Economic Justice & Jobs
In the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one should have to work two jobs and still struggle to pay rent or put food on the table. But in Texas’s 33rd District, too many families are stuck in a rigged economy that rewards billionaires and corporations while leaving working people behind. Zeeshan’s vision is clear: rewrite the rules to build an economy that works for everyone — not just the wealthy and well-connected. From a $20 living wage and union protections to clean-energy jobs, fair taxes, and local investment, this campaign is about dignity, opportunity, and real economic power for every family.
| Issues |  | Incumbent Veasey |
|---|---|---|
$20/hr Minimum Wage (indexed to inflation) | Advocates for a livable federal minimum wage of $20/hour, automatically adjusted for inflation. | Does not support a $20/hr living minimum wage, only has supported half of that ($10/hr). |
Ending Subminimum Pay for Disabled Workers (Section 14(c) repeal) | Pledges to repeal Section 14(c), ending subminimum waivers and ensuring full labor protections for disabled workers. | No publicly documented position or action on Section 14(c) repeal or subminimum wages. |
Infrastructure & Clean-Energy Job Investment | Proposes mobilizing Army Corps for infrastructure rebuild, clean-energy jobs, broadband expansion, green manufacturing apprenticeships. | Has not made any proposals around the Army Corp of Engineers. |
Focus on Working Families Over Corporate PACs | Emphasizes serving working people, not CEOs or corporate interests. | Has accepted millions of dollars of PAC money from billionaires, special interests, and foreign government lobbyists; has not led on progressive taxation or anti-corporate donor reforms. |
Racial, Disability & Immigration Justice in Economy | Frames economic justice as interconnected with racial, disability, and immigration justice. | No explicit public positions linking economic justice with these dimensions. |
A Nation Where Every Family Can Live the American Dream
In the richest country on Earth, no one should be living paycheck to paycheck. But for far too many working families—especially in places like Texas’s 33rd Congressional District—that’s the painful reality. Wages haven’t kept up with inflation, rent and groceries are skyrocketing, and billionaires are getting tax breaks while everyday Americans carry the burden.
Yet GOP lawmakers pushed through the so-called “Big Ugly Bill”—officially the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—delivering massive tax breaks to billionaires while chopping Medicaid, SNAP, clean energy, and other lifelines for everyday Americans.
We need a new economy—one that puts people over profits, communities over corporations, and dignity over exploitation.
Join Us in Making Change
Be part of Zeeshan's vision for a better future.
Raise the Wage: $20/Hour Federal Minimum Wage
We are fighting for a $20/hour federal minimum wage that’s indexed to inflation—so no one who works full-time has to live in poverty again.
- The current federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour and hasn’t been raised since 2009. That’s a shameful betrayal of the American worker.
- A $20 minimum wage will lift millions of Americans out of poverty, reduce dependence on social safety nets, and boost local economies.
- Indexing to inflation ensures wages rise with the cost of living—automatically, and without political gridlock.
Opponents say we can’t afford to raise wages. We say: We can’t afford not to.
Equal Pay for Disabled Workers — End Subminimum Wages
Every worker deserves dignity, respect, and fair compensation — including Americans with disabilities. But under a loophole in federal law known as Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, some employers are still legally allowed to pay disabled workers far less than the minimum wage — in some cases, just pennies on the dollar. That’s not opportunity — it’s exploitation.
We will:
- Repeal Section 14(c) and end the discriminatory practice of subminimum wages for disabled workers.
- Ensure all workers, regardless of ability, are guaranteed at least the federal minimum wage and full labor protections.
- Invest in inclusive employment programs that provide real training, support, and access to integrated, competitive jobs in the community — not isolated sheltered workshops.
- Promote workforce development partnerships with local employers, unions, and advocacy groups to support full economic inclusion.
Disability rights are civil rights. No one should be paid less because of who they are — and our economy is stronger when every person has the opportunity to contribute with dignity.
Join Us in Making Change
Be part of Zeeshan's vision for a better future.
Invest in Local Jobs & Union Power
We’re done with trickle-down economics and tax breaks for corporations that offshore jobs. We need a bottom-up economy built by and for the working class.
Our plan:
- Protect and expand union rights, including the right to organize, strike, and collectively bargain without retaliation. Strong unions = strong middle class.
