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Two Torres Bills Included in House Dem "Make It in America" Jobs Plan

July 12, 2016

WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) applauded the recent release of House Democrats’ new “Make It in America” plan, a comprehensive legislative strategy to grow and strengthen the American economy. The plan includes two of Rep. Torres’s bills, H.R. 2485, the Regional Infrastructure Accelerator Act (RIAA), a bill to help fill the infrastructure funding gap, and H.R. 2601, the Job Opportunities between Our Shores (JOBS) Act, which would connect educational institutions with manufacturers to give workers the training and skills they need to find jobs in growing industries.

“I was proud to join Whip Hoyer last year during the ‘Make It in America: What’s Next?’ hearing series to explore how our jobs plan can respond to new challenges as well as new opportunities in today’s economy,” said Rep. Torres. “What we found reflected what I learned during my own Job Creation Listening Tour of the 35th District – our infrastructure system is failing to keep up with our growing economy and too many good-paying jobs are going unfilled, because employers can’t find employees with the skills they need. RIAA and the JOBS Act will help address these challenges, and I was happy to see them both included in the House Democrats’ new jobs plan.”

Last year, Torres joined other Members of Congress, representatives from labor and business, entrepreneurs, innovators, and educators during the “Make It in America: What’s Next?” hearing series to explore how the economy has changed since the “Make It in America” plan was first introduced in 2010 and what families and businesses need to succeed in today’s economy. The new “Make It in America” plan focuses on four themes that build on the ideas explored during the hearing series:

  • Expand Entrepreneurship & Innovation

  • Close the Skills Gap

  • Build a 21st Century Infrastructure

  • Break Down Barriers to Manufacturing in the US.

“I’m pleased to include two bills introduced by Rep. Torres in the new Make It In America plan,” said Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) who visited the 35th District in 2014 and learned first-hand the economic challenges facing the Inland Empire. “The JOBS Act would help ensure current and prospective employees are equipped with the skills needed in today’s economy, and the Regional Infrastructure Accelerator Act would help ensure we have the 21st century infrastructure we need to attract and retain businesses here in the U.S. I thank Rep. Torres for introducing these bills to help close the skills gap, build the infrastructure we need to remain competitive, and ensure more of our workers can make it in America.”

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