113th Congress: Alan Lowenthal, D-Calif. (47th District)

By Anna McGeehan, CQ Staff

Alan Lowenthal brings to Congress a jobs-focused legislative agenda that is tied to spending on infrastructure, education and “sustainability.”

He is eager to refocus the national job-creation debate by highlighting the need to transport goods through the nation’s urban areas using the latest technologies. Lowenthal speaks passionately about what he calls “green-collar jobs” and envisions a future in which renewable technologies drive economic growth. He is quick to highlight California industry’s clean-technology business models.

Lowenthal is hoping for seats on committees that reflect not only those priorities but also the needs of his district, which is home to some of the largest ports in the United States.

Education is an equally important issue and, as is the case with his views on sustainability, Lowenthal sees education funding as part of a broader agenda. A champion of public education, Lowenthal argues that an educated workforce is crucial to a growing, prosperous economy.

“The best job developer is education,” he says.

On most issues, Lowenthal is a run-of-the-mill liberal California Democrat, but he has stepped a little out of the box on at least one topic, questioning the financial feasibility of California’s $100 billion high-speed-rail proposal, a signature priority for many Democrats in the state Capitol.