WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen has been appointed chairman of Congress' Joint Economic Committee, a panel of House and Senate members that advises Congress on how to grow the economy.
"We need jobs, better salaries and a stronger Minnesota and U.S. economy, and as the chairman … I will make these my priorities," the Republican from Eden Prairie said in a statement.
The appointment by House Speaker Paul Ryan comes as Paulsen faces a challenging contest in the 2018 midterm elections. He'll be running in the Twin Cities' southwest suburbs in a district that voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and is a top priority for national Democrats. Dean Phillips, a wealthy businessman, is the Democratic front-runner in a race that's likely to be expensive and high-profile.
The Joint Economic Committee helped direct the GOP's overhaul of the tax code last month and has held hearings on the opioid crisis, unemployment, entrepreneurship, and the gap in labor shortages and job skills. As a member of the panel, Paulsen led a hearing last fall called the Dynamic Gains from Free Digital Trade.
"The JEC has a long history of bringing together the best ideas from both parties and both chambers to advise Congress on how to grow our economy and promote trade, innovation, entrepreneurship and economic opportunity for all Americans, and I look forward to leading these discussions in my new role," Paulsen said.
Maya Rao
