The primary focus will be on business growth and job creation.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-St. Petersburg, has been selected to serve as co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition Task Force on Economic Growth for the 115th Congress.

The task force will be primarily focused on creating a positive economic climate geared toward boosting growth and promoting job creation. Under the leadership of Crist and co-chair, U.S. Rep. Lou Correa, D-CA, the group will advance policies that accelerate the economic recovery, create good job opportunities for middle-class Americans, and assist small business owners in growing their companies. Task force members include U.S. Reps. Daniel Lipinski, D-IL; David Scott, D-GA; Kyrsten Sinema, D-AZ;, and Mike Thompson, D-CA.

“While our economy continues to recover from the great recession, too many hardworking Americans still struggle to find good-paying jobs and entrepreneurs still face difficulties to secure loans needed to start or expand their own businesses,” Crist said. “It’s our job in Congress to work together to address these challenges, creating an environment that fosters economic growth. This means raising wages, providing tax breaks for small businesses hiring, and expanding access to capital—particularly for women- and minority-owned businesses. I look forward to our work on the Task Force to strengthen our economy so our middle class and Main Street can prosper.”

Correa said, “Hard working folks in my community and all across this country never fully recovered from the recession. These families are still struggling every day to get by and achieve the American Dream. It is our job in Congress to work together and develop policies that allow small businesses and employers to thrive and grow. Folks today need the same kind of good paying jobs that my generation grew up on. This task force will be a tool to strengthen our economy and give Americans a chance at reaching the middle class.”

Lipinksi said, “The Blue Dogs are continuing their tradition of strong leadership on economic growth, fiscal responsibility, government reform and accountability, and national defense. The taskfForces will play a key role to move our country forward on these principles—it’s what the American people want. We look forward to working with our Republican and Democratic colleagues in Congress to pursue smart policies that will strengthen our economy and national defense, and, most importantly, our country.”

Crist represents Florida’s 13th Congressional District, which includes mid- and south Pinellas County.

For information about Crist, go to crist.house.gov.

Charlie Crist | Economic Growth | Task Force | Economy | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

#CharlieCrist #EconomicGrowth #TaskForce #Economy #TampaBayNews #TBReporter