Center for American Progress

Previous Congresses Greatly Helped the Middle Class
Article

Previous Congresses Greatly Helped the Middle Class

Previous Congresses passed legislation that increased access to health care and education, expanded home ownership, protected the savings of average Americans, and ensured the rights of Americans in the workplace and beyond.

Part of a Series

As members of Congress ponder President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address this year, they should reflect on how, at critical junctures in our nation’s history, Congress made the decision to strengthen the American middle class, which proved instrumental in the country’s growth and prosperity.

Previous Congresses passed legislation that increased access to health care and education, expanded home ownership, protected the savings of average Americans, and ensured the rights of Americans in the workplace and beyond.

The current Congress would be well served by looking at their predecessors’ record when considering how to strengthen the middle class in the 21st century. In a new CAP column, Nick Bunker examines the top 10 congressional acts that greatly helped the middle class.

For more on this topic, please see:

The positions of American Progress, and our policy experts, are independent, and the findings and conclusions presented are those of American Progress alone. A full list of supporters is available here. American Progress would like to acknowledge the many generous supporters who make our work possible.

Explore The Series

Previous
Next

Just released!

Interactive: Mapping access to abortion by congressional district

Click here