Economic Opportunity
As a former UFCW union member and the granddaughter of a Teamster and the first in her family to graduate from college with the help of her union job, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter has a deep, personal commitment to fighting for the working class. As a physician, she cared every day for hardworking Oregonians who struggled to afford the basics—from housing and childcare to healthcare and groceries.
Congresswoman Dexter knows Congress must act now to create an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few. That’s why she helped introduce the Raise the Wage Act to increase the federal minimum wage to $17 an hour, a critical step toward ensuring that full-time work provides a pathway to stability.
She also supports legislation to protect the right to organize, strengthen collective bargaining, and close persistent wage gaps that disproportionately harm women and communities of color. Congresswoman Dexter is dedicated to championing policies that empower working families, ensure dignity for all workers, and build resilient communities where all can thrive.