- Invest in clean energy, modern infrastructure, high-speed internet, and green manufacturing—not endless wars or Wall Street bailouts.
- Launch a “Made in America, Built in Our District” jobs initiative to bring local, living-wage jobs to underserved communities, especially Black, Latino, and immigrant neighborhoods.
- Fund vocational training and apprenticeship programs for the industries of the future—solar, wind, electric vehicles, sustainable housing, and climate resilience.
We will create millions of jobs that don’t just pay the bills—but build a better America.
Repair and Rebuild America’s Crumbling Infrastructure
Our roads are cracked. Our bridges are unsafe. Our water systems are contaminated. Our public transit is falling apart. It’s time to stop sending billions abroad and start rebuilding right here at home.
We will:
- Launch a national infrastructure renewal program to modernize roads, bridges, tunnels, airports, railways, and public schools.
- Fix broken water systems in places like Fort Worth, Flint and Jackson, and guarantee clean, safe drinking water for every American—no exceptions.
- Upgrade our electric grid and public utilities for energy efficiency and climate resilience.
- Expand and electrify public transportation, especially in underserved urban and rural areas.
- Prioritize local and minority-owned businesses and contractors in public works contracts.
This isn’t just about concrete and steel. It’s about dignity, jobs, safety, and pride. When we build America, we uplift every community.
Join Us in Making Change
Be part of Zeeshan's vision for a better future.
Mobilize the Army Corps of Engineers — Rebuild Transit, Broadband, Roads, and Resilience
While Donald Trump uses our military like hired guns to patrol and police our own cities — from Washington D.C. to communities across the country — we believe America’s armed resources should serve the people, not intimidate them. The Army Corps of Engineers has built dams, ports, highways, and flood protection systems across America. It’s time we put their expertise to work not for war — but for working families.
- Mobilize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to lead urgent infrastructure upgrades in underserved districts like ours — including flood mitigation, clean water access, road repair, and school modernization.
- Launch a Public Transit Renewal Fund to electrify and expand affordable rapid transit systems — including DART and regional rail — so every Texan can get to work, school, or the doctor without a car.
- Bring high-speed broadband to every home — rural, urban, and underserved. We’ll treat internet access as a basic utility, not a luxury, and fund the build-out of affordable, reliable fiber infrastructure across District 33 and the nation.
- Prioritize climate-resilient infrastructure in communities most impacted by extreme heat, flooding, and pollution — starting right here in North Texas.
- Hire local labor, prioritize minority- and women-owned contractors, and ensure union wages on all federal infrastructure projects.
We will:
Infrastructure isn’t just a budget line — it’s a lifeline. When we invest in it, we create jobs, protect our planet, and rebuild America from the ground up.
Fair Tax Reform: Working Families First
It’s time we stop balancing the budget on the backs of the working class. Our tax system is rigged, and the ultra-wealthy are laughing all the way to the bank.
- Raise taxes on billionaires and ultra-profitable corporations, many of whom pay less in taxes than a schoolteacher.
- Close loopholes that allow giant companies to stash profits offshore while paying $0 in federal taxes.
- Cut taxes for working- and middle-class families, especially those raising children, caring for elderly relatives, or struggling with medical expenses.
- Eliminate the carried interest loophole and tax Wall Street like Main Street.
Here’s what we’ll do:
If you work for a living, you should not pay a higher tax rate than someone who lives off stocks and real estate.
Join Us in Making Change
Be part of Zeeshan's vision for a better future.
Economic Justice Is Racial Justice. Is Climate Justice. Is Labor Justice.
This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about dignity.
- The racial wealth gap is widening.
- Women—especially women of color—are still underpaid and overworked.
- Immigrant and undocumented workers are essential to our economy, but treated as disposable.
Economic justice is justice, period. Our campaign is building a coalition that fights for all working people—no matter your race, zip code, or immigration status.
It’s Time to Rewrite the Rules
Our current representatives talk about the economy—but they vote to protect corporate donors, oil tycoons, and Wall Street banks.
We’re done waiting.
- Every worker earns enough to support their family
- Every child has the opportunity to succeed
- Every community has the resources to thrive
We’re building an economy where:
Let’s write new rules. For us. By us.
Join our campaign for Economic Justice. Because dignity isn’t negotiable—and poverty is a policy choice.
Truth Over Power. People Over Politics.