House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has selected Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) for a new House committee that she created to address wealth inequality.
The story: Ocasio-Cortez is one of the lawmakers that Pelosi tapped to join the 8-member Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth. Other lawmakers who were appointed to the committee include Reps. Jim Himes (D-CT) who will serve as chairman, Pramila Jaypal (D-WA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Angie Craig (D-MN), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Gwen Moore (D-WI).
Pelosi announced the picks in a press release earlier this week, saying the committee will put forward proposals meant to tackle the pay gap and “to make our economy work for everyone, powering American economic growth while ensuring that no one is left out or left behind in the 21st Century Economy.”
“We must end the health, economic, and environmental injustice that affects people’s lives, and it must be done soon,” Pelosi said. “The priority of addressing wealth and financial disparity is a broad one, encompassing many concerns and constituencies. That is why I am proud to name Members to the Committee who reflect the array of these challenges. With this Committee, we can Build Back Better in a way that ensures liberty, prosperity and opportunity for all.”
According to the press release, Ocasio-Cortez was chosen as a member of the new committee because of her focus on “generational disparities and increasing worker power in the economy.”
Ocasio-Cortez’s response: The New York congresswoman said the formation of the committee “is an extremely important moment.”
“One of the things that would be interesting for us to examine is that we should probably revisit some of the basic macroeconomic assumptions about the U.S. economy and not take for granted that inflation is due to one thing or another, or that full employment is impossible in the United States of America,” Ocasio-Cortez said at a news event for the new committee.
The New York Democrat said she wants to make sure that “every American has a dignified job.”
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