During the past seven and a half years, through hard work and sacrifices, workers and businesses in Maine and across America have weathered the recession. But while the economy has improved overall, working families and small towns across the country still have yet to fully feel the benefits of recovery.

In order to move the economy from recovery to resurgence, representatives in Congress must take the tough votes and work as hard as the people they serve. The people of America need a Congress committed to enacting policies that help businesses and their workers make it in America.

That is why I launched a new “Make It In America” plan for jobs and opportunity in Congress earlier this year.

Last month, I traveled to Maine to meet with and hear from leaders of this state’s outstanding businesses. During my visit, I was invited to meet with a roundtable of Lewiston-Auburn-area business owners and representatives.

Meeting with Mainers, as I have during past visits, I heard from small business owners and community members that they want their members of Congress to be on their side, not telling them they are on their own.

The Make It In America plan calls for expanding entrepreneurship and innovation, closing the skills gap, building a 21st century infrastructure, and breaking down barriers to manufacturing in Maine and across the United States. That’s how Congress can help build prosperity for workers and their families from Lewiston to the Allagash; not by telling Mainers they are on their own to face the challenges of a changing economy, but by making sure workers, business owners and their families have the tools needed to turn those economic changes to their advantage.

The Make It In America plan will make it easier for start-ups to access capital and will reduce the tax and regulatory burden for new businesses. It will invest in initiatives that help close the skills gap, which is crucial to making sure our workers can compete for 21st century jobs.

Make It In America legislation will expand access to job training, retraining and apprenticeships. The plan will invest in science and technology programs to ensure that today’s children can build the next generation of American industry.

We all know that in order to compete for new business development we need to invest in highways, bridges, railways and ports. In addition to growing the infrastructure networks that sustained the economy in the 20th century, the broadband networks that will help the economy lead in the 21st century need to be expanded. That is the best way for new opportunities to reach rural communities.

Mainers already know that manufacturing remains the beating heart of the American economy. The Make It In America plan will make manufacturers here more competitive and draw manufacturing back to U.S. shores. A core component of the plan is to reduce the barriers to manufacturing here — to enact policies that make it profitable for businesses to build it and grow it right here in Maine and across this country.

U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, represents the 5th Congressional District in Maryland.