When nearly 60% of U.S. jobs pay under $25/hour, it’s time we build an economy that delivers for the many, not just the few. As a small business owner myself, the idea that raising wages kills jobs is a myth—and the research proves it.
Real growth means investing in people. That includes job training, support for small businesses, and public investment in the industries of the future. Economic strength should be measured by how working families are doing—not just stock prices.
When people talk about the economy, they often ignore the reality on the ground—where job security is shaky, child care costs more than rent, and too many families live paycheck to paycheck. A healthy economy isn’t built from the top down; it’s built from the middle out. Let’s focus on making sure work actually pays off and that people can build a future, not just stay afloat.
The economy may be growing for Wall Street, but too many people are being left behind. One in four workers in this country makes less than $17 an hour. Meanwhile, the cost of basic needs—food, housing, gas, childcare—has gone up and up, while wages have barely moved. The federal minimum wage hasn’t budged since 2009. To have a livable wage in Fairfax County, the average single adult needs to earn $32/hour. Right now, 18 million households struggle to put food on the table, and 12 million renters spend more than half their income just to keep the lights on. One in five families with kids is food insecure. These aren’t abstract economic figures—these are daily sacrifices made by hardworking people trying to survive in a system tilted against them.
A Livable Minimum Wage.
Dan’s Plan:
Raise the federal minimum wage to $25/hour.
Fund job training through our local schools and community colleges.
Expand small business support with grants, mentorship, and fair lending.
Use federal investment to grow clean energy, cybersecurity, and care economy jobs.