PA House Democrats want to grow our economy and create good jobs across the state -- jobs that pay real wages and offer real benefits -- so everyone can have a brighter future.

21st Century Infrastructure

  • It's been 25 years since the commonwealth first launched its intent to make sure Pennsylvania stays connected on the information superhighway. House Democrats are committed to seeing it through with bipartisan legislation to ensure eveyone -- from the most rural areas of the state to high-traffic urban areas -- has access to boradband internet.

Wages

  • Ensure that everyone who works full time earns a living wage. Increasing the minimum wage and reforming how it is applied would put more money in the hands of Pennsylvanians working to afford rent, groceries and other necessities, and would ensure a Pennsylvania that works for ALL of us, not just the wealthy few.
     
  • All working people in Pennsylvania should earn equal pay for equal work. This bill would prohibit the payment of different wages to employees based on their gender for the same or comparable job.

Workforce Development

  • The Schools to Workforce Pipeline Act  would create a pipeline for high school students to transition into stable, living-wage careers. The partnership generated through this pilot program would incentivize schools and local businesses to collaborate to provide career-influenced opportunities that would address underemployment for young adults. 

Workplace Protections

  • House Democrats have introduced a package of reforms to strenthen protections for workers, provide new legal options for victims and hold those who are responsible accountable for their actions.

Small Business Support

  • Bolster programs like Business in Our Sites. Authorize grant and loan funding to local communities to convert or transform abandoned industrial sites to thriving business centers. This program will help revitalize communities with family sustaining jobs.
  • Improve existing programs, like Small Business First, by removing restrictions and recapitalize funding through Commonwealth Financing Authority funding avenues.
  • Empowering entrepreneurs with the establishment of the Pennsylvania Small Business Micro-Lending Program that would offer small, low-interest loans to be repaid within two to five years. The program funding would come from the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority transfer fees and Treasury investments.

Improve Business Climate