Ed Markey Pathways to Opportunity - Ed Markey for Senate

Pathways to Opportunity

Education, Jobs & Lower Costs

In Massachusetts, people are working hard, playing by the rules, and doing everything right, but for too many residents and families, it’s getting harder to get ahead.

The cost of living keeps climbing, but paychecks aren’t keeping up. Housing is increasingly unattainable, and everyday expenses—from groceries to childcare—are stretching families thin.

At the same time, opportunity itself is becoming harder to access. Good jobs, quality education, and the ability to build a business are slipping out of reach. Wages have stalled, worker protections are under threat, and families are struggling to keep up. Small businesses, the backbone of our economy, are feeling the squeeze.

Instead of making life more affordable, Donald Trump’s agenda is making things worse. His reckless tariffs raise prices on everything from groceries to construction materials. His attacks on clean energy and efficiency programs are driving up utility costs. And his broader economic approach is tilted toward corporations and the wealthy, leaving working families paying more while getting less.

That’s why Ed is fighting for a comprehensive approach that lowers costs, strengthens workers’ rights, expands access to education and childcare, and creates real pathways to economic opportunity so that Massachusetts remains a state built on innovation, hard work, and opportunity.

Making Massachusetts More Affordable

Ed is focused on lowering costs and making life more affordable for Massachusetts families.

He’s working to reduce energy bills, expand affordable housing, and help families afford everyday essentials—from groceries to utilities—while taking on the policies and corporate practices that drive up costs. He’s also strengthening the safety net and investing in solutions that put money back in people’s pockets.

Lowering energy and utility costs for families by expanding heating and cooling assistance, protecting against shut-offs and excessive fees, preventing service disruptions during government shutdowns, and taking action to stabilize energy prices so households and small businesses can afford reliable, year-round access to power.
Making housing more affordable and secure by investing in the construction and preservation of affordable homes, expanding rental assistance, supporting first-generation homebuyers, and strengthening programs that prevent evictions and reduce homelessness so more families can stay safely housed.
Helping families afford groceries and put food on the table by protecting and expanding nutrition programs, ensuring uninterrupted access to benefits like SNAP and WIC even during government funding lapses, and strengthening local food systems and farmers to keep food accessible and affordable across Massachusetts.

Current Legislation:

Lead Sponsor: Stop Shut-Offs During Shutdowns Act (S.3222)
Lead Sponsor: Heating and Cooling Relief Act (S.1214)
Lead Sponsor: Lowering American Energy Costs Act of 2025 (S.3545)
Lead Sponsor: EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act (S. 3471)
Original Co-Sponsor: Housing for All Act of 2025 (S.1477)
Original Co-Sponsor: American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2025 (S.934)
Original Co-Sponsor: Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025 (S.3281)
Original Co-Sponsor: Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act of 2025 (S.3071)
Original Co-Sponsor: COLAs Don’t Count Act (S.3603)

Workers, Wages & Economic Fairness

Ed believes the economy should work for everyone—not just those at the top.

As a member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, he’s fighting to raise wages, strengthen worker protections, and ensure safe working conditions. He’s taking on corporate abuses, defending workers’ right to organize, and pushing for a fairer tax system that puts working families first.

Raising wages, advancing pay equity, and protecting workers’ benefits by supporting a higher minimum wage, eliminating subminimum wages, cracking down on pay discrimination, and ensuring workers don’t lose health coverage during labor disputes, while also strengthening Social Security benefits for when they retire.
Protecting workers on the job and strengthening labor rights by enforcing stronger safety standards; defending the right to organize and bargain without retaliation; and ensuring all workers, including public employees and part-time workers, get the fair pay, safe conditions, and basic protections that they deserve.
Lowering costs and strengthening financial support for working families by allowing deductions for union dues and job-related expenses so people aren’t taxed on the costs of doing their jobs, and expanding the Child Tax Credit to provide consistent support for parents and reduce child poverty.
Promoting fair taxation and holding corporations accountable by cracking down on extreme CEO-to-worker pay disparities, ensuring the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share through closing tax loopholes, and ending taxpayer support for union-busting.

