Congressman David Trone (D),
 U. S. Congress

(6/1) Good news is often hard to find, especially on television and the internet. This doesn’t mean good things are not happening. It’s just that most of these outlets seem to thrive on accidents, crime, and disaster. And lately, we’d need to add the economy to the bad-news list.

Much of this is understandable. The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged every corner of America, and we continue to struggle to recover fully. Consumers and businesses face rising prices and shortages of essential products. Political division has taken its toll on our government and each of our communities, stalling important measures aimed at bolstering our economy and our society. War and unrest around the world threaten peace and prosperity in communities here and abroad.

There is no question that we are living in difficult times. But, despite what we’re constantly reading in the news and even seeing in our daily lives, there are signs of good news that we should not ignore. It may not be on the front page or at the top of the news hour, but it’s happening — and we’re better off because of it.

Unemployment in Maryland and across the country is the lowest it’s been since the beginning of the pandemic. At a rate of 4.6% in Maryland, and 3.6% nationwide, more people are working now than at any point during the last two years. The fastest growing industry, leisure and hospitality, is a promising sign for our economic recovery. Those working in restaurants and hotels — some of the most significantly impacted by public health restrictions for the past two years — are returning to work in droves. And their customers are returning, too; 65% of adults reported eating out in just the past week.

Unlike a few years ago, the lower employment rate is not a result of people leaving the labor force. Labor force participation reached 62.4% in March, a rate near pre-pandemic levels. But perhaps the most promising sign of economic recovery is our record-breaking 11 straight months of job growth. In March alone, the US added 431,000 new jobs. Many of them offer a dual-incentive: good wages and benefits for workers, and support of industries critical to our communities — infrastructure, transportation, and healthcare especially.

I’m not suggesting in any way that we do not have challenges in the economy that must be addressed. Inflation is one of these issues. "Inflation" is the economist's word for a rising cost of living, and it can be devastating for individuals, families, and businesses. From the grocery store to the gas pump and everywhere in between, things simply cost more these days. And while the federal government has taken steps to curb the effects of inflation, it certainly is taking a toll.

But even here, there is another side of the story. For example, recent statistics show promising growth in wages, a trend that is reaching lower-income workers. Rising income will be an important boost for families throughout the country, especially when some of the other factors causing higher prices are brought under control.

Other promising signs are evident as well. We’ve made an historic investment in workers, families, businesses, and communities over the past year. The American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invested trillions of dollars in the American people and set our country up for continued success in the years to come. We’ll repair the crumbling roads, bridges, and airports that support our economy — and create tens of thousands of jobs while we’re at it.

One of the reasons I left business to enter public service is because government typically does not plan for the future. I’m delighted to say that this is an exception to that. It’s an example of government making an investment with a long-term payout for the entire economy.

Much of this money will be invested right here in Frederick County, with millions coming to support flood mitigation, improve access to behavioral intervention and crisis support, celebrate our rich and diverse history, repair our roads, and support transportation infrastructure to allow Frederick County to continue to be a wonderful place to live and work. These investments provide an excellent foundation on which to build. The worst thing we could do is to stop the progress we’re making in Maryland and across the country.

Here’s something else that isn’t prominent in the news: we’re accomplishing all of this while reducing the federal deficit. The budget requested by President Biden earlier this year accounts for nearly $1 trillion in deficit reduction. One of the best things is we are reducing the deficit without raising taxes on middle and low-income households. I continue to be committed to increasing tax rates for millionaires and billionaires, and fighting to close loopholes that allow large corporations and their shareholders to avoid paying their fair share. But I will not support higher taxes for anyone else. Period.