U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi of New York reaffirmed his support for the U.S. maritime industry during a speech to the Maritime Trades Department Executive Board in Washington, D.C., on May 7. While he expressed commitment to maritime and labor issues, his address primarily focused on broader challenges faced by American workers and the Democratic Party.
Suozzi highlighted economic difficulties confronting working families across the country. He stated, “I’m with you guys 100%,” but emphasized that “working men and women are not making enough money.” According to Suozzi, union members fare better with decent wages and benefits, but non-union workers face significant struggles.
He advocated for restoring the American Dream as a tangible goal for everyone: “I’ll work hard and in return for working hard, I make enough money so I have a good life… Too many Americans don’t have that anymore, and that’s why they’re [upset].”
Reflecting on past election results and current political messaging, Suozzi urged his party to regain its focus on representing working people’s interests: “My party has got to get back to a place where working men and women say, those are the guys looking out for me.”
Suozzi acknowledged the labor movement’s role in shaping the American Dream while discussing historical shifts since the 1970s toward prioritizing shareholder profits over employee welfare. He noted that despite economic growth measured by indices like Dow Jones and GDP, workers’ wages have stagnated.
Looking forward, Suozzi called for Democrats to prioritize raising wages and securing benefits: “That’s our number one priority. We’ve got to get back to that basic message.” He stressed effective communication of this platform as essential.
In conclusion, Suozzi appealed for more cooperative dialogue among individuals and organizations at all levels: “People are just fighting with each other… You need people who may disagree with each other to sit down across from each other.” He shared his involvement with The Problem Solvers Caucus aimed at fostering bipartisan cooperation.
Suozzi encouraged spreading this collaborative approach: “If you agree with what I’m saying, tell people the same thing… Spread the word with your friends and your neighbors and your colleagues.”
