Unfortunately, our current roads and bridges are in dire need of improvement. Our outdated infrastructure endangers residents, discourages new business, and slows our economy. To create jobs and make government work for the middle class, we need to get back to the bipartisan American tradition of investing in our future.
Please click here to learn more about how I’m working to Rebuild our Infrastructure.
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Investing in Education:
As a former educator and a father of a daughter who’s now in college, investing in the next generation is very important to me. Ensuring that young people are ready for tomorrow’s jobs is one of the most critical things we can do to make our economy work for the middle class.
But graduating college students are struggling with record levels of debt while they look for work. And many parents are concerned whether their kids are learning the skills they need to keep up in our changing economy. We have to make sure the same opportunities earlier generations had are available to our children. We need to invest in our future and that starts in our schools.
Please click here to learn more about how I’m working to Invest in Education.