Current Legislation:

Lead Sponsor: Warehouse Worker Protection Act (S.2613)
Lead Sponsor: Public Service Worker Protection Act (S.1881)
Lead Sponsor: Equal Tax Act (S.4122)
Lead Sponsor: Fishing Industry Safety, Health, and Wellness Improvement Act of 2025 (S.3225)
Lead Sponsor: Good Jobs for Good Airports Act
Original Co-Sponsor: Tax Excessive CEO Pay Act of 2025 (S.2818)
Original Co-Sponsor: Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act of 2026 (S.4246)
Original Co-Sponsor: Billionaires Income Tax Act (S.2845)
Original Co-Sponsor: Tax Fairness for Workers Act (S.1286)
Original Co-Sponsor: Raise the Wage Act of 2025 (S.1332)
Original Co-Sponsor: Paycheck Fairness Act (S.1115)
Original Co-Sponsor: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025 (S.852)
Original Co-Sponsor: Social Security Expansion Act (S.770)
Original Co-Sponsor: Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act (S.3547)
Original Co-Sponsor: Striking and Locked Out Workers Healthcare Protection Act (S.1984)
Original Co-Sponsor: No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act (S.1310)
Original Co-Sponsor: American Family Act (S.1393)
Original Co-Sponsor: Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act (S.4081)
Original Co-Sponsor: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act (S.3396)
Original Co-Sponsor: Nationwide Right to Unionize Act (S.2729)
Original Co-Sponsor: Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act (S.1352)
Original Co-Sponsor: BE HEARD in the Workplace Act (S.3865)
Original Co-Sponsor: Schedules That Work Act (S.3550)
Original Co-Sponsor: Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act (S.2298)

Education & Childcare

Massachusetts isn’t just the Bay State – it’s the Brain State. Ed believes that education is one of the most powerful investments we can make in our future.

That's why he is fighting to lower costs for families, strengthen public schools, support educators, and expand access to opportunity at every stage of life. Including making high-quality childcare more affordable and accessible, ensuring public schools have the resources they need, and helping students graduate without crushing debt.

Making childcare more affordable and accessible for every family by supporting universal early learning programs that cap costs and expand access, while investing in educators and providers with better pay and support to ensure high-quality, reliable care.
Protecting and strengthening public education by ensuring stable federal funding for schools and investing in modern, safe facilities so every student can learn in a healthy, supportive environment, regardless of background or income.
Expanding access to affordable higher education and reducing student debt by supporting tuition-free community college, lowering costs at public universities, increasing financial aid, expanding early college and dual-enrollment opportunities, and ensuring students can graduate without financial hardship.

Current Legislation:

Lead Sponsor: Jumpstart on College Act (S.2892)
Lead Sponsor: No Cuts to Public Schools Act (S.810)
Lead Sponsor: Pay Paraprofessionals and Support Staff Act (S.2451)
Lead Sponsor: Preparing and Retaining All Educators Act (S.2330)
Lead Sponsor: Investing in Children Before Missiles Act of 2025 (S.2422)
Original Co-Sponsor: Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2026 (S.3777)
Original Co-Sponsor: Student Loan Deduction Act of 2025 (S.2717)
Original Co-Sponsor: College for All Act of 2025 (S.1832)
Original Co-Sponsor: Healthy Families Act (S.3869)
Original Co-Sponsor: Child Care for Every Community Act (S.2939)
Original Co-Sponsor: Child Care for Working Families Act (S.2295)
Original Co-Sponsor: Pay Teachers Act (S.2481)

Small Business & Entrepreneurship

Ed knows that when small businesses succeed, communities succeed.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Ed is leading the fight to level the playing field—making sure entrepreneurs have access to the capital, tools, and opportunities they need to grow and create jobs. He is working to maximize opportunity, expand access to federal contracts, and strengthen the programs that help startups turn ideas into thriving businesses.

Investing in opportunities for entrepreneurs and driving job creation by increasing access to capital through local incubators, accelerators, and lending programs in underserved and rural communities, and investing in small business innovation to help startups grow and turn ideas into jobs.
Lowering costs and cutting red tape by exempting small businesses from reckless tariffs, securing refunds for illegal duties, and improving coordination and outreach so owners can navigate federal requirements without unnecessary confusion or risk.
Expanding opportunities and support by strengthening access to federal contracts so entrepreneurs can compete and grow, and protecting critical SBA services that provide loans, guidance, and disaster assistance.
Supporting veteran entrepreneurs and returning citizens by making it easier for veterans and citizens returning from incarceration to start and grow businesses by providing resources, lowering costs, and expanding access to financing.

Current Legislation:

Lead Sponsor: SPARK Act (S.3876)
Lead Sponsor: Small Business Liberation Act 2.0 (S.4038)
Lead Sponsor: Small Business RELIEF Act (S.2777)
Lead Sponsor: Protecting Small Business Competitions Act of 2025 (S.2656)
Lead Sponsor: Save Our Staff Act of 2025 (S.2246)
Lead Sponsor: FinCEN–SBA Coordination on Beneficial Ownership Registration Act (S.1995)
Lead Sponsor: New Start Act of 2025 (S.1499)
Lead Sponsor: Small Business Liberation Act (S.1593)
Lead Sponsor: SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.1573)
Lead Sponsor: Veteran Entrepreneurship Empowerment Act (S.3171)
Original Co-Sponsor: Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act (S.3971)