Economy

The President's economic policy has failed.  Tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans have failed to stimulate growth while unemployment continues to grow.  America needs a bold, new economic agenda that helps working families and creates jobs.

I support extending unemployment benefits and health insurance to help those suffering from long-term unemployment support their families.  Many of these Americans also need job training to get them back to work at jobs that pay a livable wage.  I am working with fellow Democrats in crafting an economic stimulus package to get the economy moving, create prosperity for all Americans, and help states like California provide services to working families.

Joint Economic Committee Democrats

2007-03-12: Letter to US Trade Representative Schwab
Letter to United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab regarding the dangerous public health effects of intellectual property protections for brand name pharmaceuticals in FTA negotiations.

2007-01-31: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark In Support of Funding Government Activities
Cleaning up a mess is never fun, but because Republicans failed to take ‘personal responsibility’ for this year’s budget, it is necessary. While adhering to the spending limit in the Republican budget, it provides significant funding increases to several important programs.



2007-01-10: Statement of Representative Pete Stark Supporting an Increase in the Minimum Wage
For far too long, working class Americans have been struggling to make ends meet at $5.15 an hour, a wage that leaves a family of three more than $6,000 below the poverty line. Today we can make a real difference in the lives of millions of Americans by increasing the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour.


2006-12-08: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark Opposing the Last Gasp Republican Tax Breaks
Tax breaks for the rich and new oil for Cheney and the gang…looks like Republicans really won one for the Gipper today.



2006-06-22: Statement of Representative Pete Stark In Opposition to Estate Tax Repeal
A cartoonist couldn’t draw a clearer illustration of the Republicans’ misguided priorities. Though 46 million Americans lack health insurance and millions of children are denied access to quality education, Republicans insist on enriching those who least need our assistance.



2006-06-20: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark In Opposition to Wasteful Defense Appropriations
H.R. 5631 provides billions more for missile defense systems that are nothing but a pipe dream and a War in Iraq that has turned into an international nightmare. Defense spending will now total more than half of the entire federal discretionary budget!



2006-06-08: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark in Support of Equal Access
When Google was being run out of a college dorm, the search page loaded just as quickly as Yahoo or MSN or the Comcast corporate website.  The ability for so-called “garage inventors” to enter the market without paying a toll or suffering degraded service enabled the Internet’s rapid growth and success.


5/17/2006: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark Opposing the Republican Budget
It appears the third time’s the charm for the Republican leadership. Unfortunately, the same is not true for working Americans who will be worse off under yet another morally reprehensible Republican budget. This budget insults students, attacks veterans, and bankrupts future generations.



3/8/06: Stark Introduces the Trade Sanction Avoidance Act
U.S. Representative Pete Stark (D-CA, 13th) made the following statement to open "The American Automobile Industry in Crisis," a national e-hearing...read more



12/13/05: Stark Participates in National E-Hearing to Address the U.S. Automobile Crisis
U.S. Representative Pete Stark (D-CA, 13th) made the following statement to open "The American Automobile Industry in Crisis," a national e-hearing...read more



9/27/05 — Letter to Resources Chairman Pombo (pdf):
Letter to President Bush requesting that he reinstate prevailing wage laws in areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina.



7/28/05: Stark Lands $13 Million for 13th District
Today, U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA, 13th) will announce more than $13 million in highway, public transportation and recreational projects for California's 13th Congressional District...read more



7/27/05: Stark Speaks Out Against CAFTA
Today, U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA, 13th) entered the following statement into the record in opposition to the upcoming vote on the U.S. - Central America – Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)...read more



7/26/05 -- Stark Statement Opposing the Small Business Health Fairness Act
I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 525, the regurgitated Association Health Plan (AHP) bill. This is the fourth vote on this exact same legislation in as many years.  So, if my statement sounds familiar, that’s because it has all been said before.



7/26/05 -- Stark Statement Opposing the Sham Republican Vote on China
I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3283, the so-called United States Trade Rights Enforcement Act.  This bill purports to address China’s lax enforcement of is international trade obligations.  In fact, this bill does little to address serious trade issues with China, and it is on the House floor for only one reason: to garner votes for CAFTA later this week.



7/12/05 -- Stark Statement Opposing Republican Disregard for Worker Health and Safety
I rise today in strong opposition to the Republican attack on workplace health and safety represented by the four bills offered today amending the Occupational Safety and Health Act.



6/15/05: Stark Moves to Block CAFTA Without Access to Generic Drugs for CAFTA Countries
U.S. Representative Pete Stark (D-CA, 13) and Rahm Emanuel (D-IL, 5th) will offer an amendment today to block passage of CAFTA if Congress and the President do not agree to drop an article which limits generic drug access to Central American countries...read more



5/10/05: Stark Works to Save Pensions
Today, U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-Fremont), joined by United Airlines employees, union officials and colleagues in Congress, spoke out on behalf of United Employees at risk of losing 30 to 60 percent of their pensions..read more



4/28/05: Stark Comments on Budget Bill
House budget requires deep cuts in Medicaid, Head Start, environmental initiatives, childcare and education, while simultaneously maintaining tax cuts for the rich.



4/20/05 -- Press Release -- Trade:
Stark Joins Colleagues in Bipartisan, Bicameral Opposition to the Central American Free Trade Agreement



3/2/05 -- Floor Statement -- Opposing H.R. 127, the Job Training Improvement Act
"Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 27, the so-called Job Training Improvement Act of 2005.Today’s bill has nothing to do with improving job training for our workforce – far from it. Instead, this bill actually weakens worker protections, opens the door to hiring discrimination, and dismantles the employment service program that helps unemployed workers find jobs."



2/7/05 -- Press Release -- President's Budget:
Bush Budget Falls Short on Truth and Values