Rep. Denny Heck Appointed to Joint Economic Committee

Statement

On February 14 Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Congressman Denny Heck (WA-10) to the Joint Economic Committee.

Heck's priorities on the Joint Economic Committee will be to pursue policies that encourage economic growth, higher wages, trade deals that benefit the American worker, investments in transportation, and housing construction so more middle class Americans can afford to buy homes.

"Since entering Congress, I've used my position to ask the tough questions about our economy. When will America get a raise? When will more Americans be able to achieve homeownership?" Heck said following the appointment. "These questions all link back to developing a growing economy that expands the pie for everyone, and I'm committed to drilling down to shape economic policies that match our economic reality."

Congress created the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) as part of the Employment Act of 1946. Under this Act, Congress established two advisory panels: the President's Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) and the Joint Economic Committee. Their primary tasks are to review economic conditions and to recommend improvements in economic policy. Chairmanship of the Committee alternates between the Senate and House every Congress.

Heck is also a member of the House Financial Services Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. In his first term, he launched his "Make it in Washington" tour to connect his policy proposals with the realities of the manufacturing and business sector operating in the South Sound and convened local groups to help advocate for the completion of State Route 167. He was instrumental in the effort to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States in 2015 and helped found the New Democrat Coalition Housing Task Force to explore policy solutions to address the nationwide housing crisis.

Heck has used opportunities in the House Financial Services Committee to ask federal officials when American workers will get a raise and when the housing market will improve:

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