On Election Day, the American people voted for hope and change. Now, it’s time for action. Even before the recent Wall Street collapse, workers' paychecks were shrinking and healthcare costs were skyrocketing out of control. One thing is clear: restoring our middle class is the key to getting our economy back on track.

One of the best ways to help American families improve their standard of living is to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. Our latest newspaper ad, running in The Hill, Roll Call, Politico, and Congress Daily AM, lays out the case for swift passage of the bill.

FACT: Workers in unions earn 30% higher wages and are 59% more likely to have employer-provided health insurance. The Employee Free Choice Act is a common sense proposal to restore America’s struggling middle class and revive our troubled economy.

FACT: Last year, CEO salaries were 344 times that of the average U.S. worker. The Employee Free Choice Act will help level the playing field so that all Americans – not just those at the top --can earn decent wages and benefits.

FACT: In the past seven years, the median working-age household income actually dropped by $2,000 after inflation.  The stagnating incomes of America's middle class families are causing a drop in consumer spending at a time when our economy needs it the most.  As consumer spending is the engine that drives the U.S. economy, representing more than 70% of total demand for goods and services, strengthening the wages of working families is crucial for our economy to get back on track.

FACT: 68% of middle class Americans would like their Members of Congress to vote for the Employee Free Choice Act. The legislation is also supported by President-elect Obama, Vice President-elect Biden and a broad coalition of U.S. Senators and Representatives.