Chris Coons, a Democrat, represents Delaware in the U.S. Senate.
“When did Washington stop caring about working people?”
I hear this question a lot in Delaware.
Too many Delawareans feel like they’re working as hard as they can, and somehow, they’re still just getting by, or worse. Wages are slipping further behind the cost of living, and they question whether anyone in Washington is thinking about them.
That shouldn’t be the case.
That’s why, in every policy I put forward, I make sure you are at the center.
That means focusing on three things every American wants and needs: the opportunity to succeed, security in his or her home and future, and a nation that is just.
So, what are the concerns Washington is ignoring? Stagnating wages? The rising cost of energy, healthcare and housing? The rise of artificial intelligence in the workplace?
That has to change.
It starts with raising the federal minimum wage. In 2026, $7.25 is just too low. I support a bill in the Senate to raise it to $17 an hour and tie it to inflation, so it rises as prices do. Even if you make more than minimum wage, this will help you: Raising the floor of the minimum wage tends to push other wages higher. Tying the minimum wage to inflation means security for tomorrow. When prices rise, you don’t have to wait on Congress to raise the wage time and again.
We can also help by letting you keep more of what you earn. Last year, Republicans in Congress passed a massive tax cut for the richest people in America. It should have gone to you. I support a working families’ tax cut to eliminate income taxes for anyone making less than $46,000 a year and to provide a significant tax cut for nearly three-quarters of all Americans. Unlike Republicans’ giveaways, this bill is fiscally responsible. By asking the wealthiest half-percent of Americans to pay a little bit more of their fair share, it won’t add to our national debt.
We can also give you back the money the government owes you. President Donald Trump’s tariffs raised the cost of everyday goods and illegally collected hundreds of billions of dollars from American consumers. I’m pushing the administration to refund that money to you, rather than to billion-dollar companies. After all, you paid those tariffs when companies passed the costs down to you.
Those policies will put more money into your pocket. Unfortunately, that’s only part of the problem. I haven’t forgotten what makes life in Delaware so expensive: energy, housing and healthcare.
Energy prices were already painful before President Trump’s reckless war in Iran drove them even higher. I’ve been fighting for investments in wind, solar and modern, safe nuclear technology to supply our grid because the more energy we produce, the lower our costs will be. I’m also leading the effort to improve federal weatherization assistance, which helps families and businesses upgrade roofs, insulation and HVAC systems. These small changes can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in energy savings for Delaware families.
Solving the housing crisis means building more homes, plain and simple. To start, we have to get rid of the tariffs the president placed on everything from lumber to wallboard to kitchen cabinets, which are driving building costs higher and discouraging construction. Congress should also directly invest in more affordable housing. This last year, I’ve been proud to use my seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee to fund $26 million in housing construction up and down our state.
This year, Delawareans have seen shocking health insurance cost increases. No one should have to choose between seeing a doctor and paying rent. When the Affordable Care Act works as intended, it helps tens of millions of Americans access affordable coverage. Unfortunately, Republicans keep trying to break it, most recently by cutting the tax credits that make the Affordable Care Act actually affordable. We have to restore these tax credits.
Finally, I’ve heard from so many Delawareans about artificial intelligence. When the Chrysler and GM plants closed here — in 2008 and 2009, respectively — it caused a river of loss and anger. Toward the end of the last century, my predecessors in Congress were so focused on the gains from free trade — more affordable goods for every American — that they were blind to its costs in communities across our country.
The rise of AI represents a similar turning point for our country. We cannot — we must not — make the same mistake again. AI has the potential to create incredible opportunity for Americans, but we can’t sacrifice your financial security in exchange for that potential.
A just policy will ensure that the gains from AI innovation are shared by as many people as possible. It would strengthen our safety net, so it can catch anyone who does lose a job, and it would fund robust training opportunities for those who want to switch into a new field.
It shouldn’t be this hard to live in the richest nation on Earth. By focusing on opportunity, security and justice for Delawareans, I am working to help you make and keep more money, while reducing the cost of essentials. My job is to deliver that for you.